Automobile

Abstract

This automobile comprises a chassis frame (1) having a pair of side members (11, 11) and a plurality of cross members (13), an engine (E) supported by an engine mount bracket (15) provided at least on the side members (11), and a front differential gear unit (D) that is supported by the chassis frame (1) at least at front mount portions (D5, D6) and that transmits the driving force of the engine (E) to front wheels (W). The front mount portions (D5, D6) are supported by the side members (11) so as to overlap the engine mount bracket (15) in plan view.

Description

car

[0001] The present invention relates to an automobile, and more particularly to a mounting structure for a front differential gear unit to a chassis frame.

[0002] In a known four-wheel drive vehicle equipped with a chassis frame, a front differential gear unit is elastically supported on the chassis frame at three locations (see Patent Document 1). In this vehicle, the left front mount of the front differential gear unit is supported on a second cross member of the chassis frame, and the right front mount and rear mount are supported on a third cross member (see paragraph

[0058] and Figure 20 of Patent Document 1, etc.).

[0003] International Publication No. WO2011 / 101906 Pamphlet

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned conventional vehicle, the left front mount of the front differential gear unit is supported by the second cross member of the chassis frame, which means that in the event of a full-overlap frontal collision, there is a problem that there is no space between the second and third cross members to absorb the collision energy if the side member is crushed.

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an automobile in which a space can be secured for absorbing collision energy in the event of a frontal collision when the side members are crushed.

[0006] The present invention solves the above problem by providing a side member of a chassis frame that supports a front mount portion of a front differential gear unit at a position that overlaps the engine mount bracket in a plan view.

[0007] According to the present invention, a space can be secured behind the adjacent cross member on the front side of the engine mount bracket in which the side member can collapse and absorb collision energy in the event of a frontal collision.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a side view showing the entirety of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the chassis frame of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main portion of a front differential gear unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a mounting structure of the front differential gear unit of FIG. 3 to a chassis frame. FIG. 5A is an exploded perspective view of the left front mounting bracket of FIG. 5A. FIG. 6A is an exploded perspective view of the right front mounting bracket of FIG. 6A. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 5A. FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 6A.

[0009] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing an entire automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the chassis frame of FIG. 1. The automobile V of this embodiment is a chassis-frame type vehicle, being a front-engine, four-wheel-drive automobile. The automobile V of this embodiment includes a chassis frame 1 and an upper body B fixed to the chassis frame 1. An engine E, a transmission T, a suspension system (not shown) including wheels W, and other components are mounted on the chassis frame 1. The upper body B, including an engine compartment B1 and a cabin B2, is attached via elastic members to a plurality of cab mount brackets 12 (see FIG. 2) provided on side members 11 of the chassis frame 1, thereby mounting the upper body B on the chassis frame 1.

[0010] The chassis frame 1 of this embodiment includes a pair of left and right side members 11, 11, and multiple cross members 13. Both the side members 11 and the cross members 13 are formed by processing steel plates or other metal plates and, for example, by combining and joining the plate materials by welding or the like to form a frame having a closed cross section. As shown in FIG. 1, each side member 11 extends from the front end to the rear end of the vehicle V. As shown in FIG. 2, a first cross member 131, a second cross member 132, a third cross member 133, a fourth cross member 134, a fifth cross member 135, a sixth cross member 136, a seventh cross member 137, an eighth cross member 138, and a ninth cross member 139 are spanned between the pair of side members 11, 11, from the front end to the rear end. The side members 11 and each cross member 13 are firmly joined by welding or the like, thereby making the chassis frame 1 of this embodiment a solid skeletal component capable of supporting the power train including the engine E and transmission T, suspension components including wheels W, and the upper body B. In Fig. 2, reference numeral 14 denotes a suspension tower to which springs of a suspension system are attached.

[0011] 2, the engine E of this embodiment is supported by engine mount brackets 15, 15 provided on the left and right side members 11, 11 between the third cross member 133 and the fourth cross member 134. The transmission T assembled to the engine E is supported by the fifth cross member 135. Since the automobile of this embodiment is a front-engine, four-wheel-drive vehicle, the transmission T is connected to not only a rear differential gear unit (not shown) that transmits the driving force of the engine E to the rear wheels W, but also a front differential gear unit D that transmits the driving force of the engine E to the front wheels W.

[0012] 3 is a perspective view showing a main portion of a front differential gear unit D according to this embodiment. The front differential gear unit D according to this embodiment includes a casing D1 that houses a differential gear (not shown). A drive shaft D2, which is connected to the output shaft of a transmission T, is connected to the input side of this differential gear. The input rotation of the drive shaft D2 is output via the differential gear to a left front wheel drive shaft D3 and a right front wheel drive shaft D4. As shown in FIG. 2, the front differential gear unit D according to this embodiment is mounted on the left side of the engine E, and therefore includes a left front mount portion D5 and a right front mount portion D6 on the front side of the casing D1, and a rear mount portion D7 on the rear side of the casing D1.

[0013] Figure 4 is a plan view showing the mounting structure of the front differential gear unit D shown in Figure 3 to the chassis frame 1, and is an enlarged plan view of the portion between the third cross member 133 and the fourth cross member 134 in Figure 2. The front differential gear unit D of this embodiment is supported by the chassis frame 1 at three points as shown in Figure 4. That is, the left front mount portion D5 is attached to a left front mount bracket 16 fixed to the left side member 11, and the right front mount portion D6 is attached to a right front mount bracket 17 fixed to the right side member 11. In addition, the rear mount portion D7 is attached to a rear mount bracket 18 fixed to the adjacent fourth cross member 134 behind the engine mount bracket 15.

[0014] The specific structures of the left front mounting bracket 16 and the right front mounting bracket 17 will be described in further detail. Fig. 5A shows the left front mounting bracket 16 according to one embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the arrow V in Fig. 4, Fig. 5B is an exploded perspective view thereof, Fig. 6A shows the right front mounting bracket 17 according to one embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the arrow VI in Fig. 4, Fig. 6B is an exploded perspective view thereof, Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Fig. 5A, and Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in Fig. 6A.

[0015] 5A, 5B, and 7, the left front mount bracket 16 of this embodiment is disposed in a position that overlaps the left engine mount bracket 15 in a plan view. In particular, the left front mount bracket 16 of this embodiment is disposed below the left engine mount bracket 15 so as to overlap in the vertical direction of the vehicle. By disposing the left front mount bracket 16 on the side member 11 instead of the third cross member 133 in this manner, a space S can be provided behind the third cross member 133. Then, by providing one or more weakened portions 19, such as beads (linear recesses), at appropriate locations on the side member 11 corresponding to this space S, the space S can be created in which the side member 11 will collapse during a frontal collision.

[0016] In addition, before the left front mount bracket 16 of this embodiment is joined to the side member 11 by welding or the like, the four constituent members 161, 162, 163, and 164 that make up the left front mount bracket 16 and the engine mount bracket 15 are joined by welding or the like to form a subassembly part (intermediate assembly) as shown in Figure 5B , and this state is fixed to the side member 11 by welding or the like. By forming the subassembly part on the side of the welding assembly line for the chassis frame 1 and then assembling it to the side member 11, the engine mount bracket 15 and the left front mount bracket 16 can be stacked one above the other even in a small space.

[0017] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the subassembly components of the engine mount bracket 15 and left front mount bracket 16 have a structure that includes two closed cross sections, ensuring the strength necessary to support the engine E and front differential gear unit D.

[0018] 7 , a fastener 165 is inserted into the left front mount portion D5 of the front differential gear unit D, and this fastener 165 is fastened with a bolt 166 to the left front mount bracket 16, which has two closed cross sections, so that the left front mount portion D5 is supported on the side member 11. Note that, because an elastic body is provided in the left front mount portion D5, the front differential gear unit D is elastically supported on the side member 11. In particular, in this embodiment, the work of attaching the left front mount portion D5 to the left front mount bracket 16 is the work of tightening the bolt 166 from below to above the vehicle, and therefore the tightening work can be performed without the tool for tightening the bolt 166 interfering with other parts.

[0019] As shown in Figures 6A, 6B, and 8, the right front mount bracket 17 of this embodiment is disposed in a position that overlaps the right engine mount bracket 15 in a plan view. In particular, the right front mount bracket 17 of this embodiment is disposed below the right engine mount bracket 15 so as to overlap in the vertical direction of the vehicle. By disposing the right front mount bracket 17 on the side member 11 rather than the third cross member 133 or the fourth cross member 134 in this manner, a space S can be provided behind the third cross member 133. Then, by providing one or more weakened portions 19, such as beads (linear recesses), at appropriate locations on the side member 11 corresponding to this space S, the space S can be created in which the side member 11 will collapse during a frontal collision.

[0020] In addition, before the right front mount bracket 17 of this embodiment is joined to the side member 11 by welding or the like, two components 171, 172 that make up the right front mount bracket 17 and the engine mount bracket 15 are joined by welding or the like to form a sub-assembly part (intermediate assembly) as shown in Figure 6B , and this state is fixed to the side member 11 by welding or the like. By forming the sub-assembly part on the side of the welding assembly line for the chassis frame 1 and then assembling it to the side member 11, the engine mount bracket 15 and the right front mount bracket 17 can be stacked one above the other even in a small space.

[0021] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6A, the subassembly components of the engine mount bracket 15 and right front mount bracket 17 have a structure that includes two closed cross sections, ensuring the strength necessary to support the engine E and the front differential gear unit D.

[0022] 8, a bolt 167 is inserted into the right front mount portion D6 of the front differential gear unit D and tightened with a nut, whereby the right front mount portion D6 is supported by the side member 11. Note that an elastic body is provided in the right front mount portion D6, so that the front differential gear unit D is elastically supported by the side member 11.

[0023] As described above, the automobile V of this embodiment comprises the chassis frame 1 having a pair of side members 11, 11 and a plurality of cross members 13, the engine E supported by the engine mount bracket 15 provided on at least the side member 11, and the front differential gear unit D supported by the chassis frame 1 at least at the front mount portions D5, D6 and transmitting the driving force of the engine E to the front wheels W, the front mount portions D5, D6 being supported on the side member 11 at positions that overlap the engine mount bracket 15 in a plan view. This allows a space S to be secured behind the third cross member 133, and in the event of a frontal collision, the side member will collapse in this space S, allowing the collision energy to be absorbed.

[0024] Furthermore, in the automobile V of this embodiment, the front differential gear unit D has left and right front mount portions D5, D6, the engine E is supported by engine mount brackets 15, 15 provided on the left and right side members 11, 11, and the left and right front mount portions D5, D6 are supported in positions that overlap the left and right engine mount brackets 15, 15 of the side members 11, 11 in a plan view. This makes it possible to ensure a space S behind the third cross member 133, and in the event of a frontal collision, the side members are crushed in this space S, allowing the collision energy to be absorbed.

[0025] Furthermore, in the automobile V of this embodiment, the front differential gear unit D further has a rear mount portion D7, which is supported by the adjacent fourth cross member 134, among the multiple cross members 131 to 139, at the rear side of the engine mount bracket 15. This makes it possible to ensure a space S behind the third cross member 133, and in the event of a frontal collision, the side members are crushed in this space S, allowing the collision energy to be absorbed.

[0026] Furthermore, in the automobile V of this embodiment, the left front mount portion D5 of the front differential gear unit D is supported by the lower part of the left engine mount bracket 15 of the left side member 11. This ensures a space S behind the third cross member 133, and in the event of a frontal collision, the side member is crushed in this space S, allowing the collision energy to be absorbed.

[0027] Furthermore, in the automobile V of this embodiment, the right front mount portion D6 of the front differential gear unit D is supported by the lower part of the right engine mount bracket 15 of the right side member 11. This ensures a space S behind the third cross member 133, and in the event of a frontal collision, the side member is crushed in this space S, allowing the collision energy to be absorbed.

[0028] Furthermore, in the automobile V of this embodiment, the engine mount bracket 15 and the left front mount bracket 16 or the right front mount bracket 17 are attached to the side members 11 so as to overlap in the vertical direction of the vehicle. This ensures a space S behind the third cross member 133, and in the event of a frontal collision, the side members are crushed in this space S, allowing them to absorb the collision energy.

[0029] Furthermore, in the automobile V of this embodiment, the engine mount bracket 15 and the left front mount bracket 16 or the right front mount bracket 17 are sub-assembly parts, which allows the engine mount bracket 15 and the left front mount bracket 16 or the right front mount bracket 17 to be stacked one on top of the other even in a small space.

[0030] Furthermore, in the automobile V of this embodiment, the engine mount bracket 15 and the left front mount bracket 16 or the right front mount bracket 17 are configured to have a closed cross section, which allows the engine E and the front differential gear unit D to be firmly supported.

[0031] Furthermore, in the vehicle V of this embodiment, the left front mount D5 is attached to the left front mount bracket 16 that supports the left front mount D5 with a bolt 166 that is tightened from the bottom to the top of the vehicle. This allows the tightening tool for the bolt 166 to be operated without interfering with other components.

[0032] Furthermore, according to the automobile V of this embodiment, the chassis frame 1 has a third cross member 133 and a fourth cross member 134 in front and behind the attachment positions of the engine mount brackets 15 on the side members 11, and has one or more weak portions 19, 19 between the attachment positions of the engine mount brackets 15, 15 on the side members 11 and the third cross member 133. As a result, in the event of a frontal collision, the side members will be crushed in the secured space S, making it possible to absorb the collision energy.

[0033] V...Automobile E...Engine T...Transmission W...Wheel B...Upper body B1...Engine compartment B2...Cabin D...Front differential gear unit D1...Casing D2...Drive shaft D3...Left front wheel drive shaft D4...Right front wheel drive shaft D5...Left side front mount section D6...Right side front mount section D7...Rear mount section 1...Chassis frame 11...Side member 12...Cab mount bracket 13, 131 to 139...Cross member 14...Suspension tower 15...(Right side / Left side) engine mount bracket 16...Left side front mount bracket 161 to 164...Component part 165...Fixing device 166, 167...Bolt 17...Right side front mount bracket 171 to 172...Component part 18...Rear mount bracket 19...Weak part S...Space

Claims

1. a chassis frame having a pair of side members and a plurality of cross members; an engine supported by an engine mount bracket provided on at least the side member; a front differential gear unit supported by the chassis frame at least at a front mount portion and configured to transmit driving force of the engine to front wheels; The front mount portion is supported on the side member at a position that overlaps the engine mount bracket in a plan view.

2. the front differential gear unit has the front mount portions on both the left and right sides, the engine is supported by the engine mount brackets provided on the left and right side members, 2. The automobile according to claim 1, wherein the left and right front mount portions are supported on the side members at positions that overlap the left and right engine mount brackets in a plan view.

3. the front differential gear unit further has a rear mount portion, 3. The automobile according to claim 1, wherein the rear mount portion is supported by an adjacent cross member of the plurality of cross members at a rear side of the engine mount bracket.

4. 3. The automobile according to claim 2, wherein the left front mount portion of the front differential gear unit is supported by a lower portion of the left engine mount bracket of the side member.

5. 5. The automobile according to claim 4, wherein the right front mount portion of the front differential gear unit is supported by a lower portion of the right engine mount bracket of the side member.

6. 3. The automobile according to claim 1, wherein the engine mount bracket and the bracket supporting the front mount portion are attached to the side member so as to overlap in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

7. 3. The automobile according to claim 1, wherein the engine mount bracket and the bracket supporting the front mount portion are sub-assembly parts.

8. 8. The automobile according to claim 7, wherein the engine mount bracket and the bracket supporting the front mount portion have a structure including a closed cross section.

9. 3. The automobile according to claim 1, wherein the front mount portion is attached to a bracket that supports the front mount portion by a bolt that is tightened from below toward above the vehicle.

10. the chassis frame has a pair of cross members on the front and rear sides of the attachment position of the engine mount bracket of the side member, 3. The automobile according to claim 1, wherein the side members have weakened portions between the attachment positions of the engine mount brackets and the front cross member.