Vehicle skeletal structure

Abstract

To obtain a vehicle skeleton structure which can be partially replaced easily in a structure formed by die casting.SOLUTION: A vehicle skeleton structure 10 includes: a skeleton body 12 which is integrally formed including a floor part forming a cabin floor part, and side members 16 disposed at both sides of the floor part in a vehicle width direction and extending in a vehicle fore and aft direction and which is formed by die casting; and a cut starting point 36 formed at the skeleton body 12 and serving as a starting point when at least a part of the side member 16 is cut.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle skeletal structure.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle having a die-cast energy absorption structure. The energy absorption structure includes a plurality of ribs arranged in the vehicle front-rear direction and a corrugated portion provided between the ribs.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the vehicle described in Patent Document 1 above, when the energy absorption structure collapses during a collision, it is necessary to replace all the parts formed by die-casting.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to obtain a vehicle skeletal structure in which a part can be easily replaced in a structure formed by die-casting.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The vehicle skeletal structure according to claim 1 includes a floor portion that constitutes a vehicle interior At the rear and side members that are arranged on both sides in the vehicle width direction of the floor portion and extend in the vehicle front-rear direction By die-casting and are integrally formed Bone and have a lattice formed, and a plurality of recesses are provided in the side member in the vehicle front-rear direction and are each opened in one direction, and a cutting start portion including at least one of a notch and a through hole is provided at the bottom of the recess .

[0007] In the vehicle skeleton structure according to claim 1, a die-cast skeleton body integrally formed including a floor portion and a side member is provided. Further, a cutting start point portion is formed in the skeleton body, and this cutting start point portion including at least one of a notch and a through hole serves as a starting point when at least a part of the side member is cut. Thereby, when a part of the side member is damaged due to a minor collision of the vehicle or the like, the side member can be cut starting from the cutting start point portion, and the side member can be easily replaced.

[0008] The vehicle skeleton structure according to claim 2 is, in claim 1, the side member provided on the proximal end side of the recess between the floor portion and , the cutting start portion is provided .

[0009] In the vehicle skeleton structure according to claim 2, during a collision of the vehicle recess at the distal end side of the side member the part collapses, so that at least a part of the collision load is absorbed. Further, provided between the recess provided on the proximal end side of the side member and the floor portion if the side member is cut starting from the cutting start point portion, the collapsed energy absorption portion can be easily replaced.

[0010] The vehicle skeleton structure according to claim 3 is, in claim 2, in the vicinity of the cutting start point portion, a flange portion extending axially outward from the side member is provided.

[0011] In the vehicle skeleton structure according to claim 3, when replacing the side member, a new side member can be fixed to the skeleton body only by joining the flange portions together.

[0012] The vehicle skeleton structure according to claim 4 is, in claim 3, in the flange portion, a mounting hole through which a bolt can be inserted is formed.

[0013] In the vehicle skeleton structure according to claim 4, in a state where the flange portions are joined together, by inserting a bolt into the insertion hole, a new side member can be mechanically fixed to the skeleton body. Thereby, operations such as welding are not required.

Advantages of the Invention

[0016] As described above, according to the vehicle skeleton structure according to the present invention, in the structure formed by die casting, a part can be easily replaced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] <First Embodiment> The vehicle skeleton structure 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the arrows UP, FR, and RH shown as appropriate indicate the upward direction in the vehicle vertical direction, the forward direction in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the right direction facing the traveling direction, respectively. In addition, when simply describing the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions, unless otherwise specified, the front-rear in the vehicle front-rear direction, the up-down in the vehicle vertical direction, and the left-right in the vehicle width direction are shown.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a vehicle V to which the vehicle skeleton structure 10 according to the present embodiment is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle skeleton structure 10 of the present embodiment is disposed at the rear part of the vehicle V and includes a skeleton main body 12 made of die casting.

[0020] The skeletal body 12 is composed of a floor portion 14 that forms the floor portion at the rear of the passenger compartment and a rear side member 16 that extends from the floor portion 14 toward the rear of the vehicle. Further, in the skeletal body 12 of the present embodiment, the floor portion 14 and the rear side member 16 are integrally formed by die casting.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the vehicle skeletal structure according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the floor portion 14 includes a floor base 18 that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction and the vehicle width direction. Wheel houses 20 are provided at both left and right ends of the floor base 18.

[0022] A pair of left and right rear side members 16 are provided, and each extends in the front-rear direction from the front end to the rear end of the skeletal body 12. Further, the front end portions of the rear side members 16 are connected by a connecting portion 22 that extends in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the front portion of the skeletal body 12 is formed in a substantially frame shape by the floor base 18, the rear side members 16, and the connecting portion 22.

[0023] A bumper reinforcement (not shown) is attached to the rear end portion of the rear side member 16.

[0024] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a main part of the rear side member 16 in the present embodiment. Further, FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the state cut along line 4-4 in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear side member 16 includes an upper wall 16A located on the upper side of the vehicle, a lower wall 16B (see FIG. 4) located on the lower side of the vehicle, and a pair of left and right side walls 16C that connect the upper wall 16A and the lower wall 16B. In FIG. 3, only the left side wall 16C (inside the vehicle width direction) of the pair of side walls 16C is shown, and the right side wall (outside the vehicle width direction) is hidden and not visible, but it has the same configuration as the left side wall 16C.

[0025] Here, an energy absorption portion 30 is formed in the rear side member 16. The energy absorption portion 30 is a structure that absorbs energy by being crushed during a collision of the vehicle V. In the present embodiment, as an example, the energy absorption portion 30 is constituted by a plurality of recesses 32 and a plurality of ribs 34.

[0026] The plurality of recesses 32 are formed in the upper wall 16A of the rear side member 16. The portion where the recess 32 is formed has a lower height in the vertical direction of the rear side member 16, and is in a so-called thin-walled state. Further, a plurality of recesses 32 are formed in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the space between adjacent recesses 32 is partitioned by ribs 34.

[0027] The rib 34 extends in the vertical direction from the height of the upper wall 16A of the rear side member 16 to the bottom of the recess 32. Thus, when a collision load is input from the rear side of the vehicle during a rear collision of the vehicle, since the energy absorption portion 30 on the tip side of the rear side member 16 has a lower strength than the base end side, it is crushed and at least a part of the collision load is absorbed.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a notch portion 36 as a cutting start point is formed on the bottom surface of the most base-end recess 32 constituting the energy absorption portion 30. The notch portion 36 is formed in a shape that is notched downward from the bottom of the recess 32 so as to be a starting point when cutting at least a part of the rear side member 16. For this reason, the rear side member 16 is locally thin in thickness at the position of the notch portion 36, and is configured to be easily cut at the position of the notch portion 36.

[0029] Further, since the notch portion 36 of the present embodiment is formed between the energy absorption portion 30 and the floor portion 14, when the rear side member 16 is cut starting from the notch portion 36, the entire energy absorption portion 30 is removed from the rear side member 16.

[0030] (Operation) Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

[0031] In the vehicle skeletal structure 10 according to this embodiment, an energy absorption portion 30 is formed on the distal end side of the rear side member 16 in a die-cast skeletal body 12 integrally formed including a floor portion 14 and a rear side member 16. Thereby, when a collision load is input to the rear side member 16 during a collision of the vehicle V, the energy absorption portion 30 collapses and energy is absorbed.

[0032] Further, in this embodiment, a notch portion 36 as a cutting start point portion is formed in the skeletal body 12, and this notch portion 36 serves as a starting point when at least a part of the rear side member 16 is cut. Thereby, when a part of the rear side member 16 is damaged due to a minor collision of the vehicle V or the like, the rear side member 16 can be cut starting from the notch portion 36, and the rear side member 16 can be easily replaced.

[0033] Further, if the rear side member 16 is cut starting from the notch portion 36, the crushed energy absorption portion 30 can be easily replaced.

[0034] Note that various methods can be adopted for the method of replacing the crushed energy absorption portion 30. For example, a replacement rear side member may be joined by welding or the like in a state of being abutted against the skeletal body 12. Further, mounting holes may be formed in the skeletal body 12 in advance, and the replacement rear side member and the skeletal body 12 may be mechanically fastened by bolts or the like.

[0035] <Second Embodiment> Next, the vehicle skeletal structure 50 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0036] FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view showing a main part of the rear side member 16 in this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which the rear side member 16 is cut from the state of FIG. 5.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 5, the rear side member 16 of the present embodiment includes an upper wall 16A located on the upper side of the vehicle, a lower wall located on the lower side of the vehicle, and a pair of left and right side walls 16C connecting the upper wall 16A and the lower wall.

[0038] Here, an energy absorption portion 30 is formed in the rear side member 16, and the energy absorption portion 30 is constituted by a plurality of recesses 32 and a plurality of ribs 34. Further, a notch portion 36 as a cutting start point portion is formed on the bottom surface of the recess 32 at the most proximal end side constituting the energy absorption portion 30. The notch portion 36 is formed in a shape that is notched downward from the bottom of the recess 32 so as to be a starting point when at least a part of the rear side member 16 is cut.

[0039] In the vicinity of the notch portion 36 which is the cutting start point portion, a flange portion 52 extending axially outward from the rear side member 16 is provided. The flange portions 52 are respectively fixed to the side walls 16C of the rear side member 16, and are formed in a substantially L shape in plan view including a first straight portion 52A and a second straight portion 52B.

[0040] The first straight portion 52A of the flange portion 52 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction along the side wall 16C of the rear side member 16 and is joined to the side wall 16C. Further, the second straight portion 52B extends in the vehicle width direction from the rear end portion of the first straight portion 52A. Mounting holes (not shown) are formed in the second straight portion 52B.

[0041] (Operation) Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

[0042] In the present embodiment, the rear side member 16 can be easily replaced by cutting the rear side member 16 starting from the notch portion 36. In particular, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the replacement rear side member 100 is abutted against the skeleton body 12, and the rear side member 100 can be repaired simply by overlapping and fastening the flange 100A formed at the front end portion of the rear side member 100 and the flange portion 52 fixed to the skeleton body 12.

[0043] Specifically, with the replacement rear side member 100 abutted against the skeleton main body 12, the positions of the flange 100A and the flange portion 52 on the side of the skeleton main body 12 are aligned. After that, a bolt 102 is inserted through the flange 100A and the flange portion 52 and screwed into a nut 104 arranged on the opposite side, thereby fixing the replacement rear side member 100 to the skeleton main body 12.

[0044] In this way, when replacing the rear side member 16, a new rear side member 100 can be fixed to the skeleton main body 12 simply by joining the flange portion 52 and the flange 100A.

[0045] Also, with the flange portion 52 and the flange 100A joined, by inserting the bolt 102 through the insertion hole, the rear side member 100 can be mechanically fixed to the skeleton main body 12. As a result, operations such as welding are not required.

[0046] As described above, the vehicle skeleton structures 10 and 50 according to the embodiments have been described. However, it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the invention. In the above embodiment, the energy absorption portion 30 is constituted by the plurality of recesses 32 and the ribs 34, but it is not limited thereto. For example, beads or the like may be formed to constitute the energy absorption portion. Further, for example, an energy absorption portion may be constituted by forming the tip of the rear side member 16 in a bellows shape.

[0047] Furthermore, a structure without an energy absorption portion may be adopted. Even in this case, if the tip side of the rear side member 16 is deformed due to a minor collision or the like, the rear side member 16 can be replaced by cutting the rear side member 16 starting from the notch 36.

[0048] Also, in the above second embodiment, the configuration in which the flange portions 52 are provided on both side walls 16C of the rear side member 16 has been described, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the flange portions 52 may be provided on the upper wall 16A and the lower wall 16B of the rear side member 16.

[0049] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the structure in which the notch portion 36 is formed as the cutting start portion has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and a structure including other cutting start portions may be adopted. For example, as the cutting start portion, a structure in which a through hole is formed may be used. In particular, by forming a cutting start portion that is vulnerable in the shearing direction while ensuring the axial strength of the side member, the side member can be easily replaced while maintaining the collision safety performance.

[0050] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the structure in which the vehicle frame structures 10 and 50 are arranged at the rear portion of the vehicle has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a similar vehicle frame structure may be applied to the front portion of the vehicle V. In this case, the frame body 12 may adopt a structure integrally formed including a front side member and a front floor.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0051] 10, 50 Vehicle frame structure 12 Frame body 14 Floor portion 16 Rear side member (side member) 16A Upper wall 16B Side wall 30 Energy absorption portion 36 Notch portion (cutting start portion) 52 Flange portion

Claims

1. It has a skeleton integrally formed by die-casting, including a floor portion constituting the floor portion at the rear of the passenger compartment and side members arranged on both sides in the vehicle width direction of the floor portion and extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. A plurality of recesses are provided in the side members in the vehicle front-rear direction and are each open in one direction. A vehicle skeleton structure in which a cutting start point portion including at least one of a notch portion and a through hole is provided at the bottom of the recess.

2. The vehicle skeleton structure according to claim 1, wherein the cutting start point portion is provided between the recess provided on the proximal end side of the side member and the floor portion.

3. The vehicle skeleton structure according to claim 2, wherein a flange portion extending axially outward from the side member is provided in the vicinity of the cutting start point portion.

4. The vehicle skeleton structure according to claim 3, wherein a mounting hole through which a bolt can be inserted is formed in the flange portion.

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