Vehicle rear structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle rear structure capable of inhibiting or avoiding interference with a motor and its surroundings when a spare tire is moved up or down while allowing the spare tire to be supported in a hanging manner under a rear portion of a frame of a vehicle.SOLUTION: A frame includes: a pair of right and left side frames 2; a second cross member 4 which is connected to rear portions of the side frames 2 and supports a rear portion of a motor 1; and a third cross member 5 which is connected to the side frames 2 so as to bridge along a vehicle lateral direction at the rear of the second cross member 4 and detachably supports a spare tire 11 in a hanging manner so that the spare tire 11 is placed horizontally with a front side lowered. A lifting device 20 for supporting and moving up or down the spare tire 11 is provided in a middle portion of the third cross member 5 in a longitudinal direction. A lifting guide 30 which guides the spare tire 11 so that an attitude of the spare tire 11 is maintained when the spare tire 11 is moved up or down is provided in a middle portion of the second cross member 4 in the longitudinal direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes that "a motor 16 is supported under a rear floor panel 40 of an electric vehicle 10, and a spare tire 24 is supported behind the motor 16 on the rear floor panel 40 of the electric vehicle 10, and the spare tire 24 is supported by a brace 30 fixed to the body 12."

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a structure in which a motor and a spare tire are arranged at the rear of a vehicle, and a structure in which the spare tire is placed on a rear floor panel, and it is impossible to infer the technical idea of supporting the spare tire so as to be suspended under a side frame and a cross member.

[0005] In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a rear vehicle structure that can suspend and support a spare tire under the lower side of the rear part of the vehicle skeleton while suppressing or avoiding interference with the motor and the periphery of the motor when the spare tire is raised and lowered.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention relates to a rear vehicle structure in which a motor that generates driving force is supported on the lower side of the rear of the vehicle frame, and a spare tire is supported behind the motor, wherein the frame comprises a pair of left and right side frames along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a front cross member connected to the rear of the side frames so as to span along the lateral direction of the vehicle and supporting the rear of the motor, and a rear cross member connected to the side frames so as to span along the lateral direction of the vehicle behind the front cross member and detachably suspending and supporting the spare tire in a forward-sloping horizontal position, wherein a lifting device for supporting and raising / lowering the spare tire is provided in the middle of the longitudinal direction of the rear cross member, and a lifting guide is provided in the middle of the longitudinal direction of the front cross member to guide the spare tire so as to maintain its position when it is lifted or lowered. The lifting guide comprises a first guide bracket fixed to the middle of the longitudinal direction on the lower surface of the front cross member, and a second guide bracket fixed to the front end of the first guide bracket, wherein the lower rear portion of the first guide bracket is formed as a curved surface that conforms to the rounded shape of the front upper shoulder of the horizontally positioned spare tire, and the rear portion of the second guide bracket is formed as a flat surface that conforms to the shape of the outer circumferential surface of the horizontally positioned spare tire. Its defining characteristic is its presence.

[0007] Thus, in the present invention, a configuration is adopted in which the motor and the spare tire are supported on the underside of the rear part of the vehicle frame, and a configuration is adopted that includes the lifting device and the lifting guide.

[0008] With this configuration, during the process of lowering the spare tire by the lifting device to remove it from the rear cross member, the front end of the spare tire is in contact with the lifting guide, and the lifting guide guides the spare tire while maintaining a forward-sloping, sideways position. This suppresses or prevents the spare tire from swaying during the lowering process and interfering with the motor and its surroundings.

[0009] On the other hand, during the process of raising the spare tire by the lifting device to attach it to the rear cross member, the spare tire is lifted in a horizontal position. However, once it is lifted to a predetermined height, the front end of the spare tire comes into contact with the lifting guide, which then guides the spare tire upwards while tilting it downwards. This suppresses or prevents the spare tire from swaying during the lifting process and interfering with the motor and its surroundings.

[0010] In this way, the removal (lowering) and installation (upward) operations of the spare tire can be performed stably and smoothly, thereby ensuring safety. Furthermore, according to the above configuration, the lifting guide can be made with a relatively simple structure, and since the second guide bracket is fixed to the front cross member, the rigidity of the front cross member is improved. .

[0011] Incidentally, in the above-mentioned rear vehicle structure, the lifting device is a chain winding mechanism, and the holder provided at the end of the chain can be configured to hook into the central hole of the spare tire wheel.

[0012] This configuration has the advantage that the lifting device can be made with a relatively simple structure and the attachment and detachment of the spare tire is simplified. However, because the spare tire is suspended and raised by the chain, there is a concern that the spare tire may sway during the lifting and lowering process. However, the lifting guide stabilizes the position of the spare tire, thus eliminating this concern. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle rear structure that allows a spare tire to be suspended and supported on the underside of the rear of the vehicle's frame, while suppressing or avoiding interference with the motor and surrounding area when the spare tire is raised or lowered. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is a top-down perspective view of one embodiment of the vehicle rear structure according to the present invention. [Figure 2] Perspective view of the rear structure of the vehicle looking up from below before attaching the spare tire. [Figure 3] Perspective view showing the state where the spare tire is attached in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] (a) is a plan view of the rear structure of the vehicle, and (b) is a bottom view of the rear structure of the vehicle. [Figure 5] (a) is a left side view of the rear structure of the vehicle, and (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view along the vehicle front-rear direction at the center in the vehicle left-right direction. [Figure 6] View of the rear structure of the vehicle looking from the rear side.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] An embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. In the figures, the vehicle rear direction is "Rr", the vehicle upward direction is "Up", the vehicle left direction is "Lh", and the vehicle right direction is "Rh".

[0019] Below the lower side of the rear part of the vehicle skeleton, a motor 1 that generates the driving force of the vehicle is supported. The driving force generated by the motor 1 is transmitted to the left and right rear hubs 7 via the left and right axles 6. The left and right rear hubs 7 are connected by a de Dion tube (axle) 8.

[0020] The vehicle skeleton includes at least a pair of left and right side frames 2, first to third cross members 3 to 5, etc. as shown in FIGS. 4(a) and (b) for example.

[0021] The side frames 2 are arranged along the vehicle front-rear direction. The first to third cross members 3 to 5 are spanned along the vehicle left-right direction on the side frames 2 and are connected so as to be spaced apart in the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0022] The side frame 2 and the first to third cross members 3 to 5 are formed hollow, for example, from a metal material or the like.

[0023] The first cross member 3 is disposed at a predetermined position in front of the motor 1 in the side frame 2. The second cross member 4 and the third cross member 5 are disposed behind the motor 1 in the side frame 2.

[0024] The first cross member 3 is formed in a strip shape in plan view. At the middle of its longitudinal direction, the front part of the motor 1 is supported, and one end side and the other end side in the longitudinal direction are connected to the inner surface of the side frame 2 by, for example, welding or the like.

[0025] Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, front motor mounts 9A and 9B are attached at two locations in the vehicle left - right direction at the front part of the motor 1, while front brackets 10A and 10B are attached at two locations in the middle of the longitudinal direction of the first cross member 3. The front motor mounts 9A and 9B are connected to the front brackets 10A and 10B.

[0026] The second cross member 4 is formed in a strip shape in plan view. At the middle of its longitudinal direction, the rear part of the motor 1 is supported, and one end side and the other end side in the longitudinal direction are connected to the inner surface of the side frame 2 by, for example, welding or the like. This second cross member 4 corresponds to the "front cross member" described in the claims.

[0027] Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, rear motor mounts 9C and 9D are attached at two locations in the vehicle left - right direction at the rear part of the motor 1, while rear brackets 10C and 10D are attached at two locations in the middle of the longitudinal direction of the second cross member 4. The rear motor mounts 9C and 9D are connected to the rear brackets 10C and 10D.

[0028] The third cross member 5 is formed in an inverted U shape when viewed from the rear, and the bent portion at one end and the bent portion at the other end in the longitudinal direction are connected to the inner surface of the side frame 2 by means of welding, for example, and the one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction protrude below the side frame 2.

[0029] The rear end of a leaf spring 13 is attached to the projection 5a on one end and the projection 5b on the other end of the third cross member 5 via a shackle 12. The front end of the leaf spring 13 is supported by the side frame 2.

[0030] A rear hub 7 is attached to the upper part of the longitudinal middle of the leaf spring 13 via first and second hub carriers 7a and 7b. A shock absorber 14 is attached between the longitudinal middle of the leaf spring 13 and the first cross member 3.

[0031] As is well known, the shackle 12 is a fitting used to attach the leaf spring 13 to the frame of the vehicle body.

[0032] A spare tire 11 is detachably suspended and supported via a lifting device 20 at the midpoint of the longitudinal direction of this third cross member 5. This third cross member 5 corresponds to the "rear cross member" described in the claims.

[0033] The spare tire 11 is generally supported by the third cross member 5 in a forward-sloping transverse position, as shown in Figure 5, corresponding to the departure angle, as is well known. This forward-sloping transverse position means that the inclination of the central axis (rotation axis) of the spare tire 11 with respect to the vertical line is less than 45 degrees.

[0034] The lifting device 20 supports the spare tire 11 and raises or lowers it, and is a known chain winding mechanism, such as the one shown in Figures 2 and 6.

[0035] The lifting device 20 is attached to the middle of the third cross member 5 in the longitudinal direction via a base 21, and a holder 23 provided at the end of the chain 22 is designed to hook into the central hole of the wheel 11a of the spare tire 11.

[0036] As shown in Figure 4(a), the widths of one end and the other end of the second cross member 4 in the longitudinal direction, and the widths of the bent portion at one end and the other end of the third cross member 5 are set to be larger than the widths of the other parts. Each of these widths is a dimension along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0037] This improves the rigidity of the connection between the second cross member 4 and the third cross member 5 to the side frame 2.

[0038] Furthermore, a lifting guide 30 is provided in the middle of the longitudinal direction of the second cross member 4.

[0039] The lifting guide 30 guides the spare tire 11 to maintain its orientation when it is being raised or lowered, and is configured as a combination of a first guide bracket 31 and a second guide bracket 32, as shown in Figures 3 and 6.

[0040] The first guide bracket 31 is a block with a shape that is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle when viewed from above, and is fixed to the center of the longitudinal direction on the lower surface of the second cross member 4.

[0041] The lower rear portion of the first guide bracket 31 is formed as a curved surface that conforms to the rounded shape of the front upper shoulder of the spare tire 11 when it is positioned horizontally with a downward-sloping front orientation, as shown in Figure 5(a). The first guide bracket 31 is positioned such that when the spare tire 11 is raised, the front upper shoulder of the spare tire 11 contacts the curved surface of the lower rear portion.

[0042] The second guide bracket 32 ​​is a plate-shaped member that is elongated in the left-right direction of the vehicle when viewed from above. Its midpoint in the longitudinal direction is fixed to the front end of the first guide bracket 31, and one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction are fixed to the left and right rear brackets 10C and 10D of the second cross member 4.

[0043] The rear portion of the second guide bracket 32 ​​is formed as a flat surface that conforms to the shape of the outer circumferential surface of the spare tire 11 in a forward-sloping, horizontally mounted position as shown in Figure 5(a). The second guide bracket 32 ​​is positioned such that, when the spare tire 11 is raised, the front of the outer circumferential surface of the spare tire 11 contacts the flat surface at the rear.

[0044] The flat surface at the rear of the second guide bracket 32 ​​is positioned so as to be approximately the same as the rear edge of the De Dion tube 8 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0045] In this way, since the second guide bracket 32 ​​is fixed to the rear brackets 10C and 10D, the rigidity of the second cross member 4 is improved.

[0046] As described above, in the embodiment to which the present invention is applied, a configuration is adopted in which the motor 1 and spare tire 11 are arranged close together in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle on the lower side of the rear of the vehicle frame by installing a second cross member 4 for supporting the motor 1 and a third cross member 5 for supporting the spare tire 11 at the rear of the vehicle frame, and the rear of the leaf spring 13 is attached to the third cross member 5.

[0047] This configuration improves the rigidity of the rear of the vehicle's frame compared to conventional designs where the motor is supported on the underside of the rear of the vehicle's frame and the spare tire is mounted on the floor panel.

[0048] As a result, the load-supporting rigidity of the left and right rear wheels (not shown) and the torsional rigidity at the rear of the vehicle are improved, which reduces NVH characteristics and allows the leaf spring 13 to function stably, thereby improving handling stability.

[0049] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, even if the bogie 40 were to collide with the rear of the vehicle as shown in Figure 5(a), and the bogie 40 were to enter the lower rear side of the side frame 2, the bogie 40 would still be caught by the spare tire 11, the protruding parts 5a and 5b of the third cross member 5, and the shackle 12.

[0050] This prevents or suppresses the bogie 40 from entering the underside of the side frame 2. Similarly, in the event of a collision with the rear of the vehicle, this also prevents or suppresses the other vehicle from entering the rear underside of the side frame 2.

[0051] Furthermore, the operation of attaching and detaching the spare tire 11 will be explained.

[0052] First, in the process of lowering the spare tire 11 by the lifting device 20 to remove it from the third cross member 5, the front end of the spare tire 11 is in contact with the lifting guide 30. As shown by the dashed line in Figure 5(b), the lifting guide 30 guides the spare tire 11 while maintaining a forward-sloping, lateral position. This suppresses or prevents the spare tire 11 from swaying during the lowering process and interfering with the motor 1 and its surroundings (rear brackets 10C, 10D, etc.).

[0053] On the other hand, during the process of raising the spare tire 11 by the lifting device 20 to attach it to the third cross member 5, the spare tire 11 is lifted in a horizontal position. However, once it is lifted to a predetermined height, the front end of the spare tire 11 comes into contact with the lifting guide 30, and the lifting guide 30 guides the spare tire 11 to be lifted while tilting it downwards towards the front. This suppresses or prevents the spare tire 11 from swaying during the lifting process and interfering with the motor 1 and its surroundings (rear brackets 10C, 10D, etc.).

[0054] Furthermore, even if the front upper and lower shoulders of the spare tire 11, which is positioned horizontally with a downward-sloping front, were to interfere with the De Dion tube 8 during the raising and lowering of the spare tire 11, the rounded shape of the shoulders would contact the circular outer surface of the De Dion tube 8 and guide it smoothly, thus making it less likely for the spare tire 11's posture to be significantly disrupted.

[0055] In this way, safety can be ensured by enabling stable and smooth removal (lowering) and installation (upward raising) of the spare tire 11.

[0056] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the claims and equivalents thereof.

[0057] (1) In the above embodiment, an example is given in which the rear of the motor 1 is supported on the second cross member 4 via two rear motor mounts 9C, 9D and two rear brackets 10C, 10D, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0058] For example, although not shown in the diagram, the rear of the motor 1 can be supported on the second cross member 4 via one rear motor mount and one rear bracket. In this embodiment as well, the same functions and effects as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0059] (2) In the above embodiment, an example using a De Dion tube 8 is given, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, although not shown, it is possible to have a form in which a De Dion tube 8 is not used. [Industrial applicability]

[0060] The present invention can be suitably used in the rear structure of a vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1 motor 2 Side Frames 3. First Crossmember 4. Second Crossmember 5. Third Crossmember 5a Protrusion on one end 5b Protrusion on the other end 6 axles 7 Rear hub 11 Spare tire 11a Wheel 12 shackles 13 Leaf Springs 20 Lifting device 21 Base 22 chain 23 Holder 30 Lifting Guide 31. First guide bracket 32. Second guide bracket

Claims

1. A vehicle rear structure in which a motor that generates driving force is supported on the underside of the rear of the vehicle's frame, and a spare tire is supported behind the motor, The frame comprises a pair of left and right side frames extending along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a front cross member connected to the rear of the side frames so as to span along the lateral direction of the vehicle and supporting the rear of the motor, and a rear cross member connected to the side frames so as to span along the lateral direction of the vehicle behind the front cross member and detachably suspending and supporting the spare tire in a forward-sloping transverse position. A lifting device for supporting and raising / lowering the spare tire is provided in the middle of the longitudinal direction of the rear cross member. A lifting guide is provided in the middle of the longitudinal direction of the front cross member to guide the spare tire in order to maintain its orientation when the spare tire is raised or lowered. The lifting guide comprises a first guide bracket fixed to the middle of the longitudinal direction on the lower surface of the front cross member, and a second guide bracket fixed to the front end of the first guide bracket. The lower rear portion of the first guide bracket is formed as a curved surface that conforms to the rounded shape of the front upper shoulder of the horizontally positioned spare tire. The rear portion of the second guide bracket is formed as a flat surface that conforms to the shape of the outer circumferential surface of the horizontally positioned spare tire, characterized in that the rear portion of the second guide bracket is formed as a flat surface.

2. In the vehicle rear structure according to claim 1, The vehicle rear structure is characterized in that the lifting device is a chain winding mechanism, and a holder provided at the end of the chain is configured to hook into the central hole of the spare tire wheel.

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