Vehicle

Abstract

To provide a structure in which a power control unit (PCU) is less likely to be damaged during collision of a vehicle.SOLUTION: A vehicle comprises an air cleaner, and a rear member arranged rearward in a front-back direction of the vehicle from a mounting position of the air cleaner, where the air cleaner has a fastening point at which the air cleaner is fixedly fastened to the body of the vehicle, and a collision point at which a distance between the rear member and the vehicle in the front-back direction is the shortest, and comprises a low rigidity part provided on the same side as the collision point with respect to the fastening point in a right-left direction of the vehicle, and having a lower rigidity than other portions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Vehicles such as hybrid vehicles (HV or HEV: Hybrid (Electric) Vehicle) and electric vehicles (EV: Electric Vehicle) are equipped with a PCU (Power Control Unit) in the engine compartment (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Due to the convenience of accommodating many members in a limited space in the engine compartment, there is almost no surplus space. For this reason, the arrangement and shape of various members are devised so that the space can be utilized as effectively as possible.

[0004] Since various members are adjacent to each other with almost no gaps, when each part in the engine compartment moves during a vehicle collision, the PCU and the surrounding members may collide. At that time, if the PCU is damaged (or impaired), the adverse effects are great, so it is desirable that the collision target is damaged.

[0005] However, in order to damage the collision target rather than the PCU during a vehicle collision, the strength of the collision target (for example, the air cleaner) must be appropriately weaker than that of the PCU.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide a structure in which damage to a power control unit (PCU) is less likely to occur when a vehicle collides.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a vehicle according to the present invention includes an air cleaner and a rear member disposed rearward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with respect to the mounting position of the air cleaner, wherein the air cleaner has a fastening point that is a point fastened immovably to the vehicle body and a collision point that is a point where the distance between the rear member and the vehicle in the longitudinal direction is closest. The air cleaner is On the same side as the collision point in the left-right direction of the vehicle with respect to the fastening point positioned and provided in a plurality of rows in a straight line A low-rigidity portion having lower rigidity than other portions and a plurality of ribs that are positioned between the plurality of low-rigidity portions and project from the housing of the air cleaner and intersect the arrangement direction of the plurality of low-rigidity portions is provided.

[0009] According to this configuration, since the air cleaner is reinforced against deflection, bending, and torsion by the ribs, while is likely to break at the low-rigidity portion, it is possible to provide a structure in which damage to the PCU is less likely to occur when the vehicle collides.

[0010] Further, in the vehicle according to the present invention, the low-rigidity portion is a portion having a thin wall thickness that is partially provided on the housing of the air cleaner.

[0011] According to this configuration, the low-rigidity portion can be easily provided by adjusting the mold.

[0012] Further, in the vehicle according to the present invention, the plurality of low-rigidity portions are along the arrangement direction of the plurality of low-rigidity portions has a long groove shape.

[0013] According to this configuration low of the rigid portion grooved along the longitudinal direction 、 in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the rib broken it can be easily broken.

[0014] Further, in the vehicle according to the present invention, the low-rigidity portion is provided at a portion of the housing of the air cleaner having a bent shape.

[0015] According to this configuration, the position where the low-rigidity portion breaks can be set more reliably.

[0016] Further, in the vehicle according to the present invention, the low-rigidity portion is provided at a position where the distance from the fastening point is shorter than the distance from the fastening point to the collision point.

[0017] According to this configuration, the force applied to the collision point can be effectively applied to the breakage of the low-rigidity portion.

[0018] Further, in the vehicle according to the present invention, the surface of the air cleaner having the collision point is inclined with respect to the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0019] According to this configuration, after the collision, the air cleaner can be slid relative to the rear member, and thereby the direction of the force applied to the low-rigidity portion can be changed.

[0020] Further, in the vehicle according to the present invention, the air cleaner includes a first case and a second case coupled to the first case, the fastening point is located in the first case, the collision point is located in the second case, and the low-rigidity portion is provided in the vicinity of the mating surface of the first case with the second case.

[0021] According to this configuration, the collision force transmitted from the mating surface to the first case via the second case can be effectively transmitted to the low-rigidity portion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0022] The present invention has an effect of providing a structure in which the air cleaner is likely to break at the low-rigidity portion, so that damage to the PCU is less likely to occur during a vehicle collision.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] Hereinafter, an example of the arrangement of a PCU (Power Control Unit) and an air cleaner in a vehicle according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 3 are diagrams showing an example of the arrangement of the PCU 1 and the air cleaner 2 according to the embodiment.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a state seen from above (plan view), and FIG. 2 shows a state seen from the right side to the left side of the vehicle (side view). For the sake of understanding, FIGS. 1 and 2 are provided with an arrow indicating the direction from the rear to the front of the vehicle, an arrow indicating the direction from the right to the left, and an arrow indicating the direction from the bottom to the top. Note that the front of the vehicle is the front for the driver holding the steering wheel of the vehicle. FIG. 3 shows a state of looking down diagonally forward to the left from the upper right rear of the object.

[0026] The PCU1 is an example of a rear member disposed rearward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with respect to the mounting position of the air cleaner 2.

[0027] The PCU1 and the air cleaner 2 are housed in the engine compartment of a vehicle that is a hybrid vehicle (HV or HEV: Hybrid (Electric) Vehicle). The engine compartment houses various auxiliary machines such as an engine, a motor, and a battery, among others.

[0028] In a vehicle that runs using a motor, the PCU1 controls electric power (supply, charging, power generation) between the drive system, the battery, and the engine. The air cleaner 2 removes dust and the like from the intake air for the engine.

[0029] Due to the fact that many members are housed in the limited space within the engine compartment, other members are also arranged in the vicinity of the PCU1, and one of them is the air cleaner 2. The air cleaner 2 is an example of an object (collision target) with which the PCU1 collides when the PCU1 moves forward in the vehicle during a vehicle collision.

[0030] The PCU1 has a main body portion 11 and a protector 15. The outer shape of the main body portion 11 is box-shaped and houses a substrate, a high-voltage cable, and the like.

[0031] The protector 15 is provided to protect particularly the high-voltage cable of the PCU1. The protector 15 has a flap-like shape and is provided at the front end of the upper surface of the main body portion 11, covering a partial region on the front side of the upper surface of the main body portion 11 with a slight gap.

[0032] Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing an example of the appearance of the air cleaner 2 according to the embodiment. The air cleaner 2 includes a first case 21 and a second case 22. The second case 22 is fixed to the first case 21 by a clip 223 (see Fig. 4). The clip 223 couples the first case 21 and the second case 22. Fig. 5 shows the state where the clip 223 is removed. The first case 21, together with the cover 213, constitutes a container (an air cleaner box, a housing).

[0033] The air cleaner 2 houses the air for which the air cleaner 2 removes dust. The first case 21 has an intake port 215. The intake port 215 is an opening for sucking in the air that fills the air cleaner 2. The air sucked in from the intake port 215 is taken into the air cleaner 2 constituted by the first case 21 and the cover 213, filling the air cleaner 2. Dust and the like taken into the air cleaner 2 together with the air are removed by a filter 25 (see Fig. 5) sandwiched between the second case 22.

[0034] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the inside with the cover 213 removed from the first case 21. The first case 21 is fixedly fastened to the vehicle body at a fastening point O located below the intake port 215. The first case 21 has an opening 211 on the side opposite to the cover 213. A beam 212 is provided across two opposing sides of the frame at the opening 211. The beam 212 maintains the shape of the opening 211 and prevents the filter 25 from dropping into the first case 21. The outside of the opening 211 is covered by the second case 22.

[0035] Returning to Fig. 3, the second case 22 has an outlet 225. The air that has passed through the filter 25 is discharged from the outlet 225 and supplied to the engine. Terminals 275 of a sensor 27 for measuring the flow rate are arranged at a predetermined position within the outlet 225.

[0036] As described above, the air cleaner 2 is disposed in front of the PCU 1 which is an example of a rear member. The air cleaner 2 needs to be designed to have a strength such that when the PCU 1 that has moved forward due to a vehicle collision hits it, the air cleaner 2 breaks itself to avoid damage to the PCU 1.

[0037] Here, the air cleaner 2 of the present embodiment is not a general box shape. This is because the shape of the air cleaner 2 is designed to make the most effective use of the gaps between the PCU 1 and other members. The air cleaner 2 has a relatively high degree of freedom in shape compared to other members. Therefore, it is designed to have a shape that secures a predetermined volume by effectively using the gaps generated between members with relatively inflexible shapes. The result is the shape shown in the figure, for example.

[0038] Unlike a stable shape such as a box shape, for example, the air cleaner 2 with such a shape is likely to twist or bend when alone. Therefore, in order to stabilize the shape, ribs 216, 217, and 218 are provided inside the first case 21 as shown in FIG. 6. The ribs 216 to 218 are a plurality of elongated plate-like portions standing side by side in the thickness direction.

[0039] The ribs 216 to 218 prevent the occurrence of twisting and bending. The ribs 216 and 217 are provided near a pair of long sides of the rectangular opening 211 and contribute to maintaining the shape of the opening 211. The rib 218 is provided in the portion from the intake port 215 to the opening 211 and contributes to maintaining the shape of the portion. Thereby, the shape of the first case 21, and thus the shape of the air cleaner 2, is maintained.

[0040] Here, since generally a rib acts as a reinforcement of a member, the first case 21 is less likely to be broken by the provision of the ribs 216 to 218. Since the air cleaner 2 must be easily damaged to the extent that it does not harm the PCU 1 when colliding with the PCU 1, it is necessary to balance the brittleness of the PCU 1, especially compared to the main body 11, and the structure for maintaining the shape.

[0041] As a structure for that, a low-rigidity portion 219 is provided in the first case 21 of the present embodiment. The low-rigidity portion 219 is a portion designed to have lower rigidity than other portions of the first case 21.

[0042] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the low-rigidity portion 219 provided in the air cleaner 2 according to the embodiment. The low-rigidity portion 219 is, for example, a portion with a thin wall thickness that is partially provided in the housing of the air cleaner 2, and more specifically, is realized as a recessed portion that is recessed compared to the surroundings. The low-rigidity portion 219 of the present embodiment has a groove shape. The longitudinal direction of this grooved low-rigidity portion 219 intersects the longitudinal direction of the rib 218.

[0043] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the position at the time of collision between the PCU 1 and the air cleaner 2 according to the embodiment. When the PCU 1 moves forward due to a vehicle collision, the protector 15 collides with the second case 22 of the air cleaner 2. The positions of collision at this time are the collision points P and Q. The collision point P is the location where the distance in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle from the PCU 1 is the closest. The collision point P of the present embodiment is located on a surface inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. When the PCU 1 moves forward, it first hits the collision point P, and when it moves further, it hits the collision point Q.

[0044] Since the first case 21 is fixed at the fastening point O, the loads received at the collision points P and Q act as a force to bend the first case 21. The low-rigidity portion 219 induces stress concentration on this portion so that the first case 21 breaks due to this bending force.

[0045] The low-rigidity portion 219 is provided on the same side as the collision point P in the left-right direction of the vehicle with respect to the fastening point O. In the air cleaner 2 of the present embodiment, since there is a collision point P on the left side of the vehicle with respect to the fastening point O, the low-rigidity portion 219 is also provided on the left side of the vehicle with respect to the fastening point O. Also, it is preferable that the low-rigidity portion 219 is provided at a position where the distance from the fastening point O is closer than the distance from the fastening point O to the collision point P.

[0046] Furthermore, the low-rigidity portion 219 is provided at a bent portion of the first case 21. The bent portion is a portion where stress due to bending is likely to concentrate. By further providing the low-rigidity portion 219 there, it becomes easier to achieve breakage at the intended position. Additionally, by forming the low-rigidity portion 219 in a groove shape and aligning the longitudinal directions of the arranged grooves linearly, breakage is induced near the virtual line drawn by the grooves. Thereby, the air cleaner 2 can be broken at the intended position and state.

[0047] As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the air cleaner 2 is likely to break at the low-rigidity portion 219, damage to the PCU 1 can be made less likely to occur during a vehicle collision.

[0048] Also, since the low-rigidity portion 219 is provided partially on the housing of the air cleaner 2 as a portion with a thin wall thickness, the low-rigidity portion 219 can be easily provided by adjusting the mold for manufacturing the air cleaner 2.

[0049] Moreover, the air cleaner 2 has a plurality of ribs 218 standing side by side in the thickness direction on the housing, and the low-rigidity portion 219 is formed between the plurality of ribs 218 and has a groove shape long in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the ribs 218. According to this configuration, the air cleaner 2 can be made more likely to break in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the ribs 218 along the longitudinal direction of the low-rigidity portion 219 while being reinforced against deflection, bending, and torsion by the ribs 218.

[0050] Also, the low-rigidity portion 219 is provided at a portion of the housing of the air cleaner 2 having a bent shape. According to this configuration, the position where breakage occurs due to the low-rigidity portion 219 can be set more reliably.

[0051] Also, the low-rigidity portion 219 is provided at a position where the distance from the fastening point O is shorter than the distance from the fastening point O to the collision point P. According to this configuration, the force applied to the collision point P can be effectively made to act on the breakage of the low-rigidity portion 219.

[0052] In addition, the surface having the collision point P of the air cleaner 2 is inclined with respect to the vehicle front-rear direction. According to this configuration, after the collision, the air cleaner 2 can be slid relative to the PCU 1, and thereby, the direction of the force applied to the low-rigidity portion 219 can be changed.

[0053] The air cleaner 2 includes a first case 21 and a second case 22 coupled to the first case 21. The fastening point O is located on the first case 21, the collision point P is located on the second case 22, and the low-rigidity portion 219 is provided in the first case 21 near the mating surface with the second case 22. According to this configuration, the collision force transmitted from the mating surface to the first case 21 via the second case 22 can be effectively transmitted to the low-rigidity portion 219.

[0054] In the above embodiment, the air cleaner 2 having a general shape such as a box shape is described as an example, but the implementation is not limited to this. Even if the housing of the air cleaner (air cleaner box, container) is box-shaped, ribs are provided in a portion with a large area and few irregularities in order to prevent deformation and bending. Therefore, similarly to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to obtain an intended breakage by providing a low-rigidity portion.

[0055] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described, the above embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, changes, and combinations can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. The above embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention and are included in the invention described in the claims and its equivalent scope.

[0056] For example, in practice, the low-rigidity portion 219 of the above embodiment may have a shape other than a groove shape.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0057] 1...PCU, 11...main body portion, 15...protector, 2…Air cleaner, 21…First case, 211…Opening, 212…Beam, 213…Cover, 215…Intake port, 216 - 218…Ribs, 219…Low rigidity part, 22…Second case, 223…Clip, 225…Outlet, 25…Filter, 27…Sensor, 275…Terminal.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising an air cleaner and a rear member disposed rearward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with respect to the mounting position of the air cleaner, wherein the air cleaner has a fastening point which is a point fixedly fastened to the vehicle body and a collision point which is a point where the distance in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle between the rear member and the vehicle is closest, and the air cleaner, has a low-rigidity portion which is located on the same side as the collision point in the lateral direction of the vehicle with respect to the fastening point, is provided in a plurality and arranged linearly, and has a lower rigidity than other portions, and ribs which are located between the plurality of low-rigidity portions, project from the housing of the air cleaner, and intersect the arrangement direction of the plurality of low-rigidity portions. A vehicle comprising the above.

2. The plurality of low-rigidity portions have a long groove-like shape along the arrangement direction of the plurality of low-rigidity portions. The vehicle according to Claim 1.

3. The low-rigidity portion is a portion with a thin wall thickness, which is partially provided on the housing of the air cleaner. The vehicle according to Claim 1.

4. The low-rigidity portion is provided on a portion of the housing of the air cleaner having a bent shape. The vehicle according to Claim 1.

5. The low-rigidity portion is provided at a position where the distance from the fastening point is shorter than the distance from the fastening point to the collision point. The vehicle according to Claim 1.

6. The surface of the air cleaner having the collision point is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The vehicle according to Claim 1.

7. The air cleaner includes a first case and a second case coupled to the first case, the fastening point is located on the first case, the collision point is located on the second case, and the low-rigidity portion is provided on the first case. The vehicle according to Claim 1.

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