Rear structural member for vehicle

Abstract

To reduce weight of a vehicle and improve strength and rigidity of the vehicle.SOLUTION: A rear part constituting member 100 is an integrally casted hollow member, which is constituted of a main body part 10, a tower part 40 and a suspension member part 50. An arm bracket 31 connected with an arm that is a suspension device is arranged on outer side surfaces in a vehicle width direction of the main body part 10 and of the suspension member part 50. The main body part 10 comprises a first connecting member 21 connecting a right side plate 11 to a left side plate 12 in the vehicle width direction, at a position where the arm bracket 31 is arranged.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a structure of a rear structural member for a vehicle, and more particularly to a structure of a rear structural member for a vehicle to which a suspension arm is attached. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a structure in which a bracket for attaching a suspension arm is welded to a front side member at the front of a vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-141166 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, there has been a demand for lighter vehicles and improved rigidity. In this regard, the structure described in Patent Document 1 leaves room for improvement.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce the weight of a vehicle and improve the strength and rigidity of the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle rear structural member of the present invention is a vehicle rear structural member that is connected to the rear end of a rocker and a rear pillar and extends rearward of the vehicle, and is a hollow member that is cast as a single unit and is composed of a main body portion, a tower portion, and a suspension member portion, and the main body portion has at least a closed cross section and extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, connecting the rear pillar and a rear member at the rear of the vehicle, the tower portion is connected to the upper side of the main body portion and has a space that accommodates part of a suspension device, the suspension member portion has at least a closed cross section and extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle below the main body portion and has a front end that is connected to the rocker and the rear pillar, arm brackets to which arms of the suspension device are connected are provided on the outer surfaces of the main body portion and the suspension member in the vehicle width direction, and the main body portion is provided with a first connecting member that connects a vehicle width direction outer panel and a vehicle width direction inner panel in the vehicle width direction at the position where the arm bracket is provided.

[0007] As a result, the vehicle rear structural member of the present invention can reduce the weight of the vehicle and improve the strength and rigidity of the portion where the main body and the arm of the suspension device are connected.

[0008] In the vehicle rear structural member of the present invention, the first connecting member may be integrally cast with the main body portion, the tower portion, and the suspension member portion.

[0009] This allows the vehicle rear structural member of the present invention to have a simple structure.

[0010] In the vehicle rear structural member of the present invention, a transaxle mount bracket is provided to connect a transaxle to the vehicle widthwise inner surfaces of the main body and the suspension member, and the main body and the suspension member may be provided with a second connecting member that connects the vehicle widthwise outer plate and the vehicle widthwise inner plate in the vehicle width direction at the position where the transaxle mount bracket is provided.

[0011] As a result, the rear structural member for a vehicle of the present invention can reduce the weight of the vehicle and improve the strength and rigidity of the part where the main body part and the transaxle are connected and the part where the suspension member part and the transaxle are connected.

[0012] In the vehicle rear structural member of the present invention, the second connecting member may be cast integrally with the main body portion, the tower portion, and the suspension member portion.

[0013] This allows the vehicle rear structural member of the present invention to have a simple structure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The present invention can reduce the weight of a vehicle and improve the strength and rigidity of the vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view showing a rear structure of a vehicle including a rear structural member according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a suspension device is attached to a rear component member according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a rear component of the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the rear component, showing the cross section AA shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the rear component showing the cross section BB shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the inner side of the rear structural member in the vehicle width direction according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, a vehicle rear structural member 100 (hereinafter referred to as the rear structural member 100) according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a rear structure 310 for a vehicle 300 including the rear structural member 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. In the following description, the rear structure 310 for the right side of the vehicle 300 will be described. The rear structure 310 for the left side of the vehicle 300 is bilaterally symmetrical to the rear structure 310 for the right side, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. The arrows FR, UP, and RH shown in each drawing indicate the front, upper, and right sides of the vehicle 300, respectively. The opposite directions of the arrows FR, UP, and RH indicate the rear, lower, and left sides. Hereinafter, when the directions simply refer to front-rear, left-right, and up-down, they refer to front-rear in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 300, left-right in the left-right direction, and up-down in the up-down direction, unless otherwise specified.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the rear structure 310 of the vehicle 300 includes a rocker 81, a rear pillar 84, a rear pillar outer 82, a rear component 100, a rear member 92, a cross connection member 93, a support pillar 94, a connection member 76, and a roof rail 91.

[0018] The rocker 81 is a structural member that extends in the fore-and-aft direction at the side end of the vehicle 300. The rocker 81 has a rectangular closed cross-sectional shape. A rear pillar 84 is attached to the upper surface of the rear end of the rocker 81. A rear pillar outer 82 is connected to the upper part and front of the rear pillar 84. The lower end of the rear pillar outer 82 is connected to the upper surface of the rear end of the rocker 81. A rear end plate 85 is attached to the rear end of the rocker 81. In this way, the rear pillar 84 and the rear pillar outer 82 are attached to the rear end of the rocker 81. As shown in FIG. 2, the rear pillar outer 82 is a hat-shaped structural member with a closed cross-section that extends upward from the rocker 81.

[0019] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rear structural member 100 is a structural member that is connected to the rear end of the rocker 81 and the rear pillar 84 and extends rearward of the vehicle. The rear structural member 100 is a hollow member that is integrally cast and is composed of a main body section 10, a tower section 40, a suspension member section 50, and a front end block 70. Details of the structure of the rear structural member 100 will be explained later with reference to Figures 3 to 6.

[0020] The rear member 92 is a structural member with a closed cross section that is connected to the rear end 19 of the rear structural member 100 and extends rearward of the vehicle. A rear end plate 95 is attached to the rear end of the rear member 92.

[0021] The cross connection member 93 is a cross member that connects the rear ends of the upper pedestals 47 of the tower sections 40 of the left and right rear constituent members 100 to the left and right. The support pillar 94 is a closed cross-section member that connects the upper surface of the rear member 92 to the lower surface of the cross connection member 93. The connection member 76 is a closed cross-section member that connects the front end of the upper pedestal 47 of the tower section 40 to the top of the front end block 70.

[0022] The roof rail 91 is a structural member that constitutes the roof of the vehicle 300. The roof rail 91 is a longitudinal member with a closed cross section that extends in the front-to-rear direction at the side edge of the upper part of the vehicle 300. The central portion of the roof rail 91 is connected to the upper end 83 of the outer rear pillar 82. The roof rail 91 extends diagonally rearward from the upper end 83 of the outer rear pillar 82 toward the upper base 47 of the tower section 40. The rear end of the roof rail 91 is connected to the upper base 47 of the tower section 40.

[0023] Next, with reference to FIG. 2, a brief description will be given of the suspension system 200 attached to the rear component 100. The suspension system 200 is composed of an upper arm 201, two lower arms 202, a middle arm 203, a coil spring 204, and a shock absorber 205. The upper arm 201 connects arm brackets 31 and 32 fixed to the main body 10 to the upper part of the wheel 210. The rear lower arm 202 connects an arm bracket 34 fixed to the suspension member 50 to the rear lower part of the wheel 210. The front lower arm 202 (not shown) connects an arm bracket 34 (not shown) fixed to the front of the suspension member 50 to the front lower part of the wheel 210. The structure of the front arm bracket 34 (not shown) is the same as that of the rear arm bracket 34 shown in the figure. The middle arm 203 connects an arm bracket 36 fixed to the suspension member 50 to the vertical center of the wheel 210. Shock absorber 205 is connected to the lower part of wheel 210. An upper part of shock absorber 205 is housed in recess 46 of tower section 40. An upper end of shock absorber 205 is connected to the upper part of tower section 40. Like shock absorber 205, coil spring 204 has an upper part housed in recess 46 of tower section 40. A drive shaft 211 is connected to wheel 210, and suspension section 50 has opening 54 through which drive shaft 211 passes in the vehicle width direction.

[0024] Next, the structure of the rear structural member 100 will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 6. As explained above, the rear structural member 100 is a hollow member that is integrally cast and is composed of a main body section 10, a tower section 40, a suspension member section 50, and a front end block 70.

[0025] The main body 10 is a part that has at least a closed cross section and extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. The front end of the main body 10 is connected to the upper half 71 of the front end block 70. As shown in FIG. 3 , the general part of the main body 10 is a rectangular closed cross section part that is composed of an upper plate 13, a lower plate 14, a right side plate 11, and a left side plate 12. Here, the right side plate 11 constitutes the outer plate of the main body 10 in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, the left side plate 12 constitutes the inner plate of the main body 10 in the vehicle width direction.

[0026] The closed cross-sectional shape of the general portion of the main body 10 is the same as the closed cross-sectional shape of the rear member 92. Therefore, when the rear member 92 is connected to the rear end 19 of the main body 10, the main body 10 and the rear member 92 form a rear side member, which is a structural member extending from the rear pillar 84 toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, the upper plate 13 is cut out in the portion of the main body 10 that connects to the tower 40 (a portion other than the general portion). The upper plate 13 is divided into a front portion located forward of the portion connected to the tower 40 and a rear portion located rearward of the portion connected to the tower 40. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, the tower 40 is composed of a right side plate 41, a left side plate 42, a front plate 43, a rear plate 44, and a ceiling plate 45. The front portion of the upper plate 13 is connected to the front plate 43 of the tower 40. The rear portion of the upper plate 13 is connected to the rear plate 44 of the tower 40. The front plate 43 and the rear plate 44 are connected in the front-to-rear direction by the ceiling plate 45. The right side plate 11 of the main body 10 is connected to the right side plate 41 of the tower 40, and the left side plate 12 of the main body 10 is connected to the left side plate 42 of the tower 40. Therefore, the part of the main body 10 connected to the tower 40 is composed of a front panel 43, a rear panel 44, a ceiling panel 45, a lower panel 14, right side panels 11, 41, and left side panels 12, 42, and has a closed cross-sectional shape extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, pedestals 15 and 17 are provided on the surface of right side plate 11, to which arm brackets 31 and 32 shown in FIG. 2 are fixed. Here, the surface of right side plate 11 is the outer surface of main body 10 in the vehicle width direction. Pedestals 15 and 17 are provided with bolt holes 16 and 18 for fixing arm brackets 31 and 32. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, pedestal 64A is provided on the surface of left side plate 12, to which the upper part of transaxle mount bracket 38 is fixed. Here, transaxle mount bracket 38 is a bracket that connects the upper part of a transaxle (not shown) to main body 10. Transaxle mount bracket 38 is composed of base 38A fixed to pedestal 64A and transaxle support part 38B erected from base 38A. Pedestal 64A has bolt hole 65A for fixing the upper part of transaxle mount bracket 38. As indicated by arrow 99A in FIG. 6, the upper part of transaxle mount bracket 38 is fixed to pedestal 64A with a bolt. Here, the surface of the left side plate 12 is the inner surface of the main body 10 in the vehicle width direction.

[0029] The tower section 40 is connected to the upper side of the main body section 10 and includes a recess 46 that accommodates a portion of the suspension device 200. As described above, the tower section 40 is composed of a right side panel 41, a left side panel 42, a front panel 43, a rear panel 44, and a ceiling panel 45. The front panel 43 and the rear panel 44 are connected to the upper panel 13 of the main body section 10 so as to rise from the upper panel 13. The right side panel 41 is connected to the right side panel 11 of the main body section 10. Similarly, the left side panel 42 is connected to the left side panel 12 of the main body section 10. The right side panel 41 is provided with a recess 46. The recess 46 is a cylindrical depression that is recessed toward the inside in the vehicle width direction and has a central axis that is inclined diagonally toward the outside of the vehicle. The upper part of the recess 46 is connected to the ceiling panel 45. The upper part of the coil spring 204 and the upper part of the shock absorber 205 are accommodated in a space 46A inside the recess 46. An upper base 47 is provided at the right end of the ceiling panel 45 of the tower section 40. As described above, the roof rail 91, the connecting member 76, and the cross connecting member 93 are connected to the upper base 47.

[0030] The suspension member 50 has at least a partially closed cross section and is a portion that extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle below the main body 10. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, the suspension member 50 includes a right side panel 51, a left side panel 52, a rear panel 53A, and a lower panel 53B. The suspension member 50 is a hollow member with a closed cross section, surrounded on the right, left, rear, front, lower, and upper sides by the right side panel 51, the left side panel 52, the rear panel 53A, the front end block 70, the lower panel 53B, and the lower panel 14 of the main body 10. The right side panel 51 constitutes the outer panel of the suspension member 50 in the vehicle width direction. The left side panel 52 constitutes the inner panel of the suspension member 50 in the vehicle width direction.

[0031] A cylindrical opening 54 is provided in the center of the suspension member 50, through which the drive shaft 211 passes. A cone-shaped recess 55 is provided in front of the right side plate 51. The bottom of the recess 55 is flat. A pedestal 57 is provided at the bottom, to which the front arm bracket 34 is fixed. The pedestal 57 has a bolt hole 58 for fixing the front arm bracket 34. A recess 56 is provided at the lower rear side of the right side plate 51, recessed in a stepped shape from the surface of the right side plate 51. A pedestal 59 is provided at the bottom of the recess 56, to which the rear arm bracket 34 is fixed. The pedestal 59 has a bolt hole 60 for fixing the rear arm bracket 34. An oval opening 61 is provided at the upper rear side of the right side plate 51. The periphery of the opening 61 and the surface of the right side plate 51 are connected by an inclined curved surface. Pedestals 62, to which the arm bracket 36 shown in FIG. 2 is fixed, are provided at the top and bottom of the opening 61, respectively. Each pedestal 62 is provided with a bolt hole 63 for fixing the arm bracket 36. Here, the bottom of the recess 55 and the bottom of the recess 56 are the outer surfaces of the suspension member 50 in the vehicle width direction.

[0032] As shown in Figure 6, two pedestals 66A to which the lower part of transaxle mount bracket 38 is fixed are provided on the surface of the upper rear end of left side plate 52. Each pedestal 66A has a bolt hole 67A for fixing the lower part of transaxle mount bracket 38. In addition, two pedestals 66B to which the upper part of transaxle mount bracket 39 is fixed and a pedestal 64B to which the lower part of transaxle mount bracket 39 is fixed are provided on the surface of the rear part of left side plate 52 slightly below the center. Transaxle mount bracket 39 is made up of a base 39A fixed to pedestals 64B and 66B, and a transaxle support part 39B that stands upright from base 39A.

[0033] Each pedestal 66B has a bolt hole 67B for fastening the upper portion of transaxle mount bracket 39. Furthermore, pedestal 64B has a bolt hole 65B for fastening the lower portion of transaxle mount bracket 39. As shown by arrow 99A in FIG. 6, the lower portion of transaxle mount bracket 38 is fastened to pedestal 66A with a bolt. Furthermore, as shown by arrow 99B in FIG. 6, transaxle mount bracket 39 is fastened to pedestals 64A, 66A with a bolt. Here, the surface of left side plate 52 is the inner surface of suspension member 50 in the vehicle width direction.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3, the front end block 70 is a rectangular member with a closed cross section to which the front end of the main body 10 and the front end of the suspension member 50 are connected. As shown in FIG. 2, the right end of the front end block 70 is connected to the left end of the rear pillar 84. The suspension member 50 is connected to the lower half 72 of the front end block 70. As shown in FIG. 6, the left side plate 52 of the suspension member 50 and the front end block 70 are connected by ribs 73 and 74. Therefore, the suspension member 50 is connected to the rear pillar 84 and the rocker 81 via the front end block 70. A receiving seat 75 to which the front end of the connecting member 76 is connected is provided at the top of the front end block 70. The receiving seat 75 protrudes obliquely upward and rearward from the upper end of the front end block 70.

[0035] Next, the internal structures of the main body 10 and the suspension member 50 will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Note that in Figures 4 and 5, hatching indicates cross sections. As shown in Figure 4, first connecting members 20-23 and a second connecting member 25 are provided inside the main body 10. The frontmost first connecting member 20 connects the right side panel 11 and the left side panel 12 in the vehicle width direction at a position where the bolt hole 16 is formed in front of the base 15. The second front first connecting member 21 connects the right side panel 11 and the left side panel 12 in the vehicle width direction at a position where the bolt hole 16 is formed in rear of the base 15. The third front first connecting member 22 connects the right side panel 11 and the left side panel 12 in the vehicle width direction at a position where the bolt hole 18 is formed in front of the base 17. The fourth first connecting member 23 from the front connects the right side panel 11 and the left side panel 12 in the vehicle width direction at a position where bolt hole 18 is provided behind base 17. The second connecting member 25 is formed integrally with the third first connecting member 22 from the front, and connects the right side panel 11 and the left side panel 12 in the vehicle width direction at a position where bolt hole 65A of base 64A provided on left side panel 12 is provided.

[0036] Here, the configuration of the second first connecting member 21 from the front will be described with reference to FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, the first connecting member 21 is composed of two upper and lower large-diameter portions 21A that connect to the right side panel 11, two upper and lower small-diameter portions 21B that connect the left ends of the large-diameter portions 21A to the inner surface of the left side panel 12, and a rib 21C that vertically connects the upper and lower large-diameter portions 21A and the upper and lower small-diameter portions 21B. Bolt holes 18 are provided inside the large-diameter portions 21A, into which bolts 37 that secure the arm bracket 31 to the base 15 are threaded. In this manner, the first connecting member 21 connects the right side panel 11 and the left side panel 12 in the vehicle width direction at the position where the arm bracket 31 is provided. The foremost first connecting member 20 and the fourth first connecting member 23 from the front have the same structure as the second first connecting member 21.

[0037] As shown in detail in section C in Figure 4, the third first connecting member 22 from the front has the same configuration as the second first connecting member 21, except that the diameter of the small diameter portion 22B at the portion where it connects to the left side plate 12 is increased to form a left large diameter portion 25A. A bolt hole 65A is provided inside this left large diameter portion 25A, into which a bolt (not shown) is threaded to secure the upper portion of the transaxle mount bracket 38. Therefore, this left large diameter portion 25A and the third first connecting member 21 from the front integrally constitute the second connecting member 25 that connects the right side plate 11 and the left side plate 12 in the vehicle width direction at the position where the transaxle mount bracket 38 is provided.

[0038] 6, a second connecting member 26 is provided inside suspension member 50 at a position where bolt hole 67A is formed in base 66A on left side plate 52, connecting right side plate 51 and left side plate 52 in the vehicle width direction. Also, a second connecting member 27 is provided at a position where bolt holes 65B and 67B are formed in bases 64B and 66B on left side plate 52, connecting right side plate 51 and left side plate 52 in the vehicle width direction. Second connecting members 26 and 27 connect right side plate 51 and left side plate 52 in the vehicle width direction at positions where transaxle mount brackets 38 and 39 are provided.

[0039] The first connecting members 20 to 23 and the second connecting members 25 to 27 described above are formed integrally with the main body portion 10, the tower portion 40, and the suspension member portion 50 by casting.

[0040] As described above, the rear structural member 100 of the embodiment is a hollow part that is integrally cast, and can reduce the weight of the vehicle 300 with a simple configuration. Also, by providing the first connecting members 20-23, it is possible to improve the strength and rigidity of the portion where the main body 10 and the upper arm 201 of the suspension device 200 are connected. Furthermore, by providing the second connecting members 25-27, it is possible to improve the strength and rigidity of the portion where the main body 10 and the transaxle are connected, and the portion where the suspension member 50 and the transaxle are connected.

[0041] In the above description, the general portion of the main body 10 of the rear component 100 has been described as having a rectangular closed cross section, but it is not limited to this and may have, for example, an elliptical closed cross section. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 10 main body portion, 11, 41, 51 right side plate, 12, 42, 52 left side plate, 13 upper plate, 14, 53B lower plate, 15, 17, 57, 59, 62, 64A, 64B, 66A, 66B base, 16, 18, 58, 60, 63, 65A, 65B, 67A, 67B bolt hole, 19 rear end, 20-23 first connecting member, 21A large diameter portion, 21B small diameter portion, 21C rib, 22B small diameter portion, 25-27 second connecting member, 25A left large diameter portion, 31, 32, 34, 36 arm bracket, 37 bolt, 38, 39 transaxle mount bracket, 38A, 39A base, 38B, 39B transaxle support portion, 40 tower portion, 43 Front plate, 44, 53A rear plate, 45 ceiling plate, 46, 55, 56 recess, 46A space, 47 upper base, 50 suspension member, 54, 61 opening, 70 front end block, 71 upper half, 72 lower half, 73, 74 rib, 75 receiving seat, 76 connecting member, 81 rocker, 82 rear pillar outer, 83 upper end, 84 rear pillar, 85, 95 rear end plate, 91 roof rail, 92 rear member, 93 cross connecting member, 94 support, 100 rear component (vehicle rear component), 200 suspension system, 201 upper arm, 202 lower arm, 203 middle arm, 204 coil spring, 205 shock absorber, 210 wheel, 211 drive shaft, 300 vehicle, 310 Rear structure.

Claims

1. A vehicle rear structural member that is connected to a rear end of a rocker and a rear pillar and extends rearward of the vehicle, It is a hollow member that is cast in one piece and consists of a main body, a tower, and a suspension member. the main body portion has at least a portion with a closed cross section and extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction, connecting the rear pillar and a rear member at the rear of the vehicle; the tower portion is connected to an upper side of the main body portion and has a space for accommodating a part of a suspension device; the suspension member portion has at least a partially closed cross section, extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction below the main body portion, and has a front end connected to the rocker and the rear pillar; an arm bracket to which an arm of the suspension device is connected is provided on an outer surface of the main body portion and the suspension member portion in the vehicle width direction, the main body portion includes a first connecting member that connects the vehicle width direction outer plate and the vehicle width direction inner plate in the vehicle width direction at a position where the arm bracket is provided; A rear structural member for a vehicle, characterized by:

2. 2. The vehicle rear structural member according to claim 1, the first connecting member is integrally cast with the main body portion, the tower portion, and the suspension member portion; A rear structural member for a vehicle, characterized by:

3. 3. The vehicle rear structural member according to claim 1 or 2, a transaxle mount bracket for connecting a transaxle to the main body portion and the suspension member portion is provided on an inner surface of the main body portion and the suspension member in the vehicle width direction, the main body portion and the suspension member portion include a second connecting member that connects the vehicle width direction outer plate and the vehicle width direction inner plate in the vehicle width direction at a position where the transaxle mount bracket is provided; A rear structural member for a vehicle, characterized by:

4. 4. The vehicle rear structural member according to claim 3, the second connecting member is integrally cast with the main body portion, the tower portion, and the suspension member portion; A rear structural member for a vehicle, characterized by:

Images