vehicle

Abstract

To restrain damage to a power unit and a fuel tank at rear collision while securing installation space of the power unit and the fuel tank.SOLUTION: A vehicle contains a vehicle body, a power unit which contains an electric motor disposed on a rear side of the vehicle body, a fuel tank installation part which is disposed on a rearward side of the vehicle with respect to the power unit and to which a fuel tank for driving the vehicle is mounted, and a common installation member which is mounted to a common vehicle body skeleton by bundling the rearward side of the power unit and the frontward side of the fuel tank.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle in which a power unit such as an electric motor and a fuel tank are attached to a vehicle body. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, fuel cell vehicles equipped with fuel cells that have a relatively small impact on the environment have been attracting attention. Fuel cell vehicles are equipped with one or more fuel tanks to supply fuel gas to the fuel cells installed therein.

[0003] Since the capacity of a fuel tank affects the maximum driving distance of a vehicle, it is necessary to provide as large an installation space as possible. Therefore, various ideas have been devised for the layout of the equipment in the installation space, including the arrangement of the fuel tank. As an example of such a layout, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a layout in which at least some of the multiple fuel tanks are arranged on the rear side of the vehicle is known. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-143464 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Not only the above-mentioned patent documents, but current technologies do not adequately meet market needs, and the following problems exist: In other words, in the layout structure shown in Patent Document 1, when a collision occurs from the rear of the vehicle due to some factor (hereinafter, this type of collision will also be referred to as a "rear impact"), the fuel tank support frame deforms and causes the fuel tank to fall off, thereby limiting damage to the fuel tank to a certain extent.

[0006] On the other hand, as mentioned above, one of the issues facing fuel cell vehicles is the need to secure space for the fuel tank. For example, if a fuel cell vehicle is to be made into an all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicle, space will also be required to accommodate the transmission, propeller shaft, etc., making it expected that the space required for mounting the fuel tank will become even more limited.

[0007] In view of this background, it is expected that the importance of mounting a tank on the rear side of the vehicle, for example, in the rear overhang, will increase. Furthermore, when a power unit such as an electric motor, which is a high-voltage component, is mounted on the rear side of the vehicle, damage to not only the fuel tank but also the power unit must be avoided in the event of a rear-end collision, for example. Note that such a problem is not limited to fuel cell vehicles, but is common to vehicles that are equipped with both a fuel tank and a power unit.

[0008] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems as an example, and aims to provide a vehicle that can reduce damage to the power unit and fuel tank in the event of a rear-end collision while ensuring space for mounting the power unit and fuel tank. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problem, a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a vehicle body, a power unit including an electric motor arranged on a rear side of the vehicle body, and a power unit arranged rearward of the vehicle body with respect to the power unit, A fuel tank is fixedly attached to the vehicle body. The vehicle includes a fuel tank mounting portion, and a common mounting member that bundles together the rear side of the power unit and the front side of the fuel tank mounting portion and mounts them to a common vehicle body frame member. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce damage to the power unit and the fuel tank during a rear-end collision while ensuring mounting space for the power unit and the fuel tank. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a part of a vehicle body supporting a power unit and a fuel tank of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from below. [Diagram 2] 2 is a schematic diagram showing a part of a vehicle body supporting a power unit and a fuel tank of the vehicle according to the embodiment, as viewed from below. FIG. [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic side view of a portion of a vehicle body that supports a power unit and a fuel tank of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 3 is a cross-sectional view that diagrammatically shows the cross section AA in FIG. 2. [Diagram 5] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view that diagrammatically shows cross section BB in FIG. 2. [Figure 6] 1A to 1C are schematic diagrams showing deformation transition of a vehicle body during a rear-end collision; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Next, preferred embodiments for carrying out the present disclosure will be described. Note that, for the structures of the fuel cell vehicle and vehicle equipment including various control units other than those described in detail below, known electrical components, drive mechanisms, and control systems, including those listed in the above patent documents, may be appropriately supplemented.

[0013] [Vehicle 100] First, a vehicle 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. The vehicle 100 in this embodiment can be exemplified by a fuel cell vehicle equipped with a high-pressure hydrogen tank as a fuel tank FT. Such a fuel cell vehicle is equipped with a known fuel cell system that uses, for example, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) as a drive source.

[0014] The fuel cell system installed in vehicle 100 may be configured as a known system including a fuel cell that generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction when supplied with reactive gases (oxidant gas and fuel gas), an oxidant gas piping system that supplies air as an oxidant gas to the fuel cell, a fuel gas piping system that supplies hydrogen gas as a fuel gas to the fuel cell, a cooling system that supplies a refrigerant to the fuel cell to cool it, and a control unit (fuel cell ECU) that controls the entire system.

[0015] In the following, in this embodiment, a fuel cell vehicle will be described as an example of the vehicle 100, but the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the vehicle 100 is not limited to a fuel cell vehicle, and may be any of various vehicles equipped with other known fuel tanks, such as a gasoline vehicle equipped with a gasoline tank or a hybrid vehicle.

[0016] <Power unit and fuel tank mounting structure on the vehicle body> As can be seen from FIGS. 1 to 5, a vehicle 100 as a fuel cell vehicle in this embodiment includes a vehicle body 10, a power unit 20, a fuel tank mounting portion 30, and a common mounting member 40.

[0017] The vehicle body 10 is a structure (vehicle body frame material) in which frame materials for maintaining the strength of the vehicle 100 are assembled by welding or the like, and includes, for example, a rear cross member 11 and side members 12 (left side member 12A and right side member 12B). In addition to the above-mentioned frame materials, the vehicle body 10 may have other known frame materials such as a center cross member 43 that connects the side members 12 and a front bumper member (not shown). For example, known floor panels, roof panels, trunk floors, etc. are welded to such a vehicle body 10. In this embodiment, a monocoque structure is exemplified as the vehicle body structure, but other vehicle body structures such as a frame structure may be applied.

[0018] The power unit 20 is a known driving force generating mechanism that includes an electric motor that is disposed on the rear wheel side of the vehicle body 10 and generates driving force for the vehicle 100. In addition to the electric motor, the power unit 20 in this embodiment may be configured to include known control devices such as a known gearbox that houses a differential gear and a transmission, an inverter that controls the rotation speed of the electric motor, and a converter that controls the voltage of the fuel cell.

[0019] 1 and 2, the power unit 20 of this embodiment is supported by a power unit bracket 41 and disposed between the rear axles (21L, 21R) at the rear of the vehicle body 10. More specifically, the power unit 20 is fixed to the rear cross member 11 of the vehicle body 10 via front brackets 41A and 41B that constitute the power unit bracket 41. The power unit 20 is also fixed to the common mounting member 40 via a rear bracket 41C that constitutes the power unit bracket 41. The structure of the power unit bracket 41 in this embodiment is not particularly limited as long as it functions as a stay for the power unit 20, and various known brackets can be used.

[0020] As described later, the common mounting member 40 is attached to the rear cross member 11 constituting the vehicle body framework. Therefore, it can be said that the power unit 20 of this embodiment is fixed to the rear cross member 11 constituting the vehicle body 10 framework via the common mounting member 40.

[0021] In addition to having the function of connecting the power unit 20 and the vehicle body 10, the power unit bracket 41 preferably further includes a known vibration-isolating member such as a spring or vibration-isolating rubber. This makes it possible to suppress the vibration generated in the power unit 20 from being transmitted to the vehicle body 10, and to suppress the vibration transmitted to the vehicle body 10 from being transmitted to the power unit 20.

[0022] The fuel tank mounting portion 30 is disposed on the rear side of the vehicle body 10 with respect to the power unit 20, and a fuel tank FT of the vehicle 100 is mounted thereon. An example of such a fuel tank mounting portion 30 is a structure that clamps the outer periphery of the fuel tank FT and mounts and fixes it to the vehicle body 10, such as the fixing band exemplified in JP 2008-24258 A.

[0023] The fuel tank mounting portion 30 of this embodiment is configured to include a first fixing band mechanism 30A and a second fixing band mechanism 30B that are installed with a predetermined gap therebetween in the vehicle width direction (Y direction in FIG. 1) of the vehicle 100. There are no particular limitations on the material of such fixing band mechanisms as long as they function to fix the fuel tank FT, and for example, known metal materials such as steel and non-metal materials such as fiber-reinforced resin can be used.

[0024] The first fixing band mechanism 30A and the second fixing band mechanism 30B are each made of, for example, a known metal and have the function of fastening or supporting the fuel tank FT to the vehicle body 10 so as to prevent the fuel tank FT from falling off the vehicle body 10.

[0025] 1, the front sides of the first fixing band mechanism 30A and the second fixing band mechanism 30B (fuel tank mounting portion 30) of this embodiment are each fixed to a common mounting member 40 via a mounting bracket 40C. Note that the structure of the mounting bracket 40C in this embodiment is not particularly limited as long as it functions as a stay for the fuel tank mounting portion 30, and various known brackets can be used.

[0026] In this manner, fuel tank mounting portion 30 is fixed to rear cross member 11 (vehicle body frame) via common mounting member 40 (first tank support member) provided on the front side with respect to fuel tank FT.

[0027] 1 and 2, the first fixing band mechanism 30A and the second fixing band mechanism 30B (fuel tank mounting portion 30) of this embodiment are fixed via connecting brackets 42A and 42B, respectively, to a mounting cross member 42 attached between the side members 12. The structure of such connecting brackets 42A and 42B is not particularly limited, and various known brackets can be applied as long as they function as a stay for the fuel tank mounting portion 30.

[0028] The mounting cross member 42 has one end fixed to the left side member 12A and the other end fixed to the right side member 12B by a known fixing method (welding, fastening, etc.).

[0029] In this manner, the fuel tank mounting portion 30 is fixed to the side member 12 (body frame material) via a mounting cross member 42 (second tank support member) provided rearward with respect to the fuel tank FT.

[0030] As described above, the common mounting member 40 of this embodiment has the function of bundling the rear side of the power unit 20 and the front side of the fuel tank FT and mounting them to a common body frame material (in this example, the rear cross member 11).

[0031] As can be seen from Figures 1, 4 and 5, the common mounting member 40 in this embodiment is a metal strip-shaped member, and, for example, one end 40A1 is welded to the left side of the rear cross member 11 (body frame material) in the vehicle width direction, and the other end 40A2 is welded to the right side of the rear cross member 11 in the vehicle width direction.

[0032] In addition, the common mounting member 40 in this embodiment is fixed to the rear cross member 11 (body frame material) with a degree of deflection (extensibility to change from a deflected state to an extended state) that allows both the rear side of the power unit 20 and the front side of the fuel tank mounting portion 30 to shift downward in the direction of gravity in the event of a rear-end collision described below.

[0033] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the common mounting member 40 of this embodiment has, in order from one end 40A1 to the other end 40A2, a first flexure region TA1, a common mounting region CA, and a second flexure region TA2. 1 and 4, the first fixing band mechanism 30A and the second fixing band mechanism 30B (fuel tank mounting portion 30) are connected to the upper surface side of the common mounting area CA via mounting brackets 40C, respectively. Also, the rear bracket 41C (power unit bracket 41) is connected to the bottom surface side of the common mounting area CA via mounting bracket 40B.

[0034] 3 and 5, the side member 12 in this embodiment may include a curved portion WP that is curved to protrude in the vertical direction so as to follow the outline of the fuel tank FT disposed on the rear overhang of the vehicle body 10. As a result, when the vehicle body 10 receives a collision load from behind due to some factor, for example, the curved portion WP described above bends preferentially, and the fuel tank FT is more likely to be pushed toward the front of the vehicle (in the +X direction in FIG. 3) by the curved curved portion WP.

[0035] <State transition of power unit and fuel tank during rear-end collision> Next, with reference to FIG. 6 as well, a description will be given of state transitions of the power unit 20 and the fuel tank FT within the vehicle 100 during a rear-end collision. As shown in the figure, when the vehicle 100 receives an impact from the rear due to some cause, such as when it is collided with a following vehicle or when the vehicle 100 collides with an obstacle while reversing, the impact is applied to the rear end of the side member 12 that constitutes the body frame.

[0036] In this embodiment, since the side member 12 is provided with the curved portion WP described above, the curved portion WP takes precedence over the other portions and deforms so as to rise further upward. The curved portion WP' after deformation reduces the mounting space for the fuel tank FT, so that the fuel tank FT moves relatively toward the front of the vehicle.

[0037] Although the curved portion WP is useful in narrowing down the deformation locations of the side member 12 in the event of a rear-end collision, this curved portion WP is not essential in this embodiment and may be omitted as appropriate. Even if this curved portion WP is omitted in this embodiment, there is almost no difference in the fact that the fuel tank FT moves relatively forward toward the vehicle due to the impact of a rear-end collision.

[0038] In this embodiment, the rear side of the power unit 20 (in this example, rear bracket 41C) and the front side of the fuel tank FT (in this example, the front side of the fuel tank mounting portion 30) are bundled together and attached to the vehicle body frame (rear cross member 11) by a common mounting member 40. As a result, when the fuel tank FT moves forward as described above during a rear-end collision, the bending area TA of the common mounting member 40 deforms, causing the common mounting area CA to hang down vertically downward.

[0039] At this time, one end 40A1 and the other end 40A2 of the common mounting member 40 are both welded to the rear cross member 11, so that the connection state of the common mounting member 40 to the vehicle body framework is maintained even during a rear-end collision. On the other hand, while the connection state of the fuel tank mounting portion 30 and the power unit bracket 41 at the common mounting area CA is maintained, the first bending area TA1 and the second bending area TA2 deform, causing the common mounting area CA to hang vertically downward.

[0040] This prevents the fuel tank FT and power unit 20 from falling to the ground due to the impact of a rear-end collision, and maintains their connection to the vehicle body 10 via the common mounting member 40, while preventing the fuel tank FT and power unit 20 from tilting downward and colliding hard with each other as the fuel tank FT moves forward.

[0041] According to the vehicle 100 in this embodiment described above, it is possible to ensure the mounting space for the power unit 20 and the fuel tank FT, while suppressing the occurrence of damage caused by a collision between the power unit 20 and the fuel tank FT in the event of a rear-end collision.

[0042] Although the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains may attempt further modifications to these embodiments and modifications within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, and it is understood that these modifications also naturally fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0043] For example, in the above embodiment, a four-wheel drive (AWD) vehicle is exemplified, but as long as the power unit 20 is disposed on the rear wheel side of the vehicle 100, the vehicle may be a rear-wheel drive vehicle instead of an AWD. In addition, in this embodiment, a known band structure is exemplified as the fixing structure for the fuel tank FT, but a known fixing structure other than the band structure may be applied as long as the front side of the fixing portion of the fuel tank FT can be connected to the common mounting member 40.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the power unit 20 and the fuel tank FT are disposed on the rear side of the vehicle 100, but the present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which these are disposed on the front side of the vehicle 100. In this case, a layout configuration in which the fuel tank FT is disposed in front of the vehicle with respect to the power unit 20 within the vehicle 100 may be used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10. Body 20 Power Unit 30 Fuel tank mounting part 40 Common mounting parts 100 vehicles

Claims

1. The car body and A power unit including an electric motor disposed on the rear side of the vehicle body; a fuel tank mounting portion disposed rearward of the vehicle body with respect to the power unit and configured to fixedly mount a fuel tank to the vehicle body; a common mounting member that bundles together the rear side of the power unit and the front side of the fuel tank mounting portion and mounts them to a common vehicle body frame member, vehicle.

2. the power unit is supported by a power unit bracket and disposed between rear axles at a rear portion of the vehicle body, The power unit bracket is fixed to a rear cross member constituting the vehicle body frame material via the common mounting member.

2. The vehicle of claim 1.

3. The fuel tank mounting portion is a tank support member provided on a front side of the vehicle body and fixed to the rear cross member via the common mounting member; The tank is fixed to a side member constituting the vehicle body frame via a second tank support member provided on the rear side of the vehicle body.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 2.

4. The side member is a curved portion that is curved to protrude in a vertical direction so as to follow the outline of the fuel tank disposed on the rear overhang of the vehicle body, When the vehicle body is subjected to a collision load from behind, the curved portion is further curved, so that the fuel tank is pushed forward of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle according to claim 3.

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