Vehicle structure

Abstract

This vehicle structure comprises a pair of side frames (13R, 13L) extending in the front-rear direction of a vehicle, a propeller shaft (21) provided between the pair of side frames (13R, 13L) and extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, a fuel tank (31) disposed at a position adjacent to the propeller shaft (21) in the width direction of the vehicle, and a support arm (41) extending from one side frame (13L) in the width direction of the vehicle and supporting the fuel tank (31). The support arm (41) has a guide part (45), which is a portion adjacent to the propeller shaft (21) in the width direction of the vehicle. The guide part (45) is disposed at a position facing the propeller shaft (21), and is inclined upward or downward in a direction away from the propeller shaft (21).

Description

Vehicle Structure

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle structure having a pair of side frames extending in the vehicle front-rear direction and a propeller shaft located between the pair of side frames and extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. Further, in this vehicle structure, a fuel tank is provided between the pair of side frames, and this fuel tank is provided adjacent to the propeller shaft on one side in the vehicle width direction of the propeller shaft.

[0003] International Publication No. 2022 / 196146

[0004] By the way, in the vehicle structure of Patent Document 1 above, particularly when an impact force is applied to the vehicle by a frontal collision such as an offset collision, the vehicle members such as the propeller shaft are greatly displaced in the vehicle width direction by the impact force, and there is a risk of contacting the tank adjacent to the vehicle member.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle structure capable of protecting the tank by suppressing contact of the vehicle member with the tank even when an impact is applied to the vehicle.

[0006] The present invention has the following configuration. A pair of side frames extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, a vehicle member provided between the pair of side frames and extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, a tank arranged at a position adjacent to the vehicle member in the vehicle width direction, and a support arm extending in the vehicle width direction from one of the side frames to support the tank. The support arm has an adjacent portion adjacent to the vehicle member in the vehicle width direction. The adjacent portion is arranged at a position facing the vehicle member and is inclined upward or downward in a direction away from the vehicle member. Vehicle structure.

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle structure capable of protecting the tank by suppressing contact of the vehicle member with the tank even when an impact is applied to the vehicle.

[0008] Figure 1 is a plan view of the chassis frame at the location of the fuel tank, illustrating the vehicle structure according to this embodiment. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the chassis frame at the location of the fuel tank, illustrating the vehicle structure according to this embodiment. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Figure 1. Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the location where the fuel tank is fixed to the chassis frame.

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the reference numeral FR indicates the front of the vehicle, the reference numeral UP indicates the top of the vehicle, and the reference numeral HL indicates the width direction of the vehicle.

[0010] Figure 1 is a plan view of the chassis frame 11 at the location where the fuel tank 31 is located, illustrating the vehicle structure according to this embodiment. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the chassis frame 11 at the location where the fuel tank 31 is located, illustrating the vehicle structure according to this embodiment. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Figure 1. Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the location where the fuel tank 31 is fixed to the chassis frame 11.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the vehicle structure according to this embodiment is mainly applied to the chassis frame 11 of the vehicle 100.

[0012] The chassis frame 11 has a pair of side frames 13R and 13L. The side frames 13R and 13L extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and are spaced apart in the width direction of the vehicle.

[0013] The side frame 13R is positioned on the right side in the vehicle width direction, and the side frame 13L is positioned on the left side in the vehicle width direction. The chassis frame 11 also has multiple cross members 15 and 17. The cross members 15 and 17 extend in the vehicle width direction at multiple points spaced apart in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, connecting the pair of side frames 13R and 13L. The ends of these cross members 15 and 17 are joined to the side frames 13R and 13L. The cross member 15 on the front side of the vehicle has its middle section positioned below the side frames 13R and 13L, and is positioned below the cross member 17 on the rear side of the vehicle.

[0014] The vehicle 100 is equipped with a propeller shaft (vehicle component) 21. The propeller shaft 21 is located between a pair of side frames 13R and 13L. The propeller shaft 21 is positioned in the center of the chassis frame 11 in the vehicle width direction and extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The propeller shaft 21 passes over the cross member 15 on the front side of the vehicle and under the cross member 17 on the rear side of the vehicle.

[0015] The propeller shaft 21 is connected to a transmission 23 located at the front of the vehicle and a differential gear (not shown) located at the rear of the vehicle. The propeller shaft 21 transmits the driving force from the engine (not shown) transmitted from the transmission 23 to the rear wheels (not shown) via the differential gear.

[0016] Vehicle 100 is equipped with a fuel tank (tank) 31. The fuel tank 31 is made of, for example, synthetic resin and is formed in an elongated shape. The fuel tank 31 is positioned between a pair of side frames 13R and 13L with its longitudinal direction aligned with the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The fuel tank 31 is aligned with one of the side frames 13L on the left side of the vehicle and is positioned adjacent to the propeller shaft 21 in the vehicle width direction. That is, in the vehicle width direction, the fuel tank 31 is positioned between the side frame 13L and the propeller shaft 21. The fuel tank 31 is positioned behind the vehicle relative to the front cross member 15. In addition, the rear of the fuel tank 31 is positioned to overlap with the rear cross member 17 of the vehicle in a plan view.

[0017] The chassis frame 11 of the vehicle 100 is equipped with a support arm 41. The support arm 41 is provided between the cross members 15 and 17 and is positioned near the cross member 15 on the front side of the vehicle. The support arm 41 is joined to one side frame 13L on the left side of the vehicle. The support arm 41 extends from the side frame 13L in the vehicle width direction, and its tip reaches near the propeller shaft 21. The support arm 41 is made of, for example, a steel material with a rectangular cross-section and is welded to the side frame 13L. An extension member (extension portion) 43 is welded and fixed to the tip of the support arm 41.

[0018] The fuel tank 31 is supported by a support arm 41 and a cross member 17 on the rear side of the vehicle.

[0019] The fuel tank 31 is supported from above by the support arm 41 on its front side (see Figure 3). Specifically, the fuel tank 31 is positioned against the support arm 41 from below on its front side. The fuel tank 31 is then secured to the support arm 41 by a band 61 that passes through its underside. The band 61 is made of metal, for example. One end of the band 61 is fixed to a bracket 63 provided at the lower part of the joint between the support arm 41 and the side frame 13L, and the other end is fixed to an extension member 43 provided at the tip of the support arm 41. Thus, the fuel tank 31 is fastened to the support arm 41 on its front side by the band 61, and is supported from above by the support arm 41.

[0020] The fuel tank 31 is supported from above by the cross member 17 at its rear end (see Figure 4). Specifically, the fuel tank 31 is positioned against the cross member 17 from below at its rear end. The fuel tank 31 is then secured to the cross member 17 by a band 65 that passes through its underside. The band 65 is made of metal, for example. One end of the band 65 is fixed to a bracket 67 provided at the bottom of the side frame 13L, and the other end is fixed to a bracket 69 provided at the bottom of the cross member 17. The fuel tank 31 is then tightly fastened to the cross member 17 at its rear end by the band 65, and is thus supported from above by the cross member 17.

[0021] As shown in Figure 3, the length of the support arm 41 in the vehicle width direction is approximately the same as the width of the fuel tank 31 in the vehicle width direction. The portion of the support arm 41 adjacent to the propeller shaft 21 in the vehicle width direction is designated as a guide portion 45. The guide portion 45 is positioned opposite the propeller shaft 21. Furthermore, the guide portion 45 is inclined upward in the direction away from the propeller shaft 21. An extension member 43, to which the other end of the band 61 is fixed, is joined to the guide portion 45 at the tip of the support arm 41. This extension member 43 extends vertically along the side of the fuel tank 31 adjacent to the propeller shaft 21.

[0022] The support arm 41 has an inclined surface 47 at the joint with one side frame 13L, which slopes downward toward the side frame 13L. The support arm 41 also has a straight section 51 on the side that joins with the side frame 13L and a convex section 53 at its tip. The convex section 53 protrudes upward from the straight section 51. The underside of the convex section 53 is concave.

[0023] The fuel tank 31, supported by the support arm 41, has an upper surface that bulges upward and is supported by the support arm 41 in a state where it is fitted into the lower surface of the convex portion 53. The fuel tank 31 also has inclined surfaces 31a and 31b on its upper part on the front side of the vehicle (see Figure 2). Both of these inclined surfaces 31a and 31b are gradually inclined upward toward the rear of the vehicle. One inclined surface 31a is positioned further forward than the other inclined surface 31b. These inclined surfaces 31a and 31b of the fuel tank 31 are adjacent to the support arm 41 on the rear side of the vehicle. Thus, the portion of the fuel tank 31 adjacent to the support arm 41 on the rear side of the vehicle is inclined upward toward the direction away from the support arm 41.

[0024] Furthermore, with the fuel tank 31 supported by the support arm 41, the vehicle-front cross member 15, which passes below the propeller shaft 21, is positioned above the lower end of the fuel tank 31 (see the dashed line in Figure 3).

[0025] Next, we will describe the situation when a frontal collision occurs in a vehicle 100 equipped with the above-described vehicle structure.

[0026] When the vehicle 100 is subjected to an impact due to a frontal collision, the propeller shaft 21 may be displaced. In particular, if the frontal collision of the vehicle 100 is an offset collision, the front end of the propeller shaft 21 connected to the transmission 23 moves in the vehicle width direction and is displaced diagonally relative to the chassis frame 11 in a plan view (see the dashed lines in Figures 1 and 3). As a result, the propeller shaft 21 moves toward the front of the vehicle in relation to the fuel tank 31.

[0027] When the propeller shaft 21 is displaced in this manner, it comes into contact with the guide portion 45 of the support arm 41, which is adjacent to the propeller shaft 21. This prevents the propeller shaft 21 from contacting the fuel tank 31. Furthermore, the propeller shaft 21 that is in contact with the support arm 41 is guided above the fuel tank 31 by the guide portion 45 at the tip of the support arm 41, which is inclined upward in the direction away from the propeller shaft 21. This further smooths the avoidance of the propeller shaft 21 from contacting the fuel tank 31.

[0028] As described above, the vehicle structure according to this embodiment prevents the displaced propeller shaft 21 from contacting the fuel tank 31 by the support arm 41 that supports the fuel tank 31 from above. This eliminates the need to install a protector to protect the fuel tank 31, and while suppressing the increase in weight and cost that would be incurred by installing a protector, it is possible to protect the fuel tank 31 when the vehicle 100 is subjected to an impact, thereby ensuring high safety. Furthermore, since the fuel tank 31 is protected by the support arm 41, the gap between the propeller shaft 21 and the fuel tank 31 can be reduced, thereby increasing the capacity of the fuel tank 31.

[0029] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the support arm 41 has an extended portion consisting of an extended member 43 that extends vertically along the side surface of the fuel tank 31 adjacent to the propeller shaft 21. Therefore, the extended portion of the support arm 41 can better avoid contact between the displaced propeller shaft 21 and the fuel tank 31.

[0030] Furthermore, the lower surface of the support arm 41 at the joint with one side frame 13L is an inclined surface 47 that slopes downward toward the one side frame 13L. As a result, even if the fuel tank 31 is pushed in the vehicle width direction by the propeller shaft 21, the inclined surface 47 of the support arm 41 guides the fuel tank 31 downward, suppressing the movement of the fuel tank 31 in the vehicle width direction and avoiding contact with the side frame 13L.

[0031] Furthermore, since the support arm 41 has a straight section 51 extending in the vehicle width direction, the rigidity of the support arm 41 in the vehicle width direction can be increased, and the protective function of the support arm 41 on the fuel tank 31 can be enhanced. Moreover, the support arm 41 has a convex section 53 that protrudes upward from the straight section 51. By supporting the fuel tank 31 on the support arm 41 such that the convex section 53 follows the outer circumference of the fuel tank 31, the support arm 41 can hold the fuel tank 31 well, and displacement of the fuel tank 31 when an impact is applied can be suppressed.

[0032] The convex portion 53 of the support arm 41 may also have a shape that protrudes downward from the straight portion 51. In this case, a recess is provided on the upper surface of the fuel tank 31, and the support arm 41 supports the fuel tank 31 by fitting the convex portion 53 into this recess. In this way, the support arm 41 can hold the fuel tank 31 securely, and displacement of the fuel tank 31 when an impact is applied can be suppressed.

[0033] Furthermore, in the vehicle structure according to this embodiment, the portion of the fuel tank 31 adjacent to the rear of the support arm 41 is an inclined surface 31a, 31b that is inclined upward in the direction away from the support arm 41. Therefore, even if the propeller shaft 21, which has been displaced by an impact, is guided upward by the support arm 41 and comes into contact with the fuel tank 31, the inclined surfaces 31a, 31b of the fuel tank 31 can dissipate the impact from the propeller shaft 21 upward. This suppresses the impact applied to the fuel tank 31.

[0034] Furthermore, since the fuel tank 31 is secured to the support arm 41 by a band 61 whose ends are connected to the support arm 41, the fuel tank 31 can be easily supported on the support arm 41 by the band 61. Also, even if the fuel tank 31 is pushed by the propeller shaft 21, the fuel tank 31 can be easily displaced to absorb the impact.

[0035] Furthermore, according to the vehicle structure of this embodiment, a front cross member 15 extending in the vehicle width direction so as to connect a pair of side frames 13R and 13L is passed below the propeller shaft 21, and moreover, this cross member 15 is positioned above the lower end of the fuel tank 31. Therefore, the propeller shaft 21, which is displaced by impact, can be prevented from sinking below the fuel tank 31 and guided above the support arm 41. This prevents the propeller shaft 21 from contacting the lower part of the fuel tank 31.

[0036] In the above embodiment, a support arm 41 supporting the fuel tank 31 was used to show an example where the propeller shaft 21 is prevented from contacting the fuel tank 31. However, the vehicle component that the support arm 41 prevents from contacting the fuel tank 31 is not limited to the propeller shaft 21; for example, it could be an exhaust pipe or the like.

[0037] Furthermore, the support arm 41 is not limited to supporting the fuel tank 31 from above, but may support the fuel tank 31 from any direction, for example, supporting the fuel tank 31 from below. Also, the guide portion 45, which is an adjacent part of the support arm 41, is not limited to being inclined upward in the direction away from the propeller shaft 21, which is a vehicle component, but may be inclined downward. If such a configuration is adopted, even if the propeller shaft 21 is displaced, the guide portion 45, which is inclined downward in the direction away from the propeller shaft 21, will guide the propeller shaft 21 below the fuel tank 31. This will more smoothly avoid contact between the propeller shaft 21 and the fuel tank 31.

[0038] Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. It is also intended and within the scope of protection to be provided for the combination of each configuration of the embodiments, as well as for modifications and applications by those skilled in the art based on the description in the specification and well-known technology.

[0039] As described above, the following matters are disclosed in this specification: (1) A vehicle structure comprising: a pair of side frames extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a vehicle member provided between the pair of side frames and extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a tank positioned adjacent to the vehicle member in the vehicle width direction; and a support arm extending from one of the side frames in the vehicle width direction and supporting the tank, wherein the support arm has an adjacent portion adjacent to the vehicle member in the vehicle width direction, the adjacent portion is positioned facing the vehicle member and inclined upward or downward in the direction away from the vehicle member. According to this vehicle structure, the portion of the support arm supporting the tank adjacent to the vehicle member in the vehicle width direction is positioned facing the vehicle member. As a result, even if the vehicle is subjected to an impact such as a frontal collision such as an offset collision and the vehicle member is displaced toward the tank, the vehicle member will come into contact with the portion of the support arm adjacent to the vehicle member, thus avoiding contact between the vehicle member and the tank. In addition, the portion of the support arm adjacent to the vehicle member is inclined upward or downward in the direction away from the vehicle member. Therefore, vehicle components that come into contact with the adjacent portion of this support arm can be guided upward or downward from the tank, thereby more smoothly avoiding contact between the vehicle components and the tank. This eliminates the need to install a protector to protect the tank, thus minimizing the increase in weight and cost that would be incurred by installing a protector, while still ensuring high safety by protecting the tank when the vehicle is subjected to an impact. Furthermore, because the tank is protected by a support arm, the gap between the vehicle components and the tank can be reduced, thereby increasing the tank's capacity.

[0040] (2) The adjacent portion of the support arm is inclined upward as it extends outward in the vehicle width direction from the vehicle member, as described in (1). With this vehicle structure, the vehicle member that comes into contact with the adjacent portion of the support arm can be guided above the tank, and contact between the vehicle member and the tank can be avoided more smoothly.

[0041] (3) The vehicle structure according to (1) or (2), wherein the support arm has an extending portion that extends in the vertical direction along the side surface of the tank adjacent to the vehicle member. According to this vehicle structure, the extending portion of the support arm can better avoid the contact of the displaced vehicle member with the tank.

[0042] (4) The vehicle structure according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the lower surface of the support arm at the joint portion with the one side frame is inclined downward toward the one side frame. According to this vehicle structure, even if the tank is pushed in the vehicle width direction by the vehicle member, the tank can be guided downward by the lower surface of the support arm at the joint portion, and the movement of the tank in the vehicle width direction can be suppressed to avoid contact with the side frame.

[0043] (5) The vehicle structure according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the support arm has a straight portion extending in the vehicle width direction and a convex portion protruding above or below the straight portion. According to this vehicle structure, by providing a straight portion extending in the vehicle width direction on the support arm, the rigidity of the support arm in the vehicle width direction can be increased, and the protection function of the tank by the support arm can be enhanced. In addition, by supporting the tank on the support arm such that the convex portion follows the outer periphery of the tank, the tank can be held well by the support arm, and the displacement of the tank when an impact is applied can be suppressed.

[0044] (6) The vehicle structure according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the portion of the tank adjacent to the support arm in the vehicle longitudinal direction is inclined upward in a direction away from the support arm. According to this vehicle structure, even if a vehicle member displaced by an impact is guided upward by the support arm and contacts the tank, the impact from the vehicle member can be released in the vertical direction by the inclined portion of the tank adjacent to the support arm in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Thereby, the impact applied to the tank can be suppressed.

[0045] (7) The vehicle structure according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the tank is fastened to and supported by a band whose ends are connected to the support arm. With this vehicle structure, the tank can be easily supported on the support arm by the band. Furthermore, even if the tank is pushed by a vehicle component, the tank can be easily displaced to absorb the impact.

[0046] (8) A vehicle structure according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein a cross member extending in the vehicle width direction is positioned below the vehicle member so as to connect the pair of side frames, and the cross member is positioned above the lower end of the tank. With this vehicle structure, the cross member can prevent the vehicle member from going under the tank and guide it to the upper side of the support arm. This makes it possible to avoid the vehicle member coming into contact with the lower part of the tank.

[0047] 11 Chassis frame 13R, 13L Side frame 15, 17 Cross member 21 Propeller shaft (vehicle component) 31 Fuel tank (tank) 31a, 31b Inclined surface 41 Support arm 43 Extension member (extended portion) 45 Guide portion (adjacent portion) 47 Inclined surface 51 Straight portion 53 Convex portion 61, 65 Band 100 Vehicle

Claims

1. A vehicle structure comprising: a pair of side frames extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a vehicle member provided between the pair of side frames and extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a tank positioned adjacent to the vehicle member in the vehicle width direction; and a support arm extending from one of the side frames in the vehicle width direction and supporting the tank, wherein the support arm has an adjacent portion adjacent to the vehicle member in the vehicle width direction, the adjacent portion is positioned facing the vehicle member and inclined upward or downward in a direction away from the vehicle member.

2. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the adjacent portion of the support arm is inclined upward as it extends outward in the vehicle width direction from the vehicle member.

3. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the support arm has an extended portion that extends vertically along the side of the tank adjacent to the vehicle member.

4. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the lower surface of the support arm at the joint with the one side frame is inclined downward toward the one side frame.

5. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the support arm has a straight portion extending in the vehicle width direction and a convex portion projecting upward or downward from the straight portion.

6. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the tank adjacent to the support arm in the vehicle's longitudinal direction is inclined upward in a direction away from the support arm.

7. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the tank is fastened to and supported by a band whose ends are connected to the support arm.

8. A cross member extending in the vehicle width direction is positioned below the vehicle member so as to connect the pair of side frames, and the cross member is positioned above the lower end of the tank, the vehicle structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

Images