Vehicle rear structure

Abstract

To enhance the rigidity of a body while restricting an increase in mass.SOLUTION: A vehicle rear part structure 100 includes: a rear cross member 10 extending in a vehicle-width direction; left and right wheel houses 20L, 20R whose rear end parts are connected to left and right end parts of the rear cross member 10; left and right gussets 30L, 30R connected to the left and right wheel houses 20L, 20R and extending upward; and a rear header 40 connecting respective upper end parts of the left and right gussets 30L, 30R in the vehicle-width direction. The left and right gussets 30L, 30R are connected to rear plates 23L, 23R of the left and right wheel houses 20L, 20R.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Structures for preventing deformation of the body have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a structure in which the upper surface of a rear suspension tower is connected to an inner panel, and the inner panel and a reinforcing member constituting a closed cross-section structure.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a structure in which a center pillar is curved toward the outside of the vehicle, the center pillar and a roof cross member are made continuous in the vehicle width direction in plan view, and a rotation center is provided at the center of the roof cross member. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the center pillar from being displaced downward from the rotation center and entering the cabin during a side impact.

[0004] Patent Document 3 discloses a structure in which a rear floor panel and a rear suspension tower are connected by a reinforcing member to increase the rigidity of the vehicle rear portion.

[0005] Patent Documents 4 and 5 disclose a structure in which a reinforcing member for connecting between the upper part of the vehicle body and the floor panel is provided along the outer surface of the rear wheel house.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Patent Document 5

[0007] Incidentally, in recent years there has been a demand for even greater body rigidity. However, adding more reinforcing members to achieve this can increase mass and reduce interior space.

[0008] Therefore, this disclosure aims to increase the rigidity of the body while suppressing an increase in mass. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The rear vehicle structure of the present disclosure comprises a rear cross member positioned at the rear of the vehicle and extending in the vehicle width direction, left and right wheelhouses whose rear ends are connected to the left and right ends of the rear cross member, left and right gussets connected to the left and right wheelhouses and extending upward, and a rear header connecting the upper ends of the left and right gussets in the vehicle width direction, wherein the left and right gussets are connected to the rear ends of the left and right wheelhouses. The rear cross member is a channel-shaped member including two flanges and a web, the left and right wheelhouses include wheelhouse inner panels that rise from the floor panel and curve outward in the vehicle width direction, the rear end is a flat rear plate connecting the rear end of the wheelhouse inner panel to the floor panel, the left and right gussets are channel-shaped members including a rear flange, a front flange and an inner web, the rear plate is connected to either of the two flanges, the rear flange is superimposed on the rear plate and connected, the surface of the rear flange is continuous with the rear surface of the rear plate. It is characterized by the following.

[0010] As a result, the rear cross member, the rear ends of the left and right wheelhouses, the left and right gussets, and the rear header form a ring-shaped structure, which suppresses the tilting deformation of the wheelhouses when torsional loads are applied to the vehicle and increases the torsional rigidity of the rear of the vehicle. In addition, since part of the ring-shaped structure is formed at the rear ends of the left and right wheelhouses, the number of parts can be reduced and the increase in mass can be suppressed. Furthermore, this configuration transmits the load from the rear header through the rear flange of the gusset and the rear plate of the wheelhouse to the flange of the rear crossmember. This suppresses the tilting deformation of the wheelhouse and increases the torsional rigidity of the rear of the vehicle.

[0011] In the vehicle rear structure of this disclosure, the rear header, the left and right gussets, and the left and right wheelhouses are arranged such that at least a portion of them overlap when viewed from above the vehicle, and the rear cross member may be arranged such that at least a portion of it overlaps with the left and right wheelhouses when viewed from above the vehicle.

[0012] As a result, the annular structure formed by the rear cross member, the rear ends of the left and right wheel houses, the left and right gussets, and the rear header stands substantially vertically, and the torsional rigidity of the rear part of the vehicle can be effectively increased.

[0015] In the vehicle rear structure of the present disclosure, the inner web is connected by being overlapped with the wheel house inner panel, and the surface of the inner web may be continuous with the side surface of the wheel house inner panel.

[0016] With this configuration, the load is transmitted from the rear header through the inner web of the gusset and the wheel house inner panel to the rear cross member. Thereby, the collapse deformation of the wheel house can be suppressed, and the torsional rigidity of the rear part of the vehicle can be increased.

Effect of the Invention

[0017] The present disclosure can increase the rigidity of the body while suppressing an increase in mass.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] It is an elevation view of the right side portion of the vehicle rear structure of the embodiment as seen from the inside of the vehicle. [Figure 2] It is an elevation view of the vehicle rear structure of the embodiment as seen from the rear of the vehicle. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view showing the right side portion of the vehicle rear structure of the embodiment. [Figure 4] ]> It is a view showing a cross section of the wheel house, which is the A-A cross section shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] It is a view showing a vertical cross section of the vehicle rear structure, which is the B-B cross section shown in FIG. 2.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, the vehicle rear structure 100 of the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the vehicle rear structure 100 of the embodiment includes a rear cross member 10, left and right wheel houses 20L and 20R, left and right gussets 30L and 30R, and a rear header 40. The arrows RR, UP, and RH shown in each figure indicate the rear side, upper side, and right side of the vehicle 200, and the opposite sides of the arrows indicate the front side, lower side, and left side of the vehicle 200. Hereinafter, when simply explaining using the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions, unless otherwise specified, the front-rear in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 200, the left-right in the left-right direction, and the up-down in the up-down direction are indicated.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the rear cross member 10 is disposed below the floor panel 15 at the rear of the vehicle, and is a grooved cross-sectional member composed of two flanges 11 and 12 and a web 13. The rear cross member 10 extends in the vehicle width direction. Left and right rear side members 14L and 14R extending in the vehicle front-rear direction are disposed below the left and right ends of the floor panel 15 of the vehicle 200. The rear cross member 10 is connected to the left and right rear side members 14L and 14R.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the right wheel house 20R is formed by connecting a right wheel house inner 21R and a right wheel house outer 26R with a right connection flange 27R, and houses a rear wheel inside. The right wheel house inner 21R is composed of a right wheel house inner panel 22R, a rear plate 23R, and a front plate 24R. The right wheel house inner panel 22R is a plate member that rises from the floor panel 15 and curves outward in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rear plate 23R is a flat plate member that connects the rear end of the right wheel house inner panel 22R and the floor panel 15. Further, the rear plate 23R is connected to the right end of the front flange 11 of the rear cross member 10 via the floor panel 15.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the rear plate 23R is positioned such that its upper end is slightly inclined forward from the vertical direction, and its inner end in the vehicle width direction is slightly inclined forward from the vehicle width direction, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The rear plate 23R constitutes the rear end of the right wheelhouse inner 21R. The front plate 24R is a curved plate member that connects the front end of the right wheelhouse inner panel 22R to the floor panel 15. A rear wheel suspension system (not shown) is attached to the top 25R of the right wheelhouse inner panel 22R. In addition, a right side panel outer 19R (see Figure 2) is attached to the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the right wheelhouse outer 26R. The right side panel outer 19R constitutes the right design surface of the rear of the vehicle 200.

[0023] The left wheelhouse 20L is formed by connecting the left wheelhouse inner 21L and the left wheelhouse outer 26L with a left connecting flange 27L, and houses the rear wheel inside. The left wheelhouse inner 21L consists of the left wheelhouse inner panel 22L, the rear plate 23L, and the front plate 24L. A rear wheel suspension system (not shown) is attached to the top 25L of the left wheelhouse inner panel 22L. The rear plate 23L is connected to the left end of the front flange 11 of the rear cross member 10 via the floor panel 15. The left wheelhouse inner 21L and the left wheelhouse outer 26L are symmetrical with the right wheelhouse inner 21R and the right wheelhouse outer 26R, and the left side panel outer 19L is symmetrical with the right side panel outer 19R, so their explanation is omitted.

[0024] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the right gusset 30R is a channel-shaped member that includes the rear flange 31R, the front flange 33R, and the inner web 32R, and is open on the outside in the vehicle width direction. The lower end of the right gusset 30R is connected to the upper part of the right wheelhouse inner 21R. The upper end of the right gusset 30R extends upward from the top of the right wheelhouse inner 21R. Details of the connection between the lower end of the right gusset 30R and the upper part of the right wheelhouse inner 21R will be explained later with reference to Figures 3 and 5. The upper end of the right gusset 30R is also connected to the right arm portion 42R of the rear header 40, which will be explained later. Furthermore, the outer ends in the vehicle width direction of the rear flange 31R and front flange 33R in the central part of the right gusset 30R are connected to the right side panel inner 16R to form a closed section.

[0025] The left gusset 30L consists of a rear flange 31L, a front flange (not shown), and an inner web 32L. The left gusset 30L is symmetrical to the right gusset 30R. The upper end of the left gusset 30L is connected to the left arm portion 42L of the rear header 40, and the outer ends in the vehicle width direction of the central rear flange 31L and front flange (not shown) are connected to the left side panel inner (not shown) to form a closed section.

[0026] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rear header 40 consists of a cross section 41 extending in the vehicle width direction at the rear of the roof of the vehicle 200, and left and right arm sections 42L and 42R extending diagonally downward and rearward from the left and right ends of the cross section 41. As shown in Figure 1, the rear end of the right arm section 42R is connected to the right rear frame 50R that forms the opening of the back door. The left arm section 42L is symmetrical to the right arm section 42R. Left and right roof rails 18L and 18R are arranged on the left and right sides of the roof of the vehicle 200, extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. The cross section 41 of the rear header 40 is connected to the left and right roof rails 18L and 18R.

[0027] As described above, the rear header 40, the right gusset 30R, and the right wheelhouse 20R are positioned so that they partially overlap when viewed from above the vehicle 200, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Similarly, the rear cross member 10 is positioned so that it partially overlaps with the right wheelhouse 20R when viewed from above the vehicle 200. Likewise, although not shown in the figures, the rear header 40, the left gusset 30L, and the left wheelhouse 20L are positioned so that they partially overlap when viewed from above the vehicle 200, and the rear cross member 10 is positioned so that it partially overlaps with the left wheelhouse 20L when viewed from above the vehicle 200.

[0028] Next, with reference to Figures 3 and 5, the details of the connection between the lower end of the right gusset 30R and the upper part of the right wheelhouse inner 21R will be described. As shown in Figure 5, the lower part of the rear flange 31R of the right gusset 30R is superimposed and connected onto the upper rear surface 23Ra of the rear plate 23R of the right wheelhouse inner 21R. Also, the lower half of the rear flange 31R is positioned to be slightly inclined forward from the vertical direction, similar to the rear plate 23R. Therefore, the surface 31Ra of the lower half of the rear flange 31R is smoothly continuous with the rear surface 23Ra of the rear plate 23R. Similarly, the surface 31La of the left rear flange 31L and the rear surface 23La of the left rear plate 23L, as shown in Figure 2, are smoothly connected.

[0029] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the lower part of the inner web 32R of the right gusset 30R is superimposed on and connected to the upper side surface 22Ra of the right wheelhouse inner panel 22R. Also, the inclination direction of the lower part of the inner web 32R and the inclination direction of the upper part of the right wheelhouse inner panel 22R are approximately the same. Therefore, the lower surface 32Ra of the right inner web 32R is smoothly continuous with the upper side surface 22Ra of the right wheelhouse inner panel 22R. Similarly, the surface 32La of the left inner web 32L shown in Figure 2 is smoothly continuous with the upper side surface 22La of the left wheelhouse inner panel 22L.

[0030] As described above, the rear vehicle structure 100, consisting of the rear cross member 10, the rear plates 23L and 23R of the left and right wheelhouses 20L and 20R, the left and right gussets 30L and 30R, and the rear header 40, forms a ring structure. This suppresses the tilting deformation of the left and right wheelhouses 20L and 20R when a torsional load is applied to the vehicle 200, thereby increasing the torsional rigidity of the rear of the vehicle. Furthermore, since part of the ring structure is composed of the rear plates 23L and 23R of the left and right wheelhouses 20L and 20R, the number of parts can be reduced and the increase in mass can be suppressed.

[0031] Furthermore, the rear header 40, the left and right gussets 30L and 30R, and the left and right wheelhouses 20L and 20R are positioned so that at least a portion of them overlap when viewed from above the vehicle 200, and the rear cross member 10 is positioned so that at least a portion of it overlaps with the left and right wheelhouses 20L and 20R when viewed from above the vehicle 200. As a result, the annular structure formed by the rear cross member 10, the rear plates 23L and 23R of the left and right wheelhouses 20L and 20R, the left and right gussets 30L and 30R, and the rear header 40 is erected almost vertically, effectively increasing the torsional rigidity of the rear of the vehicle.

[0032] Furthermore, since the left and right rear flanges 31L and 31R and the left and right rear plates 23L and 23R are connected in a smooth, continuous manner, the load is transmitted from the rear header 40 through the rear flanges 31L and 31R of the left and right gussets 30L and 30R, and the left and right rear plates 23L and 23R of the left and right wheelhouses 20L and 20R to the front flange 11 of the rear cross member 10. This suppresses tilting deformation of the left and right wheelhouses 20L and 20R, and increases the torsional rigidity of the rear of the vehicle.

[0033] Furthermore, since the left and right inner webs 32L and 32R and the left and right wheelhouse inner panels 22L and 22R are connected in a smooth, continuous manner, the load is transmitted from the rear header 40 to the rear cross member 10 through the inner webs 32L and 32R of the left and right gussets 30L and 30R, and the left and right wheelhouse inner panels 22L and 22R. This suppresses the tilting deformation of the left and right wheelhouses 20L and 20R, and increases the torsional rigidity of the rear of the vehicle.

[0034] In the above explanation, the rear plates 23L and 23R of the left and right wheelhouses 20L and 20R were described as being connected to the front flange 11 of the rear cross member 10, but the explanation is not limited to this, and they may also be configured to be connected to the rear flange 12 of the rear cross member 10.

[0035] Furthermore, the rear header 40, the left and right gussets 30L and 30R, the left and right wheelhouses 20L and 20R, and the rear cross member 10 may be arranged so that at least a portion of them overlap when viewed from above the vehicle 200. This results in the annular structure formed by the rear cross member 10, the rear plates 23L and 23R of the left and right wheelhouses 20L and 20R, the left and right gussets 30L and 30R, and the rear header 40 being erected at a more vertical angle, thereby more effectively increasing the torsional rigidity of the rear of the vehicle. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 10 Rear cross member, 11, 12 Flange, 13 Web, 14 Rear side member, 15 Floor panel, 16 Side panel inner, 18 Roof rail, 19 Side panel outer, 20 Wheelhouse, 21 Wheelhouse inner, 22 Wheelhouse inner panel, 22La, 22Ra Side, 23 Rear plate, 23La, 23Ra Rear, 24 Front plate, 25 Top, 26 Wheelhouse outer, 27 Connecting flange, 30 Gusset, 31 Rear flange, 31La, 31Ra, 32La, 32Ra Surface, 32 Inner web, 33 Front flange, 40 Rear header, 41 Cross section, 42 Arm section, 50R Right rear frame, 100 Rear structure of vehicle, 200 Vehicle.

Claims

1. It is a rear structure of the vehicle, A rear cross member positioned at the rear of the vehicle and extending in the vehicle width direction, The rear ends of the left and right wheelhouses are connected to the left and right ends of the rear cross member, The left and right gussets are connected to the left and right wheel wells and extend upward, The vehicle comprises a rear header that connects the upper ends of the left and right gussets in the vehicle width direction, The left and right gussets are connected to the respective rear ends of the left and right wheelhouses. The rear cross member is a channel-shaped member including two flanges and a web. The left and right wheelhouses include wheelhouse inner panels that rise from the floor panel and curve outward in the vehicle width direction, and the rear end is a flat rear plate that connects the rear end of the wheelhouse inner panel to the floor panel. The aforementioned left and right gussets are channel-shaped members including a rear flange, a front flange, and an inner web. The rear plate is connected to one of the two flanges, The rear flange is connected to the rear plate by overlapping it, and the surface of the rear flange is continuous with the rear surface of the rear plate. A vehicle rear structure characterized by the following.

2. The vehicle rear structure according to claim 1, The rear header, the left and right gussets, and the left and right wheelhouses are arranged such that at least a portion of them overlap when viewed from above the vehicle, and the rear cross member is arranged such that at least a portion of it overlaps with the left and right wheelhouses when viewed from above the vehicle. A vehicle rear structure characterized by the following.

3. The vehicle rear structure according to claim 1, The inner web is superimposed and connected to the wheelhouse inner panel, and the surface of the inner web is continuous with the side surface of the wheelhouse inner panel. A vehicle rear structure characterized by the following.

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