Vehicle structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle structure that can more surely avoid or prevent a possibility that a power storage device such as a battery mounted in a vehicle rear part is damaged at the time of a rear collision of a vehicle, compared to a known vehicle structure.SOLUTION: A vehicle structure A includes: a recessed portion 20 disposed on a rear floor 2 to be recessed downward; a lower back 22 disposed at an upper portion of a rear wall portion 20b that stands upward from a rear portion of a bottom portion 20a of the recessed portion 20 and extending in a vehicle width direction; and a power storage device 3 mounted on a bracket 4 that has a bottom plate portion 40 and disposed on the bottom portion 20a of the recessed portion 20. The bracket 4 includes: a back plate portion 41 standing upward from a rear portion of the bottom plate portion 40 and having an upper portion connected to the lower back 22; side plate portions 42a, 42b connecting the back plate portion 41 and the bottom plate portion 40 to be bridged therebetween. When the lower back 22 receives a load equal to or larger than a predetermined value from the vehicle rear side to be deformed or dislocated toward the vehicle front side, the upper portion of the back plate portion 41 is dislocated toward the vehicle front side, and thus the bracket 4 can generate force to move a front end portion 40a of the bottom plate portion 40 downward.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] The applicant has previously proposed, as an example of this type of vehicle structure, the one described in Patent Document 1. In the vehicle structure described in the same document, as shown in FIG. 7(a) of the present application, a downwardly concave portion 20e is provided in the rear floor portion 2e, and a power storage device 95 such as a battery is housed in the concave portion 20e. The power storage device 95 is held by a bracket 4e fixed on the bottom of the concave portion 20e. Further, a reinforcement 90 is attached to the lower surface side of the bottom portion 20a. When a rear-end collision of the vehicle 1e occurs and the reinforcement 90 receives the collision load, the power storage device 95 is deformable so as to rotate downward and backward. According to such a configuration, compared with the case where the power storage device is displaced toward the front side of the vehicle by a collision load without the above-described rotation, it is possible to suppress the power storage device from strongly colliding with the member on the front side of the vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to improve the protection performance of the power storage device.

[0003] However, in the above prior art, as described below, there is still room for improvement.

[0004] That is, when a rear-end collision of the vehicle 1e occurs and the power storage device 95 rotates downward and backward, as shown in FIG. 7(b), the front portion of the power storage device 95 rises relative to the rear portion. On the other hand, a vehicle seat 6e is disposed on the front side of the concave portion 20e, and a part of the vehicle seat 6e may be set to project toward the concave portion 20e side. In such a set state, when a rear-end collision of the vehicle 1e occurs, the front portion of the power storage device 95 may collide with the vehicle seat 6e and be damaged. In order to enhance the protection performance of the power storage device, it is desirable to appropriately prevent or suppress such a situation.

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 an object thereof is to provide a vehicle structure capable of more reliably preventing or suppressing the risk of damage to a power storage device such as a battery mounted on the rear part of the vehicle during a rear-end collision of the vehicle than in the prior art.

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 downwardly concave portion provided in the rear floor portion, a lower back extending in the vehicle width direction provided at the upper portion of the rear side wall portion that rises upward from the rear portion of the bottom portion of the concave portion, and a power storage device placed on a bracket having a bottom plate portion and arranged on the bottom portion of the concave portion. The vehicle structure is characterized in that the bracket includes a back plate portion that rises upward from the rear portion of the bottom plate portion and has an upper portion joined to the lower back, and side plate portions that connect the back plate portion and the bottom plate portion in a bridging state. When the lower back receives a load of a predetermined value or more from the rear side of the vehicle and deforms or displaces toward the front side of the vehicle, the bracket is configured such that the upper portion of the back plate portion is displaced toward the front side of the vehicle, thereby generating a force that causes the front end portion of the bottom plate portion to descend. It is characterized by being configured to be able to generate such a force.

[0009] According to such a configuration, the following effects can be obtained. That is, when a rear-end collision of the vehicle occurs and the collision load is input to the rear part of the vehicle, this collision load acts on the lower backrest, and becomes a force that presses the lower backrest forward and deforms or displaces it. On the other hand, for the bracket of the power storage device, since the upper part of the back plate portion is joined to the lower backrest, the upper part of this back plate portion is displaced toward the front side of the vehicle, generating a force that lowers the front end portion of the bottom plate portion of the bracket, and this force can deform downward the portion of the bottom of the recess corresponding to the front end portion. When a rear-end collision of the vehicle occurs, if only the back plate portion of the bracket falls forward along with the deformation or displacement of the lower backrest, the above-described action cannot be obtained. However, the back plate portion is bridged and connected via the bottom plate portion and the side plate portion, and since this side plate portion serves as a tension portion, it is possible to appropriately prevent only the back plate portion from falling forward. As a result, different from the prior art, when a rear-end collision of the vehicle occurs, the front part of the power storage device can be actively lowered. Even if, for example, a vehicle seat is installed in front of the power storage device and a part of this vehicle seat protrudes toward the recess side, strong collision of the power storage device against this part can be appropriately avoided, and prevention of damage can be achieved. Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to enhance the protection performance of the power storage device. According to the present invention, by devising the shape and the mounting method of the bracket, the displacement of the bracket and the power storage device when a rear-end collision of the vehicle occurs is controlled, and an increase in the weight and the manufacturing cost of the vehicle can be suppressed, and productivity can also be enhanced.

[0010] In the present invention, preferably, a reinforcing member that is joined to the lower surface and / or the upper surface of the bottom of the recess and extends in the vehicle width direction is further provided, and the reinforcing member and the bottom plate portion of the bracket overlap and are joined to each other in the vehicle front-rear direction such that the front edge portion of the reinforcing member is positioned in the vicinity of the front end portion of the bottom plate portion.

[0011] According to such a configuration, the rigidity of the region where the bottom portion of the concave portion and the bottom plate portion of the bracket overlap and are joined to each other is increased, and the difference in rigidity between this region and the region where the front end portion of the bottom plate portion of the bracket descends becomes large. Therefore, when a rear-end collision of the vehicle occurs, the deformation of the bottom portion of the concave portion so that the front end portion of the bottom plate portion of the bracket descends is made smoother.

[0012] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] A vehicle structure A shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 includes a concave portion 20 provided in a rear floor portion 2 of a vehicle 1, a power storage device 3 such as a battery, a bracket 4 on which the power storage device 3 is mounted, and first to third reinforcing members 5A to 5C.

[0016] The rear floor portion 2 is configured using a thin metal floor panel, and the recess 20 is a downwardly recessed area provided in a portion corresponding to the luggage compartment in the vehicle interior. The front region of the recess 20 is configured as a seat riser portion 21 on which the vehicle seat 6 is mounted. Further, the rear side wall portion 20b of the recess 20 stands upright upward from the rear portion of the bottom portion 20a of the recess 20, and a lower back 22 is provided at the upper portion thereof. This lower back 22 has a closed cross-sectional structure in which a lower back inner 22a and a lower back outer 22b are combined, extends in the vehicle width direction, and constitutes the lower edge portion of the rear opening that is opened and closed by the back door 19 of the vehicle 1. The rear side wall portion 20b is a so-called lower back panel.

[0017] The bracket 4 includes a bottom plate portion 40 on which the power storage device 3 is placed, a back plate portion 41 that stands upright upward from the rear portion of the bottom plate portion 40, and a pair of substantially triangular side plate portions 42a and 42b that connect the back plate portion 41 and the side edge portions of the bottom plate portion 40 in a bridging state. The bottom plate portion 40 and the back plate portion 41 are appropriately formed in a corrugated shape (a configuration provided with bead portions) having a plurality of irregularities to enhance strength. The bottom plate portion 40, the back plate portion 41, and the pair of side plate portions 42a and 42b are connected to each other in a robust state. The power storage device 3 is fixed to the bracket 4 using a fixing member (not shown).

[0018] The bracket 4 is disposed on the upper surface side of the bottom portion 20a of the recess 20 and is fixed to the bottom portion 20a. However, on the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the portion of the bottom portion 20a where the bracket 4 is placed, the first and second reinforcing members 5A and 5B are provided so as to overlap with each other with the bottom portion 20a interposed therebetween. As clearly shown in FIG. 5, these first and second reinforcing members 5A and 5B have a relatively flat cross-sectional hat shape and are joined to the bottom portion 20a by means such as welding. As shown in FIG. 2, the length of the first reinforcing member 5A in the vehicle front-rear direction is substantially equal to the bottom plate portion 40 of the bracket 4. An upwardly bent portion 50 is formed at the rear portion of the first reinforcing member 5A, and this portion is joined to the rear side wall portion 20b of the recess 20. As clearly shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the second reinforcing member 5B extends from its rear portion to the upper portion of the front inclined wall portion 20c of the recess 20 or a region further forward in the vehicle than that on the lower surface side of the rear floor portion 2. Preferably, a cross member 76 extending in the vehicle width direction is provided in the front side of the recess 20 in the rear floor portion 2, and the front end portion of the second reinforcing member 5B is joined to this cross member 76.

[0019] The bracket 4 is positioned and fixed to the first reinforcing member 5A by fastening means using bolts 80 (not shown appropriately) in a state where it is placed on the first reinforcing member 5A, and is fixed to the bottom portion 20a of the recess 20. However, instead of this, or in addition thereto, other fixing means such as welding may be used. Further, the upper portion of the back plate portion 41 of the bracket 4 abuts against the front surface portion of the lower back 22, and is joined to this abutting portion by fastening means using bolts 81 and / or means such as welding. Among the back plate portion 41, the region having a low height is not joined to the rear side wall portion 20b of the recess 20, and an appropriate gap C (see FIG. 2) is provided.

[0020] As the third reinforcing member 5C, as shown in FIG. 4, a pair of left and right third reinforcing members 5C arranged separately on the left and right sides of the second reinforcing member 5B are provided. This third reinforcing member 5C corresponds to a specific example of the reinforcing member referred to in the present invention (Claim 2), and is joined to the bottom portion 20a in a state of extending in the vehicle width direction on the lower surface side of the bottom portion 20a of the recess 20. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 5, it extends in the region of the outer surface portion of the left and right side wall portions 20d of the recess 20, further near the pair of left and right side members 77, or reaches the pair of side members 77. As shown in FIG. 2, the general portion of this third reinforcing member 5C has a flat cross-sectional hat shape.

[0021] A part of the third reinforcing member 5C and the bottom plate portion 40 of the bracket 4 overlap each other via the bottom portion 20a of the recess 20 and the first and second reinforcing members 5A and 5B. In this overlapping state, in the vehicle front-rear direction, the front edge portion 57 of the third reinforcing member 5C is located near the front end portion 40a of the bottom plate portion 40.

[0022] Next, the operation of the vehicle structure A described above will be explained.

[0023] First, when a rear-end collision of the vehicle 1 occurs and a collision load F equal to or greater than a predetermined value is input to the lower back 22 at the rear of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 6, the lower back 22 deforms or displaces toward the front side of the vehicle. On the other hand, since the upper part of the back plate portion 41 of the bracket 4 for the power storage device 3 is joined to the lower back 22, a force is generated on the bracket 4 to displace the upper part of the back plate portion 41 toward the front side of the vehicle and rotate the bracket 4 forward. This force becomes a force that lowers the front end portion 40a of the bottom plate portion 40, and it is possible to bend and deform downward the portion of the bottom portion 20a of the recess 20 corresponding to the front end portion 40a.

[0024] When a rear-end collision of the vehicle 1 occurs, if only the back plate portion 41 of the bracket 4 is in a forward-falling state as the lower back 22 deforms or displaces, the above-described operation cannot be obtained suitably. However, in the present embodiment, the back plate portion 41 is bridged and connected via the bottom plate portion 40 and the side plate portions 42a and 42b, and since these side plate portions 42a and 42b serve as tension portions, it is appropriately prevented that only the back plate portion 41 is in a forward-falling state. Furthermore, the difference in rigidity between the region where the third reinforcing member 5C and the bottom plate portion 40 of the bracket 4 overlap and are joined to each other and the region where the front end portion 40a of the bottom plate portion 40 of the bracket 4 descends is large among the bottom portion 20a of the recess 20. Therefore, the deformation of the bottom portion 20a of the recess 20 so that the front end portion 40a of the bottom plate portion 40 of the bracket 4 descends is made smoother.

[0025] As a result of the above-described operation occurring, the front portion of the power storage device 3 can be actively lowered. Even if a part of the vehicle seat 6 in front of the power storage device 3 protrudes toward the recess 20 side, it is appropriately avoided that the power storage device 3 strongly collides with this portion, and damage prevention is achieved. Also, the vehicle structure A of the present embodiment can enhance the protection performance of the power storage device 3 when a rear-end collision of the vehicle 1 occurs by devising the shape and attachment method of the bracket 4. Although the first to third reinforcing members 5A to 5C are used, since all of these are relatively thin and lightweight, it is also possible to appropriately suppress an increase in the weight of the vehicle 1 and the manufacturing cost.

[0026] The present invention is not limited to the content of the above-described embodiment. 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.

[0027] As the side plate portion of the bracket, in the above-described embodiment, a pair of left and right side plate portions are provided, but at least one side plate portion may be provided. Also, its shape is not limited to a substantially triangular shape. The reinforcing member referred to in the present invention (Claim 2) (in the above-described embodiment, the third reinforcing member 5C corresponds thereto) is not limited to the configuration joined to the lower surface of the bottom of the recess, and instead of this, or in addition to this, it is also possible to adopt a configuration joined to the upper surface of the bottom of the recess. The power storage device referred to in the present invention is a concept that includes, for example, a capacitor etc. in addition to a battery.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0028] A Vehicle Structure 2 Rear Floor Portion 20 Recess 20a Bottom Portion (of the Recess) 20b Rear Side Wall Portion (of the Recess) 22 Lower Back 3 Power Storage Device 4 Bracket 40 Bottom Plate Portion (of the Bracket) 40a Front End Portion (of the Bottom Plate Portion) 41 Back Plate Portion (of the Bracket) 42a, 42b Side Plate Portions (of the Bracket) 5C Third Reinforcing Member (Reinforcing Member)

Claims

1. A concave portion that is provided on the vehicle rear side of the seat lifter portion of the rear floor portion and has a downward concave shape with a front upwardly inclined wall portion that is continuously provided in a bent shape on the front side of the bottom portion, and A lower back that is provided on the upper portion of a rear side wall portion that stands upward from the rear portion of the bottom portion of this concave portion and extends in the vehicle width direction, A power storage device that is placed on a bracket and arranged on the bottom portion of the concave portion, A vehicle structure comprising: The bracket includes a bottom plate portion on which the entire power storage device is placed, a back plate portion that stands upward from the rear portion of the bottom plate portion and has an upper portion joined to the lower back, and a side plate portion that connects the back plate portion and the bottom plate portion in a bridging state. When the lower back receives a load of a predetermined value or more from the vehicle rear side and deforms or displaces toward the vehicle front side, the bracket is configured such that when the upper portion of the back plate portion is displaced toward the vehicle front side, the front end portion of the bottom plate portion assumes a forward-falling posture in which it descends. A vehicle structure characterized by this.

2. The vehicle structure according to Claim 1, Further comprising a reinforcing member that is joined to the lower surface and / or the upper surface of the bottom portion of the concave portion and extends in the vehicle width direction, The vehicle structure, wherein the reinforcing member and the bottom plate portion of the bracket overlap and are joined to each other in the vehicle front-rear direction such that the front side edge portion of the reinforcing member is positioned in the vicinity of the front end portion of the bottom plate portion.

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