Vehicle undercarriage

Abstract

To obtain a vehicle lower part structure which enables improvement of rigidity against a load input to an anchor member while inhibiting increase of the weight in a vehicle and manufacturing costs.SOLUTION: A vehicle lower part structure 10 includes: a battery case 30 disposed at the vehicle lower side of a floor panel 14; a battery support part 20 configured to support the battery case 30; and an anchor member 26 attached to the vehicle upper side of the battery support part 20 in a side view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle underbody structure. [Background Art]

[0002] A configuration in which a reinforcing member is provided at a portion where a seat belt anchor is attached in order to increase rigidity against a tensile load input from a seat belt to the seat belt anchor has been conventionally known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior Art Literature] [Patent Literature]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-156088 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] However, providing a reinforcing member for increasing rigidity at a portion where an anchor member such as a seat belt anchor is attached causes an increase in weight and an increase in manufacturing cost of a vehicle.

[0005] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle underbody structure that can improve rigidity against a load input to an anchor member while suppressing an increase in weight and an increase in manufacturing cost of a vehicle. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle underbody structure according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a battery case disposed on a vehicle lower side of a floor panel; a battery support portion that supports the battery case; and an anchor member attached to a vehicle upper side of the battery support portion in a side view.

[0007] According to the first embodiment of the invention, a battery case is positioned on the lower side of the floor panel of the vehicle, and the battery case is supported by a battery support. In a side view, an anchor member is attached to the upper side of the battery support. Here, due to the battery case containing the heavy battery, a load is constantly acting on the battery support towards the lower side of the vehicle.

[0008] Therefore, even if a load directed toward the front of the vehicle is applied to the anchor member, and this load is transmitted to the battery support portion via the anchor member, the battery support portion becomes more resistant to that load. In other words, according to the present invention, the rigidity of the anchor member against loads applied is improved while suppressing increases in vehicle weight and manufacturing costs.

[0009] Furthermore, a second embodiment of the vehicle understructure according to the present invention is the vehicle understructure according to the first embodiment, wherein the battery support portion comprises the floor panel and a skeletal member attached to the floor panel, and a closed cross-sectional structure is formed by the floor panel and the skeletal member in a side view.

[0010] According to the second embodiment of the invention, the battery support portion is configured to include a floor panel and a skeletal member attached to the floor panel, and a closed cross-sectional structure is formed by the floor panel and the skeletal member in a side view. Therefore, the rigidity of the battery support portion is improved compared to the case in which the battery support portion does not have a closed cross-sectional structure in a side view.

[0011] Furthermore, a third embodiment of the vehicle understructure according to the present invention is a vehicle understructure according to the first or second embodiment, wherein the battery support portion and the battery case are connected by a pair of support members, and a rigid frame structure is formed by the battery support portion, the pair of support members and the battery case.

[0012] According to the third embodiment of the invention, the battery support and the battery case are connected by a pair of support members. This forms a rigid frame structure between the battery support, the pair of support members, and the battery case. Therefore, the rigidity of the vehicle body is effectively ensured.

[0013] Furthermore, the vehicle understructure according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle understructure according to any one of the first to third embodiments, wherein the anchor member is attached to the upper side of the vehicle of the battery support portion by a fastening member.

[0014] According to the fourth embodiment of the invention, the anchor member is attached to the upper side of the vehicle of the battery support by a fastening member. Therefore, compared to cases where the anchor member is not attached by fastening, for example, by bonding with an adhesive, the load applied to the anchor member is effectively absorbed by the battery support.

[0015] Furthermore, the vehicle understructure of the fifth embodiment of the present invention is the vehicle understructure of the fourth embodiment, wherein the anchor member is a seat belt anchor.

[0016] According to the fifth embodiment of the invention, the anchor member is a seat belt anchor. Therefore, even if a load directed toward the front of the vehicle is applied to the seat belt anchor, such as during a frontal collision, that load is effectively absorbed by the battery support.

[0017] Furthermore, the vehicle understructure according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention is the vehicle understructure according to the fifth embodiment, wherein the seat belt anchor is for the rear seat belt.

[0018] According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the seat belt anchor is for the rear seat belt. Therefore, even if a load directed towards the front of the vehicle is applied to each seat belt anchor by, for example, three occupants seated in the rear seat during a frontal collision, each load is effectively absorbed by the battery support. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] As described above, according to the present invention, the rigidity against a load input to an anchor member can be improved while suppressing an increase in weight and an increase in manufacturing cost of a vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] [Figure 1] It is a schematic side view showing a part of a vehicle provided with the vehicle lower structure according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a schematic side view showing the vehicle lower structure according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a schematic rear view showing the vehicle lower structure according to the present embodiment. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. For convenience of explanation, an arrow UP appropriately shown in each drawing is defined as the upward direction of the vehicle, an arrow FR is defined as the forward direction of the vehicle, and an arrow RH is defined as the right direction of the vehicle. Therefore, in the following description, when directions of up and down, front and rear, and left and right are described without special mention, they refer to up and down in the vehicle vertical direction, front and rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and left and right in the vehicle lateral direction (vehicle width direction).

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, in a vehicle 12 provided with a vehicle lower structure 10 according to the present embodiment, a battery case 30 accommodating a heavy weight battery is disposed below a floor panel 14. That is, the vehicle 12 in the present embodiment is an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle (plug-in hybrid vehicle).

[0023] A cross member 16 having a closed cross-sectional shape is attached to the front side of the lower surface of the floor panel 14, and the front end portion of the battery case 30 is supported by the cross member 16. The battery case 30 is formed in a substantially rectangular flat shape, and a substantially rectangular flat plate-shaped undercover 15 is provided on the lower side of the battery case 30.

[0024] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rear side of the floor panel 14 has a vertical wall 14A that is bent upward at approximately a right angle along the wheel well of the rear wheel when viewed from the vehicle width direction, and a rear upper wall 14B that is bent and extends rearward from the upper end of the vertical wall 14A. A cross member 22, which is a skeletal member and has a roughly hat-shaped form when viewed in side cross section, is attached to the lower surface of the rear upper wall 14B.

[0025] In other words, in a side view, the front and rear flange portions 22A at the upper end of the cross member 22 are joined to the lower surface of the rear upper wall 14B by welding or the like, and a closed cross-sectional structure is formed by the rear upper wall 14B of the floor panel 14 and the cross member 22. The battery support portion 20 is composed of the rear upper wall 14B of the floor panel 14 and the cross member 22.

[0026] Furthermore, in a side view, a portion of the floor panel 14 located in front of the vertical wall 14A and behind the center pillar 18 is formed as a support portion 14C, which is bent in a roughly inverted "U" shape in a side cross-sectional view. The height position of the upper wall 14D of the support portion 14C is approximately the same as the height position of the rear upper wall 14B, and the seat cushion frame (seat cushion 42) of the rear vehicle seat 40 is supported by the upper wall 14D of the support portion 14C and the rear upper wall 14B.

[0027] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a pair of support brackets 24 are attached to the cross member 22, which is joined to the lower surface of the rear upper wall 14B of the floor panel 14. Each support bracket 24 is formed in a roughly "U" shape when viewed from the side, and its front and rear upper ends 24A are joined to the front wall 22B and rear wall 22C of the cross member 22, respectively, by welding or the like.

[0028] Furthermore, each support bracket 24 is formed in a roughly isosceles trapezoidal shape, where the length of the upper end along the vehicle width direction is longer than the length of the lower end along the vehicle width direction when viewed from the rear, and is arranged spaced apart in the vehicle width direction. At the rear end (rear part) of the battery case 30, a pair of left and right fixing parts 32, which are roughly convex when viewed from the rear, are integrally formed, and each fixing part 32 is attached (fastened) to the lower wall 24B of each support bracket 24 by fastening members 34 such as bolts and weld nuts.

[0029] In other words, the cross member 22 and the rear end (fixing portion 32) of the battery case 30 are connected by each support bracket 24, and in a rear view, the cross member 22, each support bracket 24, and the rear end of the battery case 30 form a rigid frame structure. Thus, the rear end of the battery case 30 is supported by the battery support portion 20 via a pair of left and right support brackets 24.

[0030] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, in a side view, a flat seat belt anchor 26, acting as an anchor member, is attached (fastened) to the upper surface of the rear upper wall 14B of the floor panel 14 between the front and rear flange portions 22A of the cross member 22 by fastening members 36 such as bolts and weld nuts.

[0031] A slit-shaped through-hole (not shown) extending in the left-right direction is formed at the front end of the seat belt anchor 26, and one end of the webbing 28 is inserted through this through-hole and attached. A buckle 38 is attached to the other end of the webbing 28.

[0032] The seat belt anchors 26 are for the seat belts of the non-sliding rear seats 40. Therefore, there are three of these seat belt anchors 26 (webbing 28 to which the buckles 38 are attached): one for the seat belts of the occupants seated in the left and right rear seats 40, and one for the seat belt of the occupant seated in the center rear seat 40.

[0033] Furthermore, while Figures 1 and 2 show the webbing 28 extending into the passenger compartment from the side of the seat cushion 42 of the rear seat vehicle seat 40, the actual webbing 28 extends into the passenger compartment from between the rear end of the seat cushion 42 and the lower end of the seat back 44.

[0034] The operation of the vehicle understructure 10 according to this embodiment, which has the configuration described above, will now be explained.

[0035] As described above, the battery case 30 is positioned below the floor panel 14, and the rear end (fixing portion 32) of the battery case 30 is supported by the battery support portion 20 via a pair of left and right support brackets 24. In a side view, the seat belt anchor 26, which supports the webbing 28 to which the buckle 38 is attached, is attached by a fastening member 36 to the upper side of the battery support portion 20 (in a side view, the upper surface of the rear upper wall 14B of the floor panel 14 between the front and rear flange portions 22A of the cross member 22).

[0036] Here, the battery case 30, which houses the heavy battery, constantly exerts a downward load on the battery support section 20. In other words, the battery case 30, which houses the heavy battery, constantly pulls the battery support section 20 downwards.

[0037] Therefore, for example, in the event of a frontal collision of vehicle 12, the webbing 28 is pulled forward (more specifically forward and upward) by an occupant (not shown) seated in the rear vehicle seat 40 and wearing a seat belt, thereby inputting a load toward the front (more specifically forward and upward) to the seat belt anchor 26, and even if this load is transmitted to the battery support section 20 via the seat belt anchor 26, the battery support section 20 becomes more resistant to that load.

[0038] In other words, even without providing a reinforcing member to increase rigidity on the rear upper wall 14B of the floor panel 14 between the front and rear flange portions 22A of the cross member 22 in a side view, the load applied to the seat belt anchor 26 can be effectively received by the battery support portion 20.

[0039] Thus, according to the vehicle understructure 10 of this embodiment, it is possible to improve the rigidity against the load applied to the seat belt anchor 26 while suppressing or preventing an increase in the weight and manufacturing cost of the vehicle 12 (while simplifying the body structure of the vehicle 12).

[0040] Furthermore, the battery support section 20 is composed of a floor panel 14 and a cross member 22 attached to the floor panel 14, and a closed cross section structure is formed by the floor panel 14 and the cross member 22 in a side view. Therefore, the rigidity of the battery support section 20 can be improved compared to a battery support section 20 that does not have a closed cross section structure in a side view, and sufficient resistance to applied loads can be ensured.

[0041] Furthermore, the battery support section 20 and the rear end of the battery case 30 are connected by a pair of left and right support brackets 24, and in a rear view, a rigid frame structure is formed by the battery support section 20, the pair of left and right support brackets 24, and the rear end of the battery case 30. Therefore, the rigidity of the vehicle body at least at the rear of the vehicle 12 can be effectively ensured.

[0042] Furthermore, the seat belt anchor 26 is attached to the upper side of the battery support section 20 by a fastening member 36. Therefore, compared to cases where the seat belt anchor 26 is not attached by fastening, for example, by being joined with adhesive, the battery support section 20 can effectively absorb the load applied to the seat belt anchor 26.

[0043] Furthermore, this seat belt anchor 26 is for the seat belt of the non-sliding rear vehicle seat 40. Therefore, in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle 12, even if, for example, three occupants (not shown) seated in the rear vehicle seat 40 and wearing seat belts apply a load to each seat belt anchor 26 directed forward (more specifically, forward and upward), each load can be effectively absorbed by a single battery support 20.

[0044] The vehicle understructure 10 according to this embodiment has been described above based on the drawings. However, the vehicle understructure 10 according to this embodiment is not limited to the illustrated version, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the anchor member is not limited to the seat belt anchor 26, and the same applies to the child seat anchor (not shown).

[0045] Furthermore, anchor members also include, for example, seat belt anchors for securing wheelchairs. Therefore, the battery support section 20 may be provided in the middle of the floor panel 14 in the front-to-rear direction, in which case the lower walls 24B of the pair of left and right support brackets 24 are attached, for example, to the left and right sides of the battery case 30. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0046] 10. Vehicle understructure 14 Floor Panels 20 Battery support section 22 Cross members (frame members) 24. Support bracket (support member) 26. Seat belt anchor (anchor component) 30 Battery Cases 36 Fastening members

Claims

1. The battery case is located on the lower side of the vehicle's floor panel, A support member that supports the fixing portion of the battery case, A battery support portion that supports the aforementioned support member, An anchor member attached to the vehicle's upper side of the battery support portion by a fastening member, Equipped with, A vehicle understructure in which the fixed portion, the support member, the battery support portion, and the anchor member are always arranged in a straight line along the vertical direction of the vehicle when viewed from the side.

2. The aforementioned battery support section is The system comprises the floor panel and a skeletal member attached to the floor panel, The vehicle understructure according to claim 1, wherein a closed cross-sectional structure is formed by the floor panel and the skeletal member in a side view.

3. The aforementioned support members are arranged in pairs, spaced apart in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle understructure according to claim 2, wherein, when viewed from the rear, a rigid frame structure is formed by the battery support portion, the pair of support members, and the battery case via the fixing portion.

4. The vehicle understructure according to claim 3, wherein the support member is formed in a substantially isosceles trapezoidal shape, such that the length of the upper end along the vehicle width direction is longer than the length of the lower end along the vehicle width direction when viewed from the rear.

5. The vehicle understructure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the anchor member is a seat belt anchor.

6. The underbody structure of a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the seat belt anchor is for a seat belt of a non-sliding rear seat.

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