Vehicle structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle structure that can simply and appropriately prevent a wiring member from being firmly sandwiched between a side member and a fuel tank and damaged at the time of a side collision of a vehicle.SOLUTION: A vehicle structure A includes: a fuel tank 2 disposed on the inner side of a side member 3 in a vehicle width direction; and a wiring member 7 arranged to pass through a mutual region S between the fuel tank 2 and the side member 3. The vehicle structure further includes: a reinforcement member 4 partially connected to the side member 3 and having a portion extending from the side member 3 in the vehicle width direction to directly face the mutual region S and the fuel tank 2 or to indirectly face the mutual region and the fuel tank via another member Pf while being connected to the other member Pf; and wiring member attachment portions 5, 6 directly disposed on the reinforcement member 4 or indirectly disposed via the another member Pf with respect to the reinforcement member and by which the fuel tank 4 and the wiring member 7 are respectively fixed and attached.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle structure such as an automobile.

Background Art

[0002] As a specific example of this type of vehicle structure, there is one described in Patent Document 1. In the vehicle structure described in the same document, a fuel tank is arranged below the seat riser portion. According to such a configuration, the fuel tank can be mounted on the vehicle with high space efficiency.

[0003] However, in the above-described vehicle structure, there is room for improvement as described below.

[0004] That is, according to the above-described arrangement of the fuel tank, a side member as a vehicle skeleton member is located extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the fuel tank. On the other hand, in a vehicle, it is common that wire harnesses and other wiring members are appropriately routed, and when this wiring member is set to extend from, for example, the front side to the rear side of the vehicle with respect to the fuel tank, a part of this wiring member usually passes through the area between the fuel tank and the side member. However, according to such a configuration, when a side collision of the vehicle occurs and the side member is deformed inward in the vehicle width direction by the collision load, there is a risk that the wiring member is strongly pinched between the side member and the fuel tank. Such a risk is likely to cause damage to the wiring member, and thus it is desirable to appropriately prevent or suppress it. In addition, as a means for eliminating the above-described risk, it is conceivable to perform reinforcement to increase the strength so that the side member does not deform significantly during a side collision of the vehicle. However, it is difficult to appropriately eliminate the above-described risk only by performing such reinforcement. In addition, since the reinforcement structure becomes quite large-scale, it causes an increase in weight, manufacturing cost, and deterioration of productivity.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The present invention has been conceived under the circumstances as described above, and when a side collision of a vehicle occurs, it is an object of the present invention to appropriately prevent or suppress, by simple means, a wiring member from being strongly pinched and damaged between a side member and a fuel tank.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention takes the following technical means.

[0008] The vehicle structure provided by the present invention includes a side member as a vehicle body frame member extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, a fuel tank disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the side member, and a wiring member routed so as to pass through an area between the fuel tank and the side member, Seat lifter It includes a floor portion provided with a seat lifter portion. The floor portion has a substantially horizontal seat lifter front region located in front of the seat lifter portion, and a front upright wall portion that is connected to the rear end portion of the seat lifter front region and stands upward to form a part of the seat lifter portion. a vehicle structure further comprising a reinforcing member, a part of which is joined to the side member and a portion extending inward in the vehicle width direction from the side member is set to directly face the area between them and the fuel tank or to indirectly face the fuel tank via another member joined to the other member, and attachment portions for the fuel tank and the wiring member provided directly on the reinforcing member or indirectly via the other member for fixing and attaching the fuel tank and the wiring member respectively. The reinforcing member is in the form of a bent plate that is overlapped and joined to the upper or lower surface sides of both the seat lifter front region and the front upright wall portion of the floor portion so as to straddle them, and is a member that is not bridged and connected between the side member and another side member provided on the opposite side in the vehicle width direction. It is characterized by the above.

[0009] According to such a configuration, the following effects can be obtained. That is, when a side collision of the vehicle occurs and the side member deforms inward in the vehicle width direction due to the collision load, the reinforcing member joined to the side member is displaced inward in the vehicle width direction along with the side member. On the other hand, the fuel tank and the wiring member are respectively fixed to the attachment portions for the fuel tank and the wiring member, which are provided directly on the reinforcing member or indirectly via a predetermined other member. Therefore, along with the displacement of the reinforcing member, they are displaced inward in the vehicle width direction. Accordingly, all of the side member, the fuel tank, and the wiring member are displaced inward in the vehicle width direction. As a result, it is appropriately prevented or suppressed that the wiring member is strongly pinched between the side member and the fuel tank, and breakage of the wiring member is prevented. Since the reinforcing member also exhibits the effect of suppressing the deformation of the side member, it is more effectively prevented or suppressed that the wiring member is strongly pinched. On the other hand, in the present invention, when a side collision of the vehicle occurs, a means of strongly reinforcing the side member so as not to deform the side member as much as possible is not adopted, and the deformation of the side member and the displacement of each part accompanying this are allowed. Therefore, according to the present invention, although the reinforcing member is used, it is not necessary to make this reinforcing member large in weight or size, and it is possible to suppress an increase in the weight and manufacturing cost of the entire vehicle and improve productivity.

[0010] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following description of the embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] The vehicle structure A shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is provided in the floor portion 10 in the rearward region of the vehicle 1, and includes a seat lifter portion 11 on which the vehicle seat 92 is mounted, a fuel tank 2 arranged in the lower region of the seat lifter portion 11, a pair of left and right side members 3, 3a (the shaded pattern portions in FIGS. 2 and 3), a pair of left and right reinforcing members 4, 4a, and attachment portions 5, 6 for the fuel tank and wiring members provided on the reinforcing member 4.

[0014] In the present embodiment, the harness 7 corresponds to the wiring member of the present invention. However, although this harness 7 is wired along a path passing through one of the pair of left and right reinforcing members 4, 4a, i.e., the side of the reinforcing member 4, it is not wired along a path passing through the other reinforcing member 4a. Therefore, the configuration intended by the present invention, that is, the configuration for suppressing the pinching of the harness 7, is provided only on the side of the reinforcing member 4 and not on the side of the reinforcing member 4a. An exhaust pipe 90 to which a muffler 91 is connected is arranged on the side of the reinforcing member 4a.

[0015] The pair of side members 3, 3a are body frame members, extend in the vehicle longitudinal direction with a space therebetween in the vehicle width direction, and are configured using, for example, a cross-sectional hat-shaped member. Among these pair of side members 3, 3a, the region near the seat lifter portion 11 is located in the outer region in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 1 in a plan view of the vehicle, and has a rearward upward inclined portion 39 as shown in FIG. 1 in a side view of the vehicle. In the vehicle width direction, each of the side members 3, 3a and the fuel tank 2 are spaced apart from each other and face each other.

[0016] The reinforcing member 4 is in the form of a bent plate formed by pressing a metal plate or the like. This reinforcing member 4 is overlapped and welded to these parts and the side member 3 so as to reinforce the vicinity of the front part of the seat riser part 11 in the floor part 10.

[0017] This point will be described in more detail. That is, the floor part 10 is composed of front and rear floor panels Pf, Pr. Further, the floor part 10 is provided with a substantially horizontal seat riser front region 10a located on the front side of the seat riser part 11, and the seat riser part 11 is provided with a front upright wall part 11a that is connected to the rear end part of this seat riser front region 10a and stands upright upward. On the other hand, the reinforcing member 4 is set to straddle from the seat riser front region 10a of the floor part 10 to the front upright wall part 11. In the present embodiment, the reinforcing member 4 is overlapped and joined to the upper surface side of the floor panel Pf (front floor panel). The floor panel Pf corresponds to an example of the "other member" in the present invention.

[0018] The reinforcing member 4 has a joining region 40 to the side member 3 and a main region 41 located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction with respect to this joining region 40. The joining region 40 to the side member 3 is a region on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the reinforcing member 4. This joining region 40 is overlapped on a part of the side member 3 via the floor panel Pf and is welded to the side member 3 and the floor panel Pf by a welding part Wa such as spot welding. The main region 41 is a region extending inward in the vehicle width direction from the side member 3. This main region 41 is overlapped on the upper surfaces of the portions corresponding to the seat riser front region 10a and the front upright wall part 11a of the seat riser part 11 in the floor panel Pf and is welded to the said portions by a welding part Wb such as spot welding. This main region 41 indirectly faces the mutual region S between the fuel tank 2 and the side member 3 and a part of the fuel tank 2 via the floor panel Pf.

[0019] The mounting portion 5 for the fuel tank is configured by welding a bracket member 50 to the lower surface portion of the region of the floor panel Pf where the reinforcing member 4 is overlapped, and is indirectly provided on the reinforcing member 4 via the floor panel Pf. The bracket member 50 is pedestal-shaped having a plurality of welding flanges 50a, as shown in FIG. 1 for example, and bolt holes 50b are provided in its lower surface portion (see also the schematic perspective view of FIG. 1). The fuel tank 2 is provided with a plurality of mounting flange portions 20a to 20d. Among them, one flange portion 20a on the one end portion 21 side in the width direction of the fuel tank 2 is connected to the mounting portion 5 for the fuel tank using bolts 98.

[0020] A cross member 18 extending in the vehicle width direction is bridged and connected between a pair of side members 3, 3a. A pedestal-shaped bracket member 80 protruding downward is joined to this cross member 18, and an additional mounting portion 8 for the fuel tank is provided. A mounting flange portion 20b located on the one end portion 21 side in the width direction of the fuel tank 2 is connected to this additional mounting portion 8 using bolts 98.

[0021] The mounting portion 6 for the cable member is configured by welding a bracket member 60 to the lower surface portion of the region of the floor panel Pf where the reinforcing member 4 is overlapped, and is indirectly provided on the reinforcing member 4 via the floor panel Pf. The bracket member 60 has a configuration in which a pair of welding flange portions 60b are connected to both ends of a substantially U-shaped protruding portion 60a in side view, as shown in its schematic perspective view in FIG. 1 for example. One or a plurality of holes 60c for fastening through a harness 7 fixing tool 97 are provided in the protruding portion 60a.

[0022] The harness 7 is routed so as to extend from the front side to the rear side below the floor portion 10, and a part of it passes through the area S between the fuel tank 2 and the side member 3. A part of this harness 7 is bundled by a bundling tool 97 fixed to the attachment portion 6 for the routing member, and is fixed to this attachment portion 6. Note that the bundling tool 97 may be made of a material such as resin or metal, and its specific configuration is not limited. As the bundling tool 97, it is also possible to use one provided with a clip that can be inserted and locked into the hole portion 60c.

[0023] In the vehicle 1, a reinforcing member 4a as described above is attached to a region opposite to the region where the side member 3 and the reinforcing member 4 are provided. Since the fuel tank 2 in the present embodiment is asymmetric in the left - right direction, the reinforcing member 4a has a slightly different shape and size from the reinforcing member 4 described above, but other configurations are the same as those of the reinforcing member 4. The flange portion 20c at the other end 21a in the width direction of the fuel tank 2 is connected to the attachment portion 5a for the fuel tank using a bolt 98. This attachment portion 5a is a bracket member having the same configuration as the bucket member 50 501a and is attached to a region of the floor panel Pf where the reinforcing member 4a is overlapped. The other flange portion 20d at the other end 21a in the width direction of the fuel tank 2 is connected to an additional attachment portion 8a for the fuel tank using a bolt 98. This additional attachment portion 8a is configured by joining a pedestal - shaped bracket member 80a protruding downward to the cross - member 18.

[0024] In FIG. 2, a configuration is shown in which a bracket member similar to the bracket member 60 is welded to a region of the floor panel Pf where the reinforcing member 4a is overlapped. Here, the harness 7 does not pass through the area Sa between the fuel tank 2 and the side member 3a. As described above, the side of the reinforcing member 4a is not the configuration intended by the present invention. Therefore, the side of the reinforcing member 4a may be configured not to be provided with, for example, a bracket member 601a and the like. However, the bracket member 601a and so on. 601aIf provided, it is possible to appropriately and easily make a specification change to fix a desired cable member to the bracket member 601a Next, the operation of the vehicle structure A described above will be explained.

[0025] First, when a side collision of the vehicle 1 occurs and a collision load F equal to or greater than a predetermined value is input to the side portion of the vehicle 1 as shown in FIG. 2, the side member 3 deforms inward in the vehicle width direction. On the other hand, since the reinforcing member 4 is joined to the side member 3, it is displaced inward in the vehicle width direction as the side member 3 deforms. At that time, the region of the floor panel Pf where the reinforcing member 4 overlaps is also displaced in the same manner, and the attachment portions 5 and 6 for the fuel tank and the cable member provided in this region are also displaced inward in the vehicle width direction. As a result, a part of each of the fuel tank 2 and the harness 7 is also displaced in the same direction.

[0026] That is, in the present embodiment, when a collision load F equal to or greater than a predetermined value is input to the side portion of the vehicle 1 and the side member 3 deforms inward in the vehicle width direction, a part of the harness 7 and a part of the fuel tank 2 can be displaced in the same direction. As a result, it is appropriately prevented or suppressed that the harness 7 is strongly sandwiched between the side member 3 and the fuel tank 2, and damage to the harness 7 is prevented.

[0027] The reinforcing member 4 also exhibits an effect of suppressing the deformation of the side member 3. Therefore, it is more effectively prevented or suppressed that the harness 7 is strongly sandwiched.

[0028] In the present embodiment, when a side collision of the vehicle 1 occurs, a structure that strongly reinforces the side member 3 so as not to deform the side member 3 as much as possible is not adopted. Deformation of the side member 3 and displacement of each part associated therewith are allowed. According to the present embodiment, although the reinforcing member 4 is used, it is not necessary to make this reinforcing member 4 have a large weight or size. Therefore, it is also possible to suppress an increase in the overall weight and manufacturing cost of the vehicle 1 and improve productivity.

[0029] Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, elements identical or similar to those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the above embodiment, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0030] In the vehicle structure Aa of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the reinforcing member 4 is overlapped and joined to the lower surface side of the floor portion 10 (the lower surface side of the floor panel Pf). For this reason, the attachment portions 5 and 6 for the tank and the wiring members are configured to be directly provided on the reinforcing member 4 (for example, a configuration in which the bracket members 50 and 60 are directly attached to the reinforcing member 4). Even with such a configuration, the operation intended by the present invention can be obtained.

[0031] The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above-described embodiments. The specific configuration of each part of the vehicle structure according to the present invention can be variously designed and changed within the scope intended by the present invention.

[0033] The "other members" referred to in the present invention are not limited to the floor panel Pf, and can also be other floor panels constituting the floor portion, or members different from the floor portion. The wiring member referred to in the present invention is not limited to a harness, and may be, for example, a brake pipe or a fuel hose. The attachment portion for the wiring member can be configured to be provided not only at one location but also at a plurality of locations. Similarly, the attachment portion for the fuel tank can be configured to be provided at a plurality of locations on the reinforcing member. Furthermore, instead of configuring the attachment portions for the fuel tank and the wiring members by welding separate bracket members to the reinforcing member, the floor panel, etc., for example, by performing press working on the reinforcing member, the floor panel, etc., the attachment portions for the fuel tank and the wiring members can be provided on them themselves. The attachment part for the cable member is not limited to a configuration that can fix the fastener. It may be configured as a part where members other than the fastener (such as a pressing member, a holding member, etc.) can be attached. The attachment part for the fuel tank may have a configuration that can fix and attach at least a part of the fuel tank.

Explanation of Signs

[0034] A, Aa Vehicle structure S Region between the fuel tank and the side member Pf Floor panel (other member) 1 Vehicle 2 Fuel tank 3 Side member 4 Reinforcing member 5 Attachment part for the fuel tank 6 Attachment part for the cable member 7 Harness (cable member)

Claims

【Claim 1】 A side member as a vehicle body frame member extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a fuel tank arranged on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of this side member, a wiring member routed so as to pass through the area between these fuel tank and side member, a floor portion provided with a seat lifter portion, and comprising: The floor portion has a substantially horizontal seat lifter front area located in front of the seat lifter portion, and a front upright wall portion that is connected to the rear end portion of this seat lifter front area and stands upright upward to form a part of the seat lifter portion. A vehicle structure, a reinforcing member that is partially joined to the side member, and a portion extending inward in the vehicle width direction from the side member is set to directly face the area between them and the fuel tank, or to indirectly face through another member joined to the other member, a mounting portion for the fuel tank and the wiring member provided directly on this reinforcing member or indirectly via the other member, and for fixing and mounting the fuel tank and the wiring member respectively, and further comprising: The reinforcing member is in the form of a bent plate that is overlapped and joined to the upper or lower surface sides of the seat lifter front area and the front upright wall portion of the floor portion so as to straddle both of them, and is a member that is not bridge-connected between the side member and another side member provided on the opposite side in the vehicle width direction. A vehicle structure characterized by this.

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