Vehicle structure

Abstract

In this vehicle structure in which a motor (3) as an on-vehicle device is supported by a rear suspension cross member (2), a pair of lower arms (13) are attached outward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the rear suspension cross member (2). The pair of lower arms (13) are connected by a suspension member (17), and the suspension member (17) is positioned between the front-side cross member (10) and the rear-side cross member (11) of the rear suspension cross member (2) in the front-rear direction. The suspension member (17) has: a pair of first support members (18) that extend inward in the vehicle width direction from the inner ends of the lower arms (13) in the vehicle width direction; and a second support member (19) that connects the pair of first support members (18) and is separate from the first support members (18).

Description

Vehicle Structure

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle structure in which an on-vehicle device such as a traveling motor is supported on a rear suspension cross member.

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a rear suspension cross member in which front and rear cross members and left and right side members are connected in a frame shape, and a rear wheel suspension is attached to each outer side of the left and right side members in the vehicle longitudinal direction (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a vehicle structure in which a traveling motor is fixed between the front and rear cross members of such a rear suspension cross member.

[0003] WO2013 / 069294 Publication Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-100676

[0004] In the vehicle structures described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when a load is applied to the side member of the rear suspension cross member upon receiving a collision from the lateral side in the vehicle width direction, the side member deforms inward in the vehicle width direction. In particular, in the vehicle structure described in Patent Document 2, the side rail deforms inward in the vehicle width direction, and the deformed side rail hits the traveling motor, causing damage to the traveling motor.

[0005] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to protect an on-vehicle device such as a traveling motor supported by a rear suspension member upon a collision from a lateral side in the vehicle width direction.

[0006] To solve the above problems, this invention can be adopted with the following configurations 1 to 7. [Configuration 1] A vehicle structure comprising: a rear suspension cross member having a front cross member and a rear cross member, and a pair of side members connecting the front cross member and the rear cross member at intervals in the front-rear direction; onboard equipment supported by the rear suspension cross member; a pair of lower arms attached to the rear suspension cross member facing outward in the vehicle width direction; and a suspension member connecting the pair of lower arms, wherein the suspension member is located between the front cross member and the rear cross member in the front-rear direction, and the ends on both sides of the suspension member in the vehicle width direction are fixed to the pair of side members.

[0007] [Configuration 2] The vehicle structure according to Configuration 1, wherein the suspension member comprises a pair of first support members extending inward in the vehicle width direction from the inner end of the lower arm in the vehicle width direction, and a second support member that connects the pair of first support members and is separate from the first support members.

[0008] [Configuration 3] The vehicle structure according to Configuration 2, wherein the first support member has a larger width dimension in the front-rear direction compared to the second support member.

[0009] [Configuration 4] The vehicle structure according to any one of Configurations 1 to 3, wherein the lower surface of the in-vehicle equipment has a recess that is recessed upward in the front-rear direction.

[0010] [Configuration 5] The vehicle structure according to Configuration 4, wherein the second support member has a curved portion that protrudes upward, and the curved portion of the second support member and the recess of the in-vehicle equipment are arranged along the front-rear direction.

[0011] [Configuration 6] A vehicle structure according to any one of Configurations 2 to 4, wherein the second support member is formed in a straight line along the vehicle width direction.

[0012] [Configuration 7] The vehicle structure according to any one of Configurations 2 to 6, wherein the first support member and the second support member are connected by fastening bolts and nuts, and the bolts are arranged perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[0013] According to this invention, in the event of a collision from the side in the vehicle width direction, the suspension member can suppress the deformation of a pair of side members of the rear suspension cross member, thereby protecting in-vehicle equipment supported by the rear suspension member.

[0014] A bottom view showing a vehicle structure according to an embodiment of this invention; a side view showing a vehicle structure according to an embodiment shown; a front view showing a vehicle structure with a second support member in addition to the suspension member shown in Figure 3; and an explanatory diagram showing a vehicle to which the vehicle structure according to an embodiment shown is applied.

[0015] A vehicle structure according to an embodiment of this invention will be described based on the drawings. As shown in Figures 1 to 5, a vehicle 30 to which the vehicle structure 1 is applied includes a rear suspension cross member 2 attached to the lower surface of a pair of rear side members 31, a motor 3 as an on-board device supported by the rear suspension cross member 2, a battery 4 positioned in front of the motor 3, front wheels 32, rear wheels 33 driven by the motor 3, a plurality of floor cross members 34 positioned at intervals in the front-rear direction between the upper surfaces of the pair of rear side members 31, a floor panel 35 supported by the plurality of floor cross members 34, and a seat 36 fixed to the floor panel 35. In the following, the vertical direction, front-rear direction, and vehicle width direction are based on a vehicle parked on level ground.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rear suspension cross member 2 is attached to the lower surface of a pair of rear side members 31. The rear suspension cross member 2 is a frame-shaped member. A pair of lower arms 13 are attached to the rear suspension cross member 2 in an outward direction in the vehicle width direction.

[0017] The rear suspension cross member 2 comprises a front cross member 10, a rear cross member 11, and a pair of left and right side members 12. The front cross member 10 and the rear cross member 11 are members that extend in the vehicle width direction with a distance between them in the front-rear direction. The front cross member 10 is a strip-shaped member whose thickness direction is in the front-rear direction. Ends 10a are formed on both sides of the front cross member 10 in the vehicle width direction. The ends 10a extend outward in the vehicle width direction from the upper part of the front cross member 10. The ends 10a are formed in a plate shape whose thickness direction is in the vertical direction. The ends 10a are attached to the lower surfaces of a pair of rear side members 31. Two support holes 10b are provided at a distance from the central part of the front cross member 10 in the vehicle width direction outward in the vehicle width direction. The support holes 10b support the front side of the motor 3 while holding the mount portion 3b of the motor 3, which will be described later, inside.

[0018] As shown in Figure 2, of the pair of left and right side members 12, the left-side side member 12 is composed of an upper side member 14 and a lower side member 15. The upper side member 14 is a member that extends in the front-rear direction. The upper side member 14 has a curved portion 14a that curves upward at a position closer to the front. The front end of the upper side member 14 is fixed to the front cross member 10. The rear end of the upper side member 14 is fixed to the rear cross member 11. The rear end of the upper side member 14 is provided with an end face portion 14b that extends downward. The end face portion 14b is plate-shaped, and its surface faces in the front-rear direction. The upper end of the end face portion 14b is fixed to the lower surface of the rear cross member 11.

[0019] The lower side member 15 has a first side member 15a and a second side member 15b that extend in the front-rear direction. The first side member 15a is located at the front, and the second side member 15b is located at the rear. The front end of the first side member 15a is fixed to the front cross member 10. The rear end of the first side member 15a is fixed to the first support member 18 of the suspension member 17, which will be described later. The rear end of the second side member 15b is fixed to the end face portion 14b of the upper side member 14. The front end of the second side member 15b is fixed to the first support member 18. The first support member 18 is fixed between the first side member 15a and the second side member 15b.

[0020] A plate 16 is fixed between the upper side member 14 and the second side member 15b in the vertical direction. A bearing portion 16a is provided behind the plate 16. The bearing portion 16a rotatably supports a rotating shaft 16b that extends in the vehicle width direction. The upper side member 14 and the lower side member 15 connect the front cross member 10 and the rear cross member 11 with a gap in the front-rear direction. Of the pair of left and right side members 12, the right-side side member 12 has the same structure as the left-side side member 12, so it is given the same reference numeral as the left-side side member 12 and its description is omitted.

[0021] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a suspension member 17 is positioned between the front cross member 10 and the rear cross member 11 in the front-rear direction. The suspension member 17 has a pair of left and right first support members 18 and a second support member 19 that connects the pair of left and right first support members 18. The first support members 18 have a plate-shaped fixing portion 18a and a plate-shaped connecting portion 18b. The upper end of the fixing portion 18a is fixed to the lower surface of the upper side member 14. The front-rear inner ends of the first side member 15a and the second side member 15b of the lower side member 15 are inserted into the lower part of the fixing portion 18a. As shown in Figure 3, the connecting portion 18b extends inward in the vehicle width direction from the lower end of the fixing portion 18a. As shown in Figure 1, the connecting portion 18b curves rearward as it extends inward in the vehicle width direction. Two connecting pieces 18c are provided at the inner end of the connecting portion 18b in the vehicle width direction. In a pair of left and right first support members 18, a second support member 19 is positioned between the two connecting pieces 18c of each. The first support member 18 has a larger width dimension in the front-rear direction compared to the second support member 19.

[0022] A recess 18d is provided extending from the lower end of the fixing portion 18a to the outer end of the connecting portion 18b in the vehicle width direction. A shaft body 18e extending in the front-rear direction is fixed to the recess 18d on the connecting portion 18b side.

[0023] The second support member 19 is a strip-shaped member separate from the first support member 18. A curved portion 19a that curves upward is provided in the central part of the second support member 19 in the vehicle width direction. As shown in Figure 1, the curved portion 19a and the recess 3c of the motor 3, which will be described later, are arranged along the front-rear direction. Both ends of the second support member 19 in the vehicle width direction are connected between the two connecting pieces 18c of the left and right first support members 18 by fastening bolts 17a and nuts 17b. The bolts 17a are arranged in the front-rear direction, which is perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[0024] Motor 3 is equipped with a reduction gear. As shown in Figure 2, the rear of motor 3 is inclined upward as it approaches the rear. Mount brackets 3a are fixed to the rear of both ends of motor 3 in the vehicle width direction. The rear end of the mount bracket 3a and the bearing portion 16a of plate 16 are connected via a rotating shaft 16b. At its rear end, motor 3 is capable of swinging vertically around the rotating shaft 16b as the center of rotation.

[0025] Two mounting portions 3b are attached to the front end of the motor 3, spaced apart in the vehicle width direction. An annular elastic member is attached to the outer circumference of each mounting portion 3b. This elastic member is fitted into the support hole portion 10b of the front cross member 10. This fitting fixes the front end of the motor 3 to the support hole portion 10b of the front cross member 10 via the mounting portions 3b. As shown in Figure 3, on the lower surface of the front portion of the motor 3, a recess 3c is formed in the center of the vehicle width direction, recessed upward along the front-rear direction.

[0026] The battery 4 is positioned in front of the motor 3. The battery 4 supplies power to the motor 3. The rear wheels 33 are connected to the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the left and right integrated lower arms 13. The shaft 18e of the first support member 18 is connected to the inner end of the lower arm 13 in the vehicle width direction. The lower arm 13 is capable of swinging vertically around the shaft 18e.

[0027] The vehicle structure 1 according to this embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above. In this vehicle structure 1, a suspension member 17 is provided between the front cross member 10 and the rear cross member 11 of the rear suspension cross member 2 in the front-rear direction. This suspension member 17 connects to a pair of lower arms 13. The suspension member 17 also comprises a pair of first support members 18 and a second support member 19 that is separate from the first support members 18 and connects the pair of first support members 18 to each other. The fixing portion 18a of the first support members 18 is fixed to the upper side member 14 and the lower side member 15 of the rear suspension cross member 2.

[0028] In this vehicle structure 1, for example, if the rear wheel 33 is struck from the side in the vehicle width direction, an inward collision load in the vehicle width direction is applied from the rear wheel 33 to the lower arm 13. This collision load applied to the lower arm 13 is transmitted to the first support member 18 of the suspension member 17. The impact load transmitted to the first support member 18 is shared and received by the upper side member 14 and the lower side member 15 on both sides in the vehicle width direction via the fixing portion 18a of the pair of first support members 18. As a result, inward deformation of the upper side member 14 and the lower side member 15 in the vehicle width direction can be suppressed, and the motor 3, which is an on-board device supported by the rear suspension cross member 2, can be protected.

[0029] Furthermore, in this vehicle structure 1, the first support member 18 of the suspension member 17 has a larger width dimension in the longitudinal direction than the second support member 19. The collision load applied to the lower arm 13 can be reliably received by the first support member 18, which has a larger width dimension in the longitudinal direction than the second support member 19. In addition, the first support member 18, which has a larger width dimension in the longitudinal direction, is fixed to the upper side member 14 and the lower side member 15 on both sides in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the collision load can be received in a larger longitudinal region of the upper side member 14 and the lower side member 15 via the first support member 18. In this case as well, deformation of the upper side member 14 and the lower side member 15 toward the vehicle width direction can be suppressed.

[0030] In this vehicle structure 1, the front underside of the motor 3, which is an on-board device, has a recess 3c that extends upward in the front-rear direction. When the vehicle 30 is a hybrid vehicle (HV) equipped with a motor 3 and an engine (not shown) as a drive source for driving, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) that can be charged from an external charging facility for its onboard secondary battery and can also supply power to the outside from that secondary battery, the engine exhaust pipe P can be placed in the recess 3c on the underside of the motor 3, as shown in Figure 3. This arrangement allows the position of the motor 3, which is supported by the rear suspension cross member 2, to be lowered. As a result, it is possible to lower the position of the floor panel 35 and ensure the minimum height of the motor 3 from the ground.

[0031] Furthermore, the second support member 19 of the suspension member 17 has a curved portion 19a that protrudes upward. The curved portion 19a of the second support member 19 and the recess 3c of the motor 3 are arranged along the front-rear direction. This allows the exhaust pipe P of the engine described above to be positioned within the curved portion 19a of the second support member 19, preventing the second support member 19 from interfering with the exhaust pipe P.

[0032] In the vehicle structure 1, both ends of the second support member 19 in the vehicle width direction are connected between two connecting pieces 18c of a pair of left and right first support members 18 by fastening bolts 17a and nuts 17b. The bolts 17a are positioned in the front-rear direction, which is perpendicular to the vertical direction. Therefore, when the vehicle 30 is running, the rigidity of the suspension member 17 can be ensured against vertical vibrations of the vehicle 30 by fastening the bolts 17a and nuts 17b.

[0033] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, a configuration in which the second support member 19 of the suspension member 17 has a curved portion 19a that protrudes upward was described as an example. However, as shown in Figure 4, a configuration in which the second support member 19 of the suspension member 17 is formed in a straight line along the vehicle width direction can also be adopted. This configuration can be adopted in electric vehicles (BEVs) in which the vehicle 30 is equipped only with a motor 3 as a drive source for driving and does not have an exhaust pipe P as shown in Figure 3.

[0034] This embodiment describes the configuration of the present invention assuming a hybrid vehicle (HV) equipped with a motor 3 and an engine as a drive source for driving, and in particular a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) in which the mounted secondary battery can be charged from an external charging facility and power can be supplied to the outside from the secondary battery. However, the present invention can also be applied to an electric vehicle (EV) equipped with only a motor 3 as a drive source for driving.

[0035] 1 Vehicle structure 2 Rear suspension cross member 3 Motor 3a Mount bracket 3b Mount part 3c Recess 4 Battery 10 Front cross member 11 Rear cross member 12 Side member 13 Lower arm 14 Upper side member 15 Lower side member 15a First side member 15b Second side member 16 Plate 17 Suspension member 17a Bolt 17b Nut 18 First support member 18a Fixing part 18b Connecting part 18c Connecting piece part 18d Recess 18e Shaft 19 Second support member 19a Curved part 30 Vehicle 31 Rear side member 32 Front wheel 33 Rear wheel 34 Floor cross member 35 Floor panel 36 Seat P Exhaust pipe

Claims

1. A vehicle structure comprising: a rear suspension cross member having a front cross member and a rear cross member, and a pair of side members connecting the front cross member and the rear cross member at intervals in the front-rear direction; on-board equipment supported by the rear suspension cross member; a pair of lower arms mounted to the rear suspension cross member facing outward in the vehicle width direction; and a suspension member connecting the pair of lower arms, wherein the suspension member is located between the front cross member and the rear cross member in the front-rear direction, and the ends of the suspension member on both sides in the vehicle width direction are fixed to the pair of side members.

2. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the suspension member comprises a pair of first support members extending inward in the vehicle width direction from the inner end of the lower arm in the vehicle width direction, and a second support member that connects the pair of first support members and is separate from the first support members.

3. The vehicle structure according to claim 2, wherein the first support member has a larger width dimension in the front-rear direction than the second support member.

4. The vehicle structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lower surface of the in-vehicle equipment has a recess that is recessed upward in the front-rear direction.

5. The vehicle structure according to claim 4, wherein the second support member has a curved portion that protrudes upward, and the curved portion of the second support member and the recess of the in-vehicle equipment are arranged along the front-rear direction.

6. The vehicle structure according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the second support member is formed in a straight line along the vehicle width direction.

7. The vehicle structure according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the first support member and the second support member are connected by fastening bolts and nuts, and the bolts are arranged perpendicular to the vertical direction.

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