Vehicle

Abstract

This vehicle includes: an exhaust pipe installed under a floor of the vehicle; and an exhaust sensor penetrating from the outside to the inside in a radial direction of the exhaust pipe. A hanger for suspending a part of the exhaust pipe or the exhaust pipe under the floor is disposed on a straight line connecting a front wheel of the vehicle and the exhaust sensor.

Description

Vehicle

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle body structure in which an exhaust sensor is provided in an exhaust pipe. In such a vehicle body structure, the exhaust sensor is installed in a space surrounded by a front cross member, a rear cross member, and one of a pair of side members in a plan view of the vehicle.

[0003] According to the vehicle body structure according to Patent Document 1, a catalytic converter and an exhaust sensor can be installed in different spaces. Therefore, without arranging the exhaust sensor in the space between the center cross member and the front cross member, the space required for arranging the exhaust sensor can be effectively used for arranging the catalytic converter. As a result, in the space between the center cross member and the front cross member, the space where the catalytic converter can be arranged can be expanded in the front-rear direction. As a result, even when the catalytic converter is enlarged, the catalytic converter can be easily installed in the vehicle.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-142256

[0005] By the way, since a part of the exhaust sensor provided in the exhaust pipe is exposed to the outside in the radial direction of the exhaust pipe, there is a risk that gravel or small stones bounced up by the front wheel may hit the exposed part of the exhaust sensor (chipping) and damage the exhaust sensor.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, at least one embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a vehicle that can protect an exhaust sensor from gravel or small stones bounced up by a front wheel.

[0007] A vehicle according to at least one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle including an exhaust pipe installed under the vehicle floor and an exhaust sensor penetrating from the outside in the radial direction of the exhaust pipe to the inside, wherein a part of the exhaust pipe or a hanger for suspending the exhaust pipe under the vehicle floor is arranged on a straight line connecting the front wheel of the vehicle and the exhaust sensor.

[0008] With the above configuration, even if the front wheel kicks up gravel or pebbles towards the exhaust sensor, the gravel or pebbles will hit a part of the exhaust pipe located before the exhaust sensor (the part upstream of the exhaust sensor in the direction of exhaust gas flow) or a hanger, thus preventing them from reaching the exhaust sensor. In this way, the exhaust sensor can be protected from gravel and pebbles kicked up by the front wheel.

[0009] According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the exhaust sensor can be protected from gravel and pebbles kicked up by the front wheels.

[0010] Figure 5 is a bottom view of the vehicle according to Embodiment 1, viewed from below the floor. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the exhaust sensor passing through the exhaust pipe. Figure 7 is a side view showing the relationship between the exhaust pipe and exhaust sensor shown in Figure 1 and the front wheel. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the main parts of the vehicle shown in Figure 1, viewed from diagonally below and below the floor of the vehicle. Figure 9 is a bottom view of the vehicle according to Embodiment 2, viewed from below the floor. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the main parts of the vehicle shown in Figure 5, viewed from diagonally below and below the floor of the vehicle.

[0011] Hereinafter, several embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc., of the components described as embodiments or shown in the drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but are merely illustrative examples. For example, expressions describing relative or absolute arrangements such as "in a certain direction," "along a certain direction," "parallel," "orthogonal," "center," "concentric," or "coaxial" should not only strictly represent such arrangements, but also represent states of relative displacement with tolerances, or angles or distances that allow the same function to be achieved. Furthermore, expressions describing shapes such as square or cylindrical should not only represent geometrically precise square or cylindrical shapes, but also shapes including concave and concave parts, chamfered parts, etc., to the extent that the same effect can be achieved. On the other hand, expressions such as "equipped," "possess," "features," "includes," or "has" a single component are not exclusive expressions that exclude the existence of other components. Also, in the following description, "front," "rear," "left," and "right" are defined with reference to the vehicle, specifically in accordance with the front, rear, left, and right directions of the driver.

[0012] [Embodiment 1] The present invention applies to fossil fuel vehicles equipped with gasoline engines or diesel engines, as well as hybrid vehicles (HVs). Hybrid vehicles include plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs, PHEVs) that can be charged from an external device (e.g., a fast charger) while stationary (external charging), and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs, PHEVs) that can be externally charged while stationary and can supply power to an external device (e.g., a typical household) while stationary (external power supply). Here, we will explain using hybrid vehicles as an example, but we are not limited to them.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 1A according to Embodiment 1 includes an exhaust pipe 10 installed under the floor of the vehicle 1A and an exhaust sensor 12 that penetrates the exhaust pipe 10 from the radially outer side to the inner side. The exhaust pipe 10 is connected to an engine mounted at the front of the vehicle 1A via an exhaust manifold and is positioned from the front to the rear of the vehicle 1A. The vehicle 1A shown in Figure 1 has a drive battery 14 under the floor of the vehicle 1A, and the exhaust pipe 10 has bent portions 15 and 16 formed to bend along the side of the drive battery 14. Specifically, the exhaust pipe 10 extends from in front of the drive battery 14, bends to one side in the vehicle width direction (right side in Figure 1) in front of the drive battery 14, extends rearward on one side in the vehicle width direction of the drive battery 14, bends to the other side in the vehicle width direction (left side in Figure 1) behind the drive battery 14, and then extends rearward. The bent portions 15 and 16 refer to the entire portion of the exhaust pipe 10 that bends in the vehicle width direction and extends in the vehicle width direction (the portion between the portion extending in the front-rear direction). As shown in Figure 2, the exhaust sensor 12 is positioned so as to diagonally cross the horizontal plane HZ passing through the center O of the exhaust pipe 10, from the upper half to the lower half of the exhaust pipe 10 in a cross-section of the exhaust pipe 10. The angle α of the exhaust sensor 12 with respect to the horizontal plane HZ is, for example, 20 degrees (110 degrees with respect to the vertical plane VT) or more. The exhaust sensor 12 is a NOx sensor that measures the concentration of nitrogen oxides (NOx) contained in the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust pipe 10, but is not limited to this, and may also be an O2 sensor that measures the concentration of oxygen (O2) contained in the exhaust gas. In Embodiment 1, the exhaust sensor 12 is a sensor that detects exhaust components discharged into the outside air from the exhaust pipe 10. Therefore, the exhaust sensor 12 is installed behind all exhaust purification devices installed in the exhaust pipe 10. Furthermore, it is preferable that the exhaust sensor 12 be positioned to the rear of the exhaust pipe 10 so as not to be affected by heat damage from the exhaust passing through it.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, in the vehicle 1A according to Embodiment 1, a part of the exhaust pipe 10, or a hanger 22 that suspends the exhaust pipe 10 from under the floor of the vehicle 1A, is positioned on a straight line SL connecting the front wheels 18, 20 of the vehicle 1A and the exhaust sensor 12. The starting point PS of the straight line SL connecting the front wheels 18, 20 of the vehicle 1A and the exhaust sensor 12 is the ground contact surface GP of the front wheels 18, 20, and the ending point PE of the straight line SL is the portion of the exhaust sensor 12 that is exposed radially outward from the exhaust pipe 10. As a result, as shown in Figure 3, the straight line SL connecting the front wheels 18, 20 of the vehicle 1A and the exhaust sensor 12 gradually rises in the vehicle height direction from the ground contact surface GP of the front wheels 18, 20 toward the exposed portion of the exhaust sensor 12. Furthermore, since the contact surface GP has an extended area, for example, as shown in Figure 1, we assume a rectangular contact surface GP and use the inner PS1 and outer PS2 of the trailing edge of the contact surface GP as starting points, but for simplicity, the center PS3 of the trailing edge of the contact surface GP or the inner PS1 of the trailing edge may also be used as the starting point.

[0015] A portion of the exhaust pipe 10 is located upstream of the exhaust sensor 12 in the direction of exhaust gas flow through the exhaust pipe 10. As shown in Figure 4, the hanger 22 is a rubber component (hanging rubber) 28 installed between a stay 24 provided under the floor of the vehicle 1A and a stay 26 provided on the exhaust pipe 10, but the stay 24 provided under the floor of the vehicle 1A and the stay 26 provided on the exhaust pipe 10 are collectively referred to as the hanger 22. The stays 24 and 26 are bent rod-shaped metal components, with the stay 24 provided under the floor of the vehicle 1A protruding downward from under the floor, and the stay 26 provided on the exhaust pipe 10 branching out from the exhaust pipe 10.

[0016] In the example shown in Figure 1, the hanger 22 is positioned on a straight line SL connecting the left front wheel 18 and the exhaust sensor 12, and the bent portion 16, which is part of the exhaust pipe 10 (the portion upstream of the exhaust sensor 12 in the direction of exhaust gas flow), is positioned on a straight line SL connecting the right front wheel 20 and the exhaust sensor 12. In other words, the exhaust sensor 12 is located behind the hanger 22 and the bent portion 16.

[0017] According to the vehicle 1A of Embodiment 1, even if the front wheels 18 and 20 kick up gravel or pebbles towards the exhaust sensor 12, the gravel or pebbles will hit the exhaust pipe 10 or hanger 22, which is located in front of the exhaust sensor 12 (at the front of the vehicle 1A), and will not reach the exhaust sensor 12. As a result, the exhaust sensor 12 is protected from the gravel and pebbles kicked up by the front wheels 18 and 20 by the exhaust pipe 10 or hanger 22.

[0018] Furthermore, in the vehicle 1A according to Embodiment 1, the exhaust sensor 12 is positioned behind the fuel tank 28 of the vehicle 1A in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1A, and at least the portion of the exhaust sensor 12 that is radially exposed outward from the exhaust pipe 10 is installed at a position higher than the bottom surface of the fuel tank 28 in the height direction of the vehicle 1A. The fuel tank 28 is installed under the floor of the vehicle 1A. In the example shown in Figure 1, the fuel tank 28 is installed along the width direction of the vehicle 1A, but is not limited to this, and may be installed along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1A. The portion of the exhaust sensor 12 that is covered by the exhaust pipe 10 (the portion that penetrates radially inward into the exhaust pipe 10) is covered by the exhaust pipe 10, so it may be installed at a position lower than the bottom surface of the fuel tank 28 in the height direction of the vehicle 1A.

[0019] In this way, if at least the portion of the exhaust sensor 12 that is radially exposed outward from the exhaust pipe 10 is installed at a position higher than the bottom surface of the fuel tank 28 in the height direction of the vehicle 1A, even if the front wheels 18 and 20 kick up gravel and pebbles towards the exhaust sensor 12, the gravel and pebbles will hit the fuel tank 28, which is positioned in front of the exhaust sensor 12, and will not reach the exhaust sensor 12. As a result, the exhaust sensor 12 is also protected from gravel and pebbles kicked up by the front wheels 18 and 20 by the fuel tank 28.

[0020] Furthermore, in the vehicle 1A according to Embodiment 1, cross members 29 and 30 are provided between the front wheels 18 and 20 and the exhaust sensor 12. The cross members 29 and 30 are provided along the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 1A. The cross member 30 is provided between the fuel tank 28 and the exhaust sensor 12, but is not limited to this. The exhaust pipe 10 extends downward in the height direction of the vehicle 1A before passing under the cross member 29 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1A, and extends upward in the height direction of the vehicle 1A after passing under the cross member 30. Also, as shown in Figure 4, the exhaust sensor 12 is positioned higher than the lower surface of the cross members 29 and 30 in the height direction of the vehicle 1A. The portion of the cross members 29 and 30 under which the exhaust pipe 10 passes is higher than the other portions in the vehicle height direction, and the exhaust sensor 12 is positioned higher than the lower surface of the portion under which the exhaust pipe 10 passes. As a result, the exhaust sensor 12 is positioned higher than the lower surface of the portions of the cross members 29 and 30 other than the portion under which the exhaust pipe 10 passes.

[0021] In this way, when the exhaust sensor 12 is positioned higher than the lower surface of the cross members 29 and 30 in the height direction of the vehicle 1A, even if the front wheels 18 and 20 kick up gravel or pebbles towards the exhaust sensor 12, the gravel and pebbles will hit the cross members 29 and 30, which are located in front of the exhaust sensor 12, and will not reach the exhaust sensor 12. As a result, the exhaust sensor 12 is also protected from gravel and pebbles kicked up by the front wheels 18 and 20 by the cross members 29 and 30.

[0022] Furthermore, the vehicle 1A according to Embodiment 1 includes a muffler 32 provided downstream of the exhaust pipe 10 in the direction of extension of the exhaust pipe 10, and a control unit (SCU (Sensor Control Unit)) 34 provided on the extension line of the muffler 32 in the direction of extension. In the example shown in Figure 1, the muffler 32 is provided along the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 1A, but is not limited to this, and may be provided along the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1A. Also, in the example shown in Figure 1, the exhaust sensor 12 is provided near the inlet of the muffler 32, and the harness 36 that electrically connects the exhaust sensor 12 and the control unit 34 is fixed to the muffler 32 along the direction of extension of the muffler 32, i.e., the vehicle width direction.

[0023] When the harness 36 is routed along the muffler 32 in this way, the wiring route of the harness 36 is fixed, making it less likely for the harness 36 to break. Also, since the muffler 32 is located downstream of the exhaust pipe 10, the muffler 32 is less likely to be heated than the exhaust pipe 10. As a result, even if the harness 36 is routed along the muffler 32, the harness 36 is less affected by heat (heat damage is suppressed).

[0024] In the vehicle 1A according to Embodiment 1, the muffler 32 is positioned along the width direction of the vehicle 1A, behind the rear wheels 38 of the vehicle 1A, and the control unit 34 is positioned behind the splash shield 40 of the rear wheels 38 of the vehicle 1A in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1A. The splash shield 40 is a component installed inside the wheel well of the rear wheels 38 and is made of felt, nonwoven fabric, or the like.

[0025] When the control unit 34 is positioned behind the splash shield 40 of the rear wheel 38 of the vehicle 1A, even if the front wheels 18, 20 or the rear wheel 38 kick up gravel or pebbles towards the control unit 34, the gravel or pebbles will hit the splash shield 40, which is positioned in front of the control unit 34, and will not reach the control unit 34. As a result, the control unit 34 is protected by the splash shield 40 from gravel or pebbles kicked up by the front wheels 18, 20 or the rear wheel 38. In addition, because the control unit 34 is positioned behind the splash shield 40, the control unit 34 is less affected by the heat of the exhaust pipe 10 and muffler 32 (heat damage is suppressed).

[0026] [Embodiment 2] Vehicle 1B according to Embodiment 2 is the same as vehicle 1A according to Embodiment 1, unless otherwise described below. As shown in Figure 5, in vehicle 1B according to Embodiment 2, a part of the exhaust pipe 10 is located on a straight line SL connecting the front wheels 18, 20 of vehicle 1B and the exhaust sensor 12. The starting point PS and ending point PE of the straight line SL connecting the front wheels 18, 20 of vehicle 1B and the exhaust sensor 12 are the same as those of vehicle 1A according to Embodiment 1. Also, a part of the exhaust pipe 10 is located upstream of the exhaust sensor 12 in the direction of the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust pipe 10, which is also the same as in vehicle 1A according to Embodiment 1. Furthermore, the exhaust sensor 12 is provided on the rearward-facing surface of the bent portion 16 (the rearward and rightward-facing surface in Figure 5).

[0027] In the example shown in Figure 5, a portion of the exhaust pipe 10 (upstream of the exhaust sensor 12 in the direction of exhaust gas flow) is positioned on the straight line SL connecting the left front wheel 18 and the exhaust sensor 12, and on the straight line SL connecting the right front wheel 20 and the exhaust sensor 12.

[0028] According to the vehicle 1B of Embodiment 2, even if the front wheels 18 and 20 kick up gravel and pebbles towards the exhaust sensor 12, the gravel and pebbles will hit the exhaust pipe 10 (the part upstream of the exhaust sensor 12) which is located in front of the exhaust sensor 12, thus preventing them from reaching the exhaust sensor 12. As a result, the exhaust sensor 12 is protected from gravel and pebbles kicked up by the front wheels 18 and 20 by the exhaust pipe 10.

[0029] In the vehicle 1B according to Embodiment 2, the exhaust sensor 12 is positioned in front of the vehicle 1B, beyond the lowest point in the vehicle 1B's height direction in the exhaust pipe 10. Similar to Embodiment 1, the exhaust pipe 10 extends downward in the vehicle 1B's height direction before passing under the cross member 29, and the exhaust sensor 12 is positioned in front of the vehicle 1B beyond that point (the part that extends downward).

[0030] According to the vehicle 1B of Embodiment 2, the exhaust sensor 12 is positioned in front of the vehicle 1B, above the lowest point in the height direction of the vehicle 1B in the exhaust pipe 10. Therefore, even if condensed water from moisture contained in the exhaust gas accumulates at the lowest point of the exhaust pipe 10, it is possible to prevent the condensed water from adhering to the exhaust sensor 12.

[0031] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and includes modified forms of the embodiments described above, as well as forms that combine these forms as appropriate.

[0032] 1A, 1B Vehicle 10 Exhaust pipe 12 Exhaust sensor 14 Drive battery 15, 16 Bent section 18 Front wheel (left front wheel) 20 Front wheel (right front wheel) 22 Hanger 24, 26 Stay 28 Fuel tank 29, 30 Cross member 32 Muffler 34 Control unit (SCU) 36 Harness 38 Rear wheel 40 Splash shield SL Straight line connecting the front wheel and exhaust sensor PS, PS1, PS2, PS3 Starting point of the straight line PE Ending point of the straight line GP Ground contact surface

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising an exhaust pipe installed under the floor of the vehicle, and an exhaust sensor that penetrates the exhaust pipe from the radially outer side to the inner side, wherein a part of the exhaust pipe, or a hanger that suspends the exhaust pipe under the floor, is positioned on a straight line connecting the front wheels of the vehicle and the exhaust sensor.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust sensor is provided behind the front wheel, and a portion of the exhaust pipe is located upstream of the exhaust sensor in the direction of the flow of exhaust gas inside the exhaust pipe.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the exhaust sensor is positioned behind the vehicle's fuel tank in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, and at least the exhaust sensor is positioned higher than the bottom surface of the fuel tank in the vehicle's height direction.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a cross member provided between the front wheel and the exhaust sensor and extending in the vehicle width direction, wherein the exhaust pipe passes under the cross member in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and then extends upward in the height direction of the vehicle, and the exhaust sensor is positioned rearward from the portion of the exhaust pipe that extends upward in the height direction of the vehicle, and higher than the lower surface of the cross member in the height direction of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: a muffler provided downstream of the exhaust pipe in the direction of extension of the exhaust pipe; and a control unit provided on the extension line in the direction of extension of the muffler, wherein the harness electrically connecting the exhaust sensor and the control unit is wired along the muffler.

6. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the muffler is positioned along the vehicle width direction of the vehicle, behind the rear of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the control unit is positioned behind the splash shield of the rear wheel in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the exhaust sensor is positioned in the exhaust pipe at a position forward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, relative to the lowest position in the height direction of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a drive battery located under the floor of the vehicle, wherein the exhaust pipe has a bent portion formed to bend outward in the vehicle width direction along the side of the drive battery, and the bent portion is located on a straight line connecting the front wheel and the exhaust sensor.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the exhaust sensor is a NOx sensor that measures the concentration of nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gas flowing inside the exhaust pipe.

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