Vehicle structure

Abstract

This vehicle structure comprises a side member that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction and a bracket that is attached to the side member, wherein: the bracket has a substantially U-shaped first portion covering the lower surface and both side surfaces of the side member in the vehicle width direction; and a suspension component is disposed below the first portion.

Description

Vehicle structure

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle in which a bump stopper is mounted to a frame extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. In this vehicle, the bump stopper receives an axle housing that moves upward when the vehicle travels on a rough road or uneven terrain, thereby preventing the axle housing from colliding with the frame and damaging the frame or the axle housing. In this vehicle structure, the bump stopper is attached, by means of a bump bracket, to a web forming the outer side surface of the frame.

[0003] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-151082

[0004] Incidentally, when the axle housing, which moves upward as the vehicle travels on a rough road or uneven terrain, abuts against the bump stopper, a large impact force is applied to the bump stopper. Therefore, in a structure where the bump stopper is attached to the web of the frame by a bump bracket as in the structure described in Patent Document 1, the applied impact force is intensively transmitted to one side of the frame, which may damage the attachment portion of the bump bracket to the web and cause the bump stopper to fall off.

[0005] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle structure that can transmit impact force from a suspension component to a side member in a well-balanced manner when the impact is applied from the suspension component.

[0006] The present invention has the following constitution. a side member extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, a bracket attached to the side member, comprising: the bracket has a substantially U-shaped first portion that covers both side surfaces in the vehicle width direction and the lower surface of the side member, a suspension component is disposed below the first portion, a vehicle structure.

[0007] According to the present invention, there can be provided a vehicle structure that can transmit impact force from a suspension component to a side member in a well-balanced manner when the impact is applied from the suspension component.

[0008] Figure 1 is a perspective view from below of a side member to which a bracket illustrating the vehicle structure according to this embodiment is attached. Figure 2 is a side view of the side member to which a bracket illustrating the vehicle structure according to this embodiment is attached. Figure 3 is a perspective view from below of a bracket to which a bump stopper and spring support member are attached. Figure 4 is a perspective view from above of a bracket to which a bump stopper and spring support member are attached. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the bracket from below. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the bracket from above. Figure 7 is a side view of the bracket. Figure 8 is a top view of the bracket.

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the symbol FR indicates the front of the vehicle, the symbol UP indicates the top of the vehicle, and the symbol LH indicates the left side in the vehicle width direction (left side in the direction of travel). The opposite direction of symbol FR is the rear of the vehicle, the opposite direction of symbol UP is the bottom of the vehicle, and the opposite direction of symbol LH is the right side in the vehicle width direction (right side in the direction of travel). Hereinafter, these directions may simply be referred to as front, rear, top, bottom, left side, and right side.

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view from below of the side member 13 to which the bracket 21 illustrating the vehicle structure according to this embodiment is attached. Figure 2 is a side view of the side member 13 to which the bracket 21 illustrating the vehicle structure according to this embodiment is attached. Figure 3 is a perspective view from below of the bracket 21 to which the bump stopper 31 and spring support member 39 are attached. Figure 4 is a perspective view from above of the bracket 21 to which the bump stopper 31 and spring support member 39 are attached. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the bracket 21 from below. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the bracket 21 from above. Figure 7 is a side view of the bracket 21. Figure 8 is a top view of the bracket 21.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the vehicle structure according to this embodiment is mainly applied to the rear structural portion of a vehicle 100 such as an automobile. The type of automobile to which the vehicle structure is applied is not limited and may include an internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV), a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), or an electric vehicle (BEV).

[0012] The vehicle 100 is equipped with a frame 11 that constitutes the chassis. The frame 11 has a pair of left and right side members 13, 13. Note that only one of the pair of side members 13, 13 is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The pair of side members 13, 13 are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction and each extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The frame 11 also has a plurality of cross members (not shown) that extend in the vehicle width direction. The plurality of cross members are spaced apart in the vehicle longitudinal direction and are joined to the pair of left and right side members 13, 13.

[0013] Figure 2 shows the general shapes of the axle housing 15, spring 17, and elastic member 35 of the bump stopper 31, drawn with dashed lines. At the rear of the vehicle 100, the axle housing 15, which houses the rear axle of the rear wheels, extends in the vehicle width direction from the lower part of the side member 13. Also, the spring 17, which is connected to a trailing arm (not shown), is positioned at the lower part of the side member.

[0014] These axle housings 15 and springs 17 are suspension components that make up the rear suspension, with the springs 17 positioned on the front side of the vehicle relative to the axle housings 15. The axle housings 15 are positioned below the rear portion 23 of the bracket 21 and the bump stopper 31, which will be described later, and the springs 17 are positioned below the front portion 25 of the bracket 21 and the spring support member 39, which will be described later.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 to 8, in the vehicle 100 according to this embodiment, a bracket 21 is attached to the side member 13 that constitutes the frame 11. The bracket 21 is a bracket for attaching a bump stopper (shock absorbing member) 31 and a spring support member 39 to the lower part of the side member 13, and is attached to the side member 13 above the rear suspension. The bracket 21 is attached to the side member 13 from below.

[0016] The bracket 21 has a rear portion 23 as a first part and a front portion 25 as a second part. The front portion 25 is provided integrally with the front portion 25 on the front side of the rear portion 23. In the illustrated example, the side member 13 is inclined downward toward the front of the vehicle at the mounting position of the bracket 21. Following the shape of the side member 13, the rear portion 23 extends substantially horizontally, and the front portion 25 is inclined slightly downward toward the front. The bracket 21 is formed by press-forming a metal plate such as a steel plate, causing both sides in the vehicle width direction to bend upward. More specifically, the bracket 21 has a bottom plate portion 41 and a pair of side plate portions 43, 43 that rise upward from both side edges of the bottom plate portion 41 in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the bracket 21 has a substantially U-shape in cross-sectional view in the vehicle width direction across the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. As a result, the rear portion 23 is roughly U-shaped, and similarly, the front portion 25 is also roughly U-shaped. The bracket 21 attached to the side member 13 has the axle housing 15 positioned below the rear portion 23, and the spring 17 positioned below the front portion 25.

[0017] A bump stopper 31 is attached to the lower surface of the rear portion 23 of the bracket 21. The bump stopper 31 has a flat base plate 33 with holes 33a and an elastic member 35 made of an elastic material such as rubber attached to the lower surface of the base plate 33. The base plate 33 has a pair of holes 33a, 33a that are spaced apart front to back. The rear portion 23 of the bracket 21 also has a pair of bolt insertion holes 23a, 23a that are spaced apart front to back. The bump stopper 31 is attached to the bracket 21 by fastening it with fasteners such as bolts and nuts, with the pair of holes 33a, 33a of the base plate 33 communicating with the pair of bolt insertion holes 23a, 23a of the rear portion 23.

[0018] A spring support member 39 having an engaging projection 37 that protrudes downward is attached to the lower surface of the front portion 25 of the bracket 21. The spring 17 is assembled to the front portion 25 of the bracket 21 with its upper end engaged with the engaging projection 37 of the spring support member 39.

[0019] As described above, the bracket 21 has a substantially U-shaped cross-section, comprising a bottom plate portion 41 and a pair of side plate portions 43, 43. When this bracket 21 is attached to the side member 13 from below, the pair of side plate portions 43, 43 are positioned opposite each other on both sides 13a, 13a of the side member 13 in the vehicle width direction, and the bottom plate portion 41 is positioned opposite each other on the lower surface 13b of the side member 13.

[0020] The pair of side plates 43, 43 of the bracket 21 serve as mounting surfaces 45, 45, and these mounting surfaces 45, 45 are welded and joined to both sides 13a, 13a of the side member 13, respectively. A vertical gap is also provided between the bottom plate 41 of the bracket 21 and the lower surface 13b of the side member 13. In this way, the bracket 21 is attached to the side member 13 such that its roughly U-shaped rear portion 23 and front portion 25 cover both sides 13a, 13a and the lower surface 13b from below.

[0021] As described above, in a vehicle 100 in which a bump stopper 31 is attached to a side member 13 via a bracket 21 having a rear portion 23, when the axle housing 15, which is a suspension component, rises significantly while driving on rough roads or uneven terrain, the axle housing 15 comes into contact with the elastic member 35 of the bump stopper 31. As a result, the impact from the axle housing 15 is absorbed by the elastic member 35 of the bump stopper 31, preventing damage to the side member 13 and the axle housing 15. In addition, loads such as vibrations and shocks input from the spring 17, which is a suspension component, when the vehicle 100 is driving are absorbed by the front portion 25 of the bracket 21.

[0022] Here, since the bracket 21 has a roughly U-shape in which the rear portion 23 covers both sides 13a, 13a and the bottom surface 13b of the side member 13 in the vehicle width direction, when an impact is applied to the rear portion 23 from the axle housing 15 of the suspension components via the bump stopper 31, the impact is distributed and transmitted to the side member 13. This allows the impact from the axle housing 15 to be absorbed in a balanced manner.

[0023] Similarly, since the front portion 25 of the bracket 21 is roughly U-shaped and covers both sides 13a, 13a and the bottom surface 13b of the side member 13 in the vehicle width direction, the load applied to the front portion 25 from the spring 17 of the suspension component is distributed and transmitted to the side member 13. This allows the load from the spring 17 to be received in a balanced manner.

[0024] Furthermore, the bottom surface of the rear portion 23 of the bracket 21 has a bulge 51 that bulges downward. The bulge 51 is provided at the front and rear ends of the bottom surface of the rear portion 23. Preferably, the bulge 51 bulges downward from at least a part of the bottom surface of the front portion 25. In the illustrated example, the bulge 51 bulges downward from the central position P1 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle of the front portion 25 (see Figure 2). Note that a configuration in which the bulge 51 bulges downward from the entire front portion 25 may also be adopted. In this way, by providing the rear portion 23 with a bulge 51 that bulges downward, the impact applied from the axle housing 15 can be received and absorbed in a balanced manner.

[0025] Furthermore, the bulge 51 provided on the rear portion 23 has a bead portion 53 that is recessed upward. This bead portion 53 is formed to extend in the vehicle width direction at the center of the bulge portion 51 in the front-rear direction. As a result, the lower surface of the rear portion 23 has a shape in which the front and rear ends bulge downward, and the center in the front-rear direction is recessed upward by the bead portion 53. By forming such a bead portion 53, the rigidity of the bulge portion 51 of the rear portion 23 can be increased. This makes it possible to increase the durability against impacts from the axle housing 15.

[0026] As described above, the bracket 21 has a pair of side plates 43, 43 which serve as mounting surfaces 45, 45, and these mounting surfaces 45, 45 are joined to both sides 13a, 13a of the side member 13. Specifically, the upper edges of the pair of mounting surfaces 45, 45 of the bracket 21 are welded to both sides 13a, 13a of the side member 13 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle by arc welding or the like. In Figures 1 and 2, the arc-welded welds W are shown as dashed lines. This allows the bracket 21 to efficiently distribute the impact when it is subjected to an impact, by transmitting the impact from the pair of mounting surfaces 45, 45 to both sides 13a, 13a of the side member 13.

[0027] Furthermore, the bracket 21 has a pair of upwardly projecting protrusions 47, 47 at both ends of its mounting surface 45 in the vehicle's front-rear direction. The portion of the mounting surface 45 excluding the upper ends of the pair of protrusions 47, 47 is arc-welded to the side member 13, forming a welded portion W. Therefore, the portion excluding the upper end of the front protrusion 47 (the rear part of the front protrusion 47) becomes the front welded end Wef of the welded portion W, and the portion excluding the upper end of the rear protrusion 47 (the front part of the rear protrusion 47) becomes the rear welded end War of the welded portion W.

[0028] In this way, by providing a pair of upwardly projecting protrusions 47, 47 at both ends of the mounting surface 45 in the vehicle's front-rear direction, stress concentration at the front and rear weld ends Wef of the welded portion W can be suppressed.

[0029] Furthermore, the mounting surface 45 has a curved shape on the central side surface of the bracket 21 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction at the protrusion 47 (the rear side surface of the front protrusion 47 and the front side surface of the rear protrusion 47). Therefore, the front weld end Wef and the rear weld end War of the weld W are curved along the upper edge of the mounting surface 45, so that the stress on these front weld end Wef and rear weld end War can be distributed.

[0030] The mounting surface 45 of the bracket 21 has a rear portion 23 that protrudes upward more than the front portion 25. As a result, the rear portion 23 of the mounting surface 45 is welded to the side surface 13a at a higher position compared to the front portion 25. That is, the welded portion W has a front welded portion Wf, which is the portion where the upper edge of the portion of the mounting surface 45 of the bracket 21 that constitutes the front portion 25 is welded to the side surface 13a of the side member 13, and a rear welded portion Wr, which is the portion where the upper edge of the portion of the mounting surface 45 of the bracket 21 that constitutes the rear portion 23 is welded to the side surface 13a of the side member 13, with the weld line of the rear welded portion Wr being higher than that of the front welded portion Wf.

[0031] Here, the input from the axle housing 15 to the rear portion 23 of the bracket 21 is greater than the input from the spring 17 to the front portion 25 of the bracket 21, because, in addition to the input during driving, a large input occurs when passing over protrusions or large grooves on the road. Therefore, in this embodiment, by positioning the welding line of the rear welding portion Wr in the rear portion 23, where a large input may occur, higher than the front welding portion Wf, the difference in deformation with the side member 13 is suppressed when the bracket 21 deforms due to an impact on the rear portion 23, thereby reducing the load on the joint of the bracket 21 with respect to the side member 13.

[0032] As described above, according to the vehicle structure of this embodiment, when an impact is applied from suspension components such as the axle housing 15, the impact force can be transmitted to the side member 13 in a balanced manner. This makes it possible to obtain a good ride while suppressing damage to the frame 11 and suspension components.

[0033] 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.

[0034] As described above, the following matters are disclosed in this specification: (1) A vehicle structure comprising: a side member extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and a bracket attached to the side member, wherein the bracket has a substantially U-shaped first portion that covers both sides and the bottom surface of the side member in the vehicle width direction, and a suspension component is positioned below the first portion. With this vehicle structure, since the first portion of the bracket is substantially U-shaped and covers both sides and the bottom surface of the side member in the vehicle width direction, when an impact is applied to the first portion from the suspension component, the impact is distributed and transmitted to the side member. This makes it possible to receive impacts from the suspension component in a balanced manner.

[0035] (2) The vehicle structure according to (1), wherein the bracket has a substantially U-shaped second portion that covers both sides and the bottom surface of the side member in the vehicle width direction, and the spring constituting the suspension component is assembled to the second portion. With this vehicle structure, since the second portion of the bracket is substantially U-shaped and covers both sides and the bottom surface of the side member in the vehicle width direction, the load applied to the second portion from the spring of the suspension component is distributed and transmitted to the side member. This makes it possible to receive the load from the spring of the suspension component in a balanced manner.

[0036] (3) The vehicle structure according to (2), wherein the second part is provided integrally with the first part on the front side of the first part. The number of parts can be reduced and the positioning of the suspension parts can be easily assembled.

[0037] (4) The vehicle structure according to (2) or (3), wherein the first part has a bulge that bulges downward from at least a portion of the lower surface of the second part. With this vehicle structure, by providing the first part with a bulge that bulges downward, the shocks applied from the suspension components can be received and absorbed in a balanced manner.

[0038] (5) The vehicle structure according to (4), wherein the bulging portion has a bead portion that is recessed upward. With this vehicle structure, the rigidity of the bulging portion of the first part can be increased by having the bead portion. This makes it possible to increase the durability against impacts from suspension components.

[0039] (6) The vehicle structure according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the bracket has a mounting surface that is joined to the side surface of the side member. With this vehicle structure, when an impact is applied to the bracket, the impact can be transmitted from the mounting surface to the side surface of the side member.

[0040] (7) The vehicle structure according to any one of (2) to (5), wherein the bracket has a mounting surface that is joined to the side surface of the side member, and the portion of the mounting surface that constitutes the first part protrudes upward more than the portion that constitutes the second part. With this vehicle structure, since the portion of the mounting surface that constitutes the first part protrudes upward more than the portion that constitutes the second part, the mounting surface can be joined to the side surface of the side member at a higher position further away from the lower end position where the rigidity of the side member is high. As a result, when the bracket deforms due to an impact on the first part, the difference in deformation with the side member can be suppressed, and the load on the bracket's joint with the side member can be reduced.

[0041] (8) The vehicle structure according to (6) or (7), wherein the mounting surface has a protrusion projecting upward at its end in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. With this vehicle structure, for example, when the upper edge of the mounting surface is welded to the side surface of the side member, stress concentration at the end of the mounting surface in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, which becomes the welded end, can be suppressed.

[0042] (9) The vehicle structure according to (8), wherein the mounting surface has a curved shape on the central side surface of the bracket in the vehicle's front-rear direction at the protrusion. With this vehicle structure, for example, when the upper edge of the mounting surface is welded to the side surface of the side member, the welded end has a curved shape, so that the stress on the welded end can be distributed.

[0043] (10) A vehicle structure according to any one of (1) to (9), wherein an impact absorbing member is attached to the first part. With this vehicle structure, impacts from suspension components can be absorbed by the impact absorbing member.

[0044] 11 Frame 13 Side member 13a Side view 13b Bottom view 15 Axle housing (suspension part) 17 Spring (suspension part) 21 Bracket 23 Rear section (first section) 23a Bolt insertion hole 25 Front section (second section) 31 Bump stopper (shock absorbing member) 33 Base plate 33a Hole 35 Elastic member 37 Engaging projection 39 Spring support member 41 Bottom plate 43 Side plate 45 Mounting surface 47 Projection 51 Bulging part 53 Bead part 100 Vehicle

Claims

1. A vehicle structure comprising: a side member extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and a bracket attached to the side member, wherein the bracket has a substantially U-shaped first portion that covers both sides and the bottom surface of the side member in the vehicle width direction, and a suspension component is positioned below the first portion.

2. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the bracket has a substantially U-shaped second portion that covers both sides and the bottom surface of the side member in the vehicle width direction, and a spring constituting the suspension component is assembled to the second portion.

3. The vehicle structure according to claim 2, wherein the second part is provided integrally with the first part on the front side of the first part.

4. The vehicle structure according to claim 2, wherein the first portion has a bulge that bulges downward below at least a portion of the lower surface of the second portion.

5. The vehicle structure according to claim 4, wherein the bulging portion has a bead portion that is recessed upward.

6. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the bracket has a mounting surface that is joined to the side surface of the side member.

7. The vehicle structure according to claim 2, wherein the bracket has a mounting surface that is joined to the side surface of the side member, and the portion of the mounting surface constituting the first portion protrudes upward more than the portion constituting the second portion.

8. The vehicle structure according to claim 6, wherein the mounting surface has a protrusion projecting upward at its end in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle structure according to claim 8, wherein the mounting surface has a curved shape on the central side surface of the bracket in the vehicle's front-rear direction at the protrusion.

10. The vehicle structure according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein an impact absorbing member is attached to the first part.

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