Vehicle structure

Abstract

[Problem] To prevent a harness connector provided on a fuel tank from interfering with surrounding components. [Solution] The present invention includes: a passage that allows for the circulation of exhaust air from a battery cooling fan between a rear seat and a floor; and a fuel tank disposed under the floor at the rear seat and comprising a fuel pump pm, wherein the fuel pump comprises, in an upper part thereof, a harness connector ct, the passage comprises a first recessed portion 32, a second recessed portion 33, a third recessed portion 34, and a fourth recessed portion 35 provided in a lower part of a cushion of the rear seat and a first raised portion 43, a second raised portion 44, a third raised portion 45, and a fourth raised portion 46 provided in connection with the first recessed portion, the second recessed portion, the third recessed portion, and the fourth recessed portion and protruding downward, and the first raised portion, the second raised portion, the third raised portion, and the fourth raised portion are disposed in front of and behind and / or to the left and right of the harness connector.

Description

Vehicle structure

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

[0002] In recent years, the development of electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles has progressed as vehicles with low fuel consumption and exhaust gas emissions. These vehicles are equipped with batteries, which need to be cooled. Conventional technology for cooling batteries involves placing an exhaust duct between the rear seat and the floor, which discharges the air that has cooled the battery.

[0003] International Publication No. 2021 / 240803

[0004] In Patent Document 1, a cutout is provided on the backside of the rear seat and is used as part of the exhaust port path. The inventors have been studying whether the cutout can be used for purposes other than ventilation. Among the above-mentioned uses, the inventors have focused on whether the cutout can be used to prevent damage to the harness connector located above the fuel pump located below the floor panel due to interference with surrounding components during a collision.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to prevent a harness connector provided on a fuel tank from interfering with surrounding components.

[0006] A vehicle structure according to one aspect of the present invention includes a passage between a rear seat and a floor through which exhaust air from a battery cooling fan can flow, and a fuel tank with a fuel pump located below the floor of the rear seat. The fuel pump has a harness connector at its upper part. The passage includes a recessed portion recessed upwardly in the lower part of the cushion of the rear seat, and a protruding portion protruding downwardly and facing the recessed portion. The protruding portion is located at least on either the front, rear, left, or right side of the harness connector.

[0007] According to the above vehicle structure, it is possible to prevent the harness connector provided on the fuel tank from interfering with surrounding components.

[0008] 8 is a schematic diagram showing the interior of a vehicle according to an embodiment; FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the vicinity of the floor in the rear seat of the vehicle; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a fuel pump arranged under the rear seat and the floor; FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a floor panel; FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the floor panel and the fuel pump; FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the floor panel and the fuel pump during a collision; FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the seating portion of the rear seat upside down; FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the flow of air currents in a passage formed on the bottom side of the rear seat; FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the rear seat taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 8; FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the seating portion of the rear seat according to a modified example of FIG. 8;

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted. In the drawings, the size and proportions of each component are exaggerated to facilitate understanding of the embodiments, and may differ from the actual size and proportions.

[0010] In each figure, arrows (coordinate system) represented by X, Y, and Z are used to indicate the orientation of members constituting the vehicle structure according to the embodiment. X indicates the front-rear direction, which is referred to as the front-rear direction X. Y indicates the vehicle width direction, which is referred to as the vehicle width direction Y. Z indicates the vehicle height direction, which is referred to as the height direction Z.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the interior of a vehicle 100 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the floor and its vicinity in a rear seat 30 of the vehicle 100. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the rear seat 30 and a fuel pump pm disposed under the floor. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a floor panel top surface 40. FIG. 5 is an end view showing the positional relationship between the floor panel top surface 40 and the fuel pump pm. FIG. 6 is an end view showing the positional relationship between the floor panel top surface 40 and the fuel pump pm during a collision.

[0012] The vehicle 100 having the vehicle structure according to this embodiment may be, for example, a hybrid vehicle such as a series hybrid vehicle in which a battery 50 (described later) is disposed inside the vehicle.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the vehicle has a vehicle body B, a seat 10, a floor consisting of a floor panel top surface portion 40 and a floor panel bottom surface portion fp, a battery 50, an air intake 60, and a communication duct 70. The vehicle 100 also has an exhaust fan 80 and an exhaust duct 90, as shown in Figure 2, etc. These will be described in detail below.

[0014] (Vehicle Body) The vehicle body B constitutes a framework for carrying passengers and luggage in the vehicle and separating the vehicle interior from the outside. In this embodiment, the vehicle body B of the vehicle is configured as a compact car such as a hatchback, but the vehicle type is not particularly limited as long as it has the same structure as the seats 10, floor, etc. described below.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle body B includes a floor panel bottom portion fp at the bottom of the vehicle, on which a battery 50 (described later) can be disposed.

[0016] (Seats) The seats 10 are configured to be installed in multiple rows on the top surface 40 of a floor panel of a vehicle. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the seats 10 include front seats 20 corresponding to the first row seats when viewed from the front, and rear seats 30 corresponding to the second row seats. The seats 10 are configured to include an elastic member such as urethane.

[0017] The front seat 20 is configured to be movable at least in the front-rear direction X relative to the floor panel top surface portion 40. In this embodiment, the front seat 20 includes a backrest, a seating portion, and a backrest, and is provided with a driver's seat and a passenger seat that are independent of each other.

[0018] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the seating portion st of the rear seat 30 upside down. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the airflow in a passage formed on the bottom side of the rear seat 30. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in Fig. 8.

[0019] 3 and other figures, the rear seat 30 includes a backrest br and a seating portion st. Unlike the front seat 20, the rear seat 30 is configured like a bench seat, with the left and right seats connected together. Therefore, the backrest br and the seating portion st are configured so that the backs and buttocks of multiple occupants can be placed on them.

[0020] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the rear seat 30 has a cutout portion where the underside in the height direction Z is cut out. The cutout portion has a concave shape as shown in Figure 7, etc. The concave shape of the cutout portion has an entrance portion 31, a first recess 32, a second recess 33, a third recess 34, and a fourth recess 35 as shown in Figure 8. The entrance portion 31, the first recess 32, the second recess 33, the third recess 34, and the fourth recess 35 form a passage and correspond to a recess that is provided in the lower part of the cushion of the rear seat 30 and is recessed upward.

[0021] The inlet portion 31 is disposed along the front-to-rear direction X of the vehicle as a portion that communicates with the exhaust duct 90. The end of the inlet portion 31 is a branch point into the first recess 32, the second recess 33, the third recess 34, and the fourth recess 35. The first recess 32, the second recess 33, the third recess 34, and the fourth recess 35 are configured to branch out from the front side of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction Y and rearward.

[0022] The first recess 32 is configured as part of a flow path that discharges cooling air for the battery 50 from the inlet 31. In this embodiment, the first recess 32 has a front portion that extends in the vehicle width direction Y and a rear portion that extends diagonally rearward. The fourth recess 35 has a shape that is the left-right inversion of the first recess 32 and is configured in the same way as the first recess 32.

[0023] The second recess 33 is configured as part of a flow path that discharges battery cooling air from the inlet 31. The second recess 33 has a front portion that extends diagonally rearward with respect to the longitudinal direction X, and a rear portion that extends along the vehicle width direction Y. The third recess 34 has a shape that is the left-right inversion of the second recess 33 and is configured in the same manner as the second recess 33.

[0024] The first recess 32, the second recess 33, the third recess 34, and the fourth recess 35 are configured to be arranged around the connector ct of the harness of the fuel pump pm in the fore-and-aft direction X and the vehicle width direction Y when viewed in a plane.

[0025] 7, the recessed shapes of the rear seat 30 are configured so that the cross-sectional areas of the first recess 32 and the fourth recess 35 are larger than those of the second recess 33 and the third recess 34. In this embodiment, one of the means for changing the cross-sectional areas is to make the widths of the first recess 32 and the fourth recess 35 the same as those of the second recess 33 and the third recess 34, and to make the first recess 32 and the fourth recess 35 deeper in the height direction Z than the second recess 33 and the third recess 34, as shown in FIG.

[0026] This configuration allows materials to be preferentially placed on the rear side, which bears the load of the buttocks, ensuring a comfortable seat. Also, by increasing the cross-sectional area of ​​the concave shape on the front side of the seat, it is possible to reduce the amount of material on the front side, which is less likely to bear the load compared to the rear side, thereby reducing weight and costs.

[0027] (Floor) The floor panel top surface portion 40 is disposed higher in the height direction Z than the floor panel bottom surface portion fp. The floor panel top surface portion 40 is configured so that a battery 50 can be disposed between the floor panel top surface portion 40 and the floor panel bottom surface portion fp. The floor panel top surface portion 40 forms the lower part of the passenger compartment of the vehicle 100. A carpet, a floor mat, or the like can be installed on the floor panel top surface portion 40. As shown in FIG. 4 , the floor panel top surface portion 40 includes a horizontal portion 41, an entrance portion 42, a first convex portion 43, a second convex portion 44, a third convex portion 45, and a fourth convex portion 46.

[0028] The entrance portion 42, the first convex portion 43, the second convex portion 44, the third convex portion 45, and the fourth convex portion 46 form a passageway, are provided to face the concave portion of the rear seat 30, and correspond to convex portions that protrude downward. Because most of the floor panel top surface portion 40 is constructed with the same thickness, the entrance portion 42, the first convex portion 43, the second convex portion 44, the third convex portion 45, and the fourth convex portion 46 can be seen as concave portions from above and as convex portions from below.

[0029] The horizontal portion 41 is configured as a portion that extends substantially parallel to the ground when the tire is in a ground-contact state. The inlet portion 42 is located opposite the inlet portion 31 of the rear seat 30, the first convex portion 43 is located opposite the first recessed portion 32 of the rear seat 30, and the second convex portion 44 is located opposite the second recessed portion 33 of the rear seat 30. The third convex portion 45 is located opposite the third recessed portion 34 of the rear seat 30, and the fourth convex portion 46 is located opposite the fourth recessed portion 35 of the rear seat 30.

[0030] Regarding the configuration of the floor panel top surface and rear seat, below the floor panel top surface 40 is a fuel tank containing a fuel pump pm that operates oil, etc., to supply gasoline, and the fuel pump pm is covered by an outer wall w, as shown in FIG. 5 . Above the fuel pump pm is a harness connector ct, made of resin or the like, for operating the fuel pump pm. This connector ct must be protected from damage in the event of a collision, and to that end, it is possible to provide a protector or other part around the rear of the connector ct. However, doing so would increase the number of parts.

[0031] In response to this, by providing a concave-convex shape surrounding the harness connector CT on the floor panel top surface 40 and the rear seat 30, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the concave-convex shape of the floor panel abuts against the top surface of the fuel tank during a collision, preventing the connector CT from interfering with other components. This also prevents damage to the harness connector CT. In this embodiment, the exhaust passage is supported by the convex portion of the floor panel top surface 40, so the depth of the cushion recess can be made shallower than when a recess is provided only in the cushion. This prevents the cushion from becoming less comfortable to sit on.

[0032] In addition, the first recess 32 and the first protrusion 43, as well as the fourth recess 35 and the fourth protrusion 46, branch out in the vehicle width direction Y, and the second recess 33 and the second protrusion 44, as well as the third recess 34 and the third protrusion 45, are formed to extend diagonally rearward.

[0033] In this way, the airflow from the inlet 31 is smoothly guided rearward, and the oblique shape smoothly changes the direction of the airflow from left to right, reducing airflow resistance and increasing the exhaust air volume relative to the fan motor's discharge capacity, thereby improving cooling efficiency. Also, while a sharp bend in the exhaust passage can generate vortices and increase noise, the oblique shape suppresses the generation of vortices and reduces cooling wind noise.

[0034] (Battery) The battery 50 includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte, a current collector, an exterior body, etc., and is configured to be capable of being charged and discharged. In this embodiment, the battery 50 is configured to be disposed near the bottom of the front seat 20 within the seat 10.

[0035] (Air Intake Port) The air intake port 60 is disposed outside the battery 50 in the vehicle width direction Y, and is configured to communicate with the internal space of the battery 50. The air intake port 60 is configured as a portion that draws in gas such as air used to cool the battery 50. In this embodiment, the air intake port 60 is configured to be disposed near the bottom of the front seat 20 within the seat 10, and further outward in the vehicle width direction Y than the battery 50 (see Figures 1 and 2). The inlet surface of the air intake port 60 can be disposed on approximately the same plane as the floor panel top surface portion 40.

[0036] The communication duct 70 is configured as a duct that takes in gas such as air that flows in through the intake port 60 and has passed through the battery 50. In this embodiment, the communication duct 70 is disposed between the battery 50 and the exhaust fan 80 in the fore-and-aft direction X. As an example, the communication duct 70 can be disposed approximately in the center in the vehicle width direction Y. The communication duct 70 can be disposed so as to extend rearward from the connection portion with the battery 50.

[0037] The exhaust fan 80 is configured to generate air to cool the battery 50. In this embodiment, the exhaust fan 80 can be configured by a sirocco-type centrifugal fan (blower) or the like. The intake port of the exhaust fan 80 can be connected to the communication duct 70.

[0038] The exhaust duct 90 is configured to be able to exhaust air that has cooled the battery 50. The exhaust duct 90 is disposed between the seating portion st of the rear seat 30 that constitutes the seat 10 and the floor panel bottom portion fp. The exhaust duct 90 is a duct member disposed in the lower mold of the floor panel, and one end is connected to the exhaust port of the exhaust fan 80. The other end of the exhaust duct 90 is disposed adjacent to the underside of the rear seat 30.

[0039] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Figures 10 and 11 are views showing rear seat seating areas sta and stb according to a modified example corresponding to Figure 8. As described above, the method for making the cross-sectional area of ​​the notch of the fourth recess 35 larger than that of the third recess 34 is to make the width of the notch of the fourth recess 35 equal to that of the third recess 34, while making the fourth recess 35 deeper than the third recess 34.

[0040] However, other than the above, the third recess 34 and the fourth recess 35a may be configured to have the same depth, but the width of the fourth recess 35a may be greater than the third recess 34, as shown in Figure 10. Also, the fourth recess 35a may be configured to have a greater width and a greater depth than the third recess 34. While the above has been described with respect to the third recess 34 and the fourth recess 35a of the rear seat 30, the same applies to the first recess 32a and the second recess 33, and also to the top surface of the floor panel.

[0041] In addition, the second recess 33 and the third recess 34 of the rear seat 30 have been described above as extending diagonally rearward on the front side. However, this is not limited thereto, and they may be configured to have portions extending along the front-rear direction X as shown by the second recesses 33b and 34b in Fig. 11, and the same applies to the top surface of the floor panel. Note that the first recess 32b and the fourth recess 35b may be configured to extend substantially parallel to the front-rear direction X on the rear side as shown in Fig. 11, and the same applies to the top surface of the floor panel.

[0042] 30 rear seat, 32 first recess (passage, recess), 33 second recess (passage, recess), 34 third recess (passage, recess), 35 fourth recess (passage, recess), 40 top surface of floor panel, 43 first convex portion (passage, convex portion), 44 second convex portion (passage, convex portion), 45 third convex portion (passage, convex portion), 46 fourth convex portion (passage, convex portion), ct connector, pm fuel pump (fuel tank), Y vehicle width direction.

Claims

1. A vehicle structure comprising: a passage between a rear seat and a floor through which exhaust air from a battery cooling fan can circulate; and a fuel tank with a fuel pump located below the floor of the rear seat, wherein the fuel pump has a harness connector at its upper part; and the passage comprises a recessed portion that is located below the cushion of the rear seat and is recessed upward, and a protruding portion that is located opposite the recessed portion and protrudes downward, and the protruding portion is located at least either in front of, behind, or to the left or right of the harness connector.

2. A vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the recesses are arranged in front and behind the harness connector, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the front recess is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the rear recess.

3. A vehicle structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the recessed portion branches from the front of the vehicle in the width direction and rearward, and the recessed portion branching rearward extends diagonally.

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