JP6064312B2 - Vehicle structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle structure of a hybrid car or an electric vehicle.

  In recent years, hybrid cars (including plug-in hybrid cars) and electric cars have become widespread. In hybrid cars and electric cars, a battery unit for operating an electric motor is usually mounted in the interior or exterior of the rear part of the vehicle. However, when the battery unit is mounted in the vehicle interior at the rear of the vehicle, there is a risk that the storage space for the luggage will be reduced or the rear view will be hindered. On the other hand, when the battery unit is mounted outside the vehicle compartment at the rear of the vehicle, the ground clearance must be ensured, so each battery cell of the battery unit must be arranged in a plane over a wide area, May interfere with parts.

  On the other hand, Patent Documents 1 to 3 are disclosed as conventional techniques related to mounting of a battery unit. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a bulging portion having a U-shaped cross section released downward is provided at the center portion of a floor board, and a battery box that houses a battery is attached to the bulging portion. In Patent Document 2, an opening extending between the middle floor cross member and the rear floor cross member is formed in the front half of the rear floor between the rear frames, and a box-like shape constituting the lower half of the battery storage box is formed in the opening. A technique is disclosed in which a battery setting base is dropped and the entire periphery thereof is welded to an opening. In Patent Document 3, a second floor panel that is formed in a box-like shape having a rectangular plane and includes an upper wall and front and rear side walls and a peripheral side wall is formed through the opening of the first floor panel. A technique is disclosed in which a peripheral side wall is joined and fixed to a flange in a state of protruding to the lower surface side above the floor panel, and the inside of the second floor panel is used as a fuel cell unit accommodating portion.

  By the way, as described in Patent Documents 4 and 5, a towing hook used for traction or the like is usually provided on the bottom surface of the rear portion of the vehicle. When a load is applied to the towing hook, the stress is transmitted and distributed to various parts of the vehicle through the connecting portion of the towing hook. If large stress is applied to the weak parts of the vehicle or transmission and dispersion efficiency is poor, there is a risk of deformation and damage. Must be set.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 48-2627 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-201356 JP 2003-260939 A JP 2001-180240 A JP 2010-116085 A

  When the floor panel is deformed or a new member is installed in order to mount the battery unit as in the techniques of Patent Documents 1 to 3, there is room for reexamination on the assembly position of the towing hook. However, even when such a vehicle structure is employed to mount the battery unit, there is no example in which the assembly position of the towing hook is set accordingly. In Patent Documents 4 and 5, there is no description intended for a hybrid car or an electric vehicle.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle structure in which a towing hook can be suitably assembled in a hybrid car or an electric vehicle on which a battery unit is mounted.

  In order to solve the above problems, a typical configuration of the present invention is a frame-shaped member that surrounds and supports a battery unit that operates an electric motor in a vehicle structure of a hybrid car or an electric vehicle, and is provided on a vehicle floor surface. A unit fixing frame for fixing the battery unit, a hanging member hanging from the vicinity of the rear end of the unit fixing frame, and a towing hook coupled to the hanging member.

  According to the above configuration, the battery unit can be suitably mounted by the unit fixing frame. The towing hook is coupled to a unit fixing frame that fixes the battery unit to the vehicle floor surface via a hanging member. The unit fixing frame is a member that fixes the battery unit to the vehicle floor, and is formed to have a predetermined strength or higher due to its role. Therefore, the unit fixing frame serves as a member that transmits and disperses stress from the towing hook. To do. Since the towing hook is not directly attached to the unit fixing frame but attached via the hanging member, the unit fixing frame can be prevented from being broken even if an excessive load is applied to the towing hook.

  It is preferable that at least a part of the unit fixing frame is coupled to a skeleton member constituting the vehicle skeleton. According to such a configuration, since the unit fixing frame is coupled to the high-strength skeleton member, the stress from the towing hook can be suitably transmitted and distributed.

  The drooping member has a lateral member extending in the vehicle width direction and having a towing hook coupled to the central portion, and an end coupling member extending from both ends of the lateral member to the front and upward of the vehicle and coupled to the unit fixing frame. Good. According to such a configuration, the stress from the towing hook can be suitably transmitted and dispersed.

  The hanging member may further include a central connecting member that extends upward from the vicinity of the central portion of the horizontal member and is connected to the unit fixing frame. According to such a configuration, the stress from the towing hook can be suitably transmitted and dispersed.

  The lateral member may be positioned rearward of the rear end of the unit fixing frame, and may be formed relatively low so that both ends thereof are substantially equal to the height of the lower end of the battery unit. According to such a configuration, since the lateral member is located behind the rear end of the unit fixing frame, it is possible to prevent the object from colliding first with the battery unit and the unit fixing frame at the time of rear collision. In addition, since the both end portions of the horizontal member are formed so as to be almost the height of the lower end of the battery unit, even if the object collides with the horizontal member due to a rear impact and the both end portions move forward, the battery unit Difficult to interfere (collision). In addition, since the center part of a horizontal member is formed relatively high, the height required as a coupling | bond part of a towing hook is not missing.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the hybrid car or electric vehicle carrying a battery unit, the vehicle structure which can attach | assemble a towing hook suitably can be provided. More specifically, with respect to a vehicle in which a battery unit is mounted by a unit fixing frame, stress from a towing hook can be transmitted and distributed suitably, and durability can be ensured reliably.

It is a figure which shows the assembly | attachment of the battery unit in the vehicle structure concerning this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the unit fixing frame, drooping member, and towing hook of FIG. It is a perspective view after the assembly completion of FIG. It is a side view after the assembly completion of FIG. FIG. 2 is a bottom view after the assembly of FIG. 1 is completed. It is a figure explaining the transmission and dispersion | distribution of the stress from the towing hook in the vehicle structure of FIG.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in the embodiments are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not illustrated. To do.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the assembly of the battery unit 110 in the vehicle structure 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a view showing the unit fixing frame 112, the hanging member 140, and the towing hook 152 of FIG. In the figure, the arrow Fwd represents the front of the vehicle, the arrow Rh represents the right side of the vehicle, and the arrow Up represents the upper side.

  The vehicle structure 100 is applied to a hybrid car or an electric vehicle on which a battery unit 110 that operates an electric motor is mounted. The battery unit 110 is a composite body in which a plurality of battery cells and electrical components are accommodated inside the casing. The battery cell is, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery, and the electrical components are, for example, a battery monitoring unit, a fan, a junction block, or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the vehicle structure 100, the opening part 104 is formed in the floor panel 102 which comprises a vehicle floor surface. The battery unit 110 is installed in the opening 104 across the floor panel 102 by a frame-shaped unit fixing frame 112 that surrounds and supports the battery unit 110. In this manner, the battery unit 110 is installed in the opening 104 across the floor panel 102 in the vertical direction, so that the preferred mounting thereof is realized.

  Specifically, by installing the battery unit 110 over both the interior and exterior areas of the vehicle interior, it is possible to secure luggage storage space and rear view in the interior of the vehicle interior, and the battery cells are arranged one above the other. Can secure the minimum ground clearance. Since it is not necessary to arrange the battery cells in a horizontal plane over a wide range in the lower part of the floor panel 102, there is no problem of interference with the suspension and the fuel tank.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the unit fixing frame 112 is generally composed of seven steel materials 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126. The steel materials 114, 116, 118, 120, 122 and 124 form a hexagonal outer frame portion 128. The steel materials 114, 116, 118, 120, 124 and 126 form a hexagonal inner frame part 130. In the outer frame portion 128, six fastening portions 128a, 128b, 128c, 128d, 128e, and 128f are set.

  The battery unit 110 is inserted into the inner frame portion 130 and coupled to the upper portion of the inner frame portion 130. For example, a flange projecting to the outside of the casing of the battery unit 110 is supported on the upper portion of the inner frame portion 130, and the flange is fastened to the upper portion of the inner frame portion 130 with a bolt or the like, thereby fixing the unit to the battery unit 110. The frame 112 is integrated.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the integrated battery unit 110 and unit fixing frame 112 are composed of six fastening portions 128 a, 128 b, 128 c, 128 d, 128 e, and 128 f of the outer frame portion 128 using a bolt or the like. It is fixed by being fastened to the skeleton member etc. which comprise from below. Here, the unit fixing frame 112 is fastened to the left and right rear side frames 132 and 134 as the skeleton members.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an under cover 106 may be provided below the battery unit 110 to protect the battery unit 110 from chipping and the like. The under cover 106 is preferably made of hard resin from the viewpoint of avoiding an increase in vehicle weight, but may be formed of sheet metal. In the drawings described below, the illustration of the under cover 106 is omitted for easy understanding.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the vehicle structure 100, a hanging member 140 that is a frame for coupling the towing hook 152 is suspended from the vicinity of the rear end of the unit fixing frame 112. The hanging member 140 includes a lateral member 142 that extends in the vehicle width direction, end connection members 144 and 146 that extend from the vicinity of both ends of the lateral member 142 to the front and upward of the vehicle and are coupled to the unit fixing frame 112, and the lateral member 142. The center connecting members 148 and 150 are connected to the unit fixing frame 112 and extend upward from the vicinity of the center of the unit.

  A towing hook 152 is coupled to the central portion of the transverse member 142 of the hanging member 140. The central connecting members 148 and 150 are disposed on the left and right sides of the towing hook 152, respectively. The central portion of the lateral member 142 to which the towing hook 152 is coupled is set to a height (height required for the towing hook 152) required for the towing hook 152 to hang down.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view after the assembly of FIG. 1 is completed. FIG. 4 is a side view after assembly of FIG. FIG. 5 is a bottom view after the assembly of FIG. 1 is completed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the length of the lateral member 142 in the vehicle width direction is set to be substantially equal to the length of the battery unit 110 in the vehicle width direction. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lateral member 142 hangs behind the rear end of the unit fixing frame 112.

  Thus, it is possible to avoid the object from first colliding with the battery unit 110 and the unit fixing frame 112 at the time of a rear collision, and the battery unit 110 can be effectively protected. That is, in the vehicle structure 100, an object collides with the transverse member 142 or the like for connecting the towing hook 152, which is one of the features of the present embodiment, prior to the battery unit 110 at the time of a rear collision.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the vicinity of both ends of the lateral member 142 is formed relatively low so as to be substantially equal to the height of the lower end of the battery unit 110. In this way, by forming the vicinity of both ends of the horizontal member 142 so as to be substantially the height of the lower end of the battery unit 110, the object collides with the horizontal member 142 due to a rear collision, and both ends thereof move forward. However, it is difficult to interfere (collision) with the battery unit 110. Therefore, the battery unit 110 can be effectively protected.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the vehicle structure 100, since the battery unit 110 is inserted into the inner frame portion 130 of the unit fixing frame 112, a space for passing a muffler pipe can be secured at the lower part on the right side of the vehicle. . In the vehicle structure 100, in order to secure this space, the unit fixing frame 112 is not simply made small, but the steel material 126 is hung while maintaining the shape of the outer frame portion 128 fastened to the rear side frames 132 and 134 which are frame members. Since the inner frame portion 130 is formed to secure the space, both strength and space can be secured.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the transmission and dispersion of stress from the towing hook 152 in the vehicle structure 100 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 6, the battery unit 110 is not shown for easy understanding.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when a load is applied to the towing hook 152, the stress is transferred to the unit fixing frame 112 through the end connecting members 144 and 146 and the central connecting members 148 and 150 connected to the transverse member 142. Transmission and distribution. In FIG. 6, a load applied to the towing hook 152 is indicated by an arrow X, and a stress transmission / distribution path is indicated by an arrow Y (represented by one symbol). The unit fixing frame 112 plays a role of protecting (supporting) the battery unit 110 and is required to have a strength higher than a predetermined level. Therefore, the unit fixing frame 112 is a perfect member for transmitting and dispersing stress.

  In the vehicle structure 100, the central connecting members 148 and 150 are connected to the steel member 120 at the rear of the unit fixing frame 112, and the end connecting members 144 and 146 are connected to the steel members 118 and 126 at the side portions, respectively. The end connecting members 144 and 146 and the central connecting members 148 and 150 transmit the stress due to the pulling of the towing hook 152 to a plurality of locations (a plurality of steel materials 118, 120, and 126) of the high-strength unit fixing frame 112 in a distributed manner. Therefore, the possibility of causing damage or deformation due to the stress can be greatly reduced.

  Note that the method of distributing stress by the drooping member 140 is not limited to the method using the end connecting members 144 and 146 and the central connecting members 148 and 150 of the present embodiment. The stress may be distributed by any method as long as it can be appropriately distributed and transmitted to the unit fixing frame 112.

  Further, in the vehicle structure 100, the unit fixing frame 112 is coupled to rear side frames 132 and 134 that are frame members. The stress transmitted to the unit fixing frame 112 is transmitted and distributed to the entire vehicle via the high-strength rear side frames 132 and 134, so that the stress can be effectively transmitted and distributed.

  As described above, according to the vehicle structure 100 described above, the battery unit 110 can be suitably mounted in a hybrid car or an electric vehicle. Further, the towing hook 152 can be assembled to the vehicle so that the stress does not concentrate locally and cause damage or deformation.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to this example. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

  The present invention can be used for a vehicle structure of a hybrid car or an electric car.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Vehicle structure, 102 ... Floor panel, 104 ... Opening part, 106 ... Under cover, 110 ... Battery unit, 112 ... Unit fixing frame, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126 ... Steel material, 128 ... Outside Frame part, 128a, 128b, 128c, 128d, 128e, 128f ... Fastening part, 130 ... Inner frame part, 132, 134 ... Rear side frame, 140 ... Drooping member, 142 ... Lateral member, 144, 146 ... End connecting member, 148, 150 ... center connecting member, 152 ... towing hook

Claims (4)

In the vehicle structure of a hybrid car or an electric car,
A frame-like member that surrounds and supports the battery unit that operates the electric motor , and a unit fixing frame that fixes the battery unit across the vehicle floor surface in an opening formed in the vehicle floor surface;
A hanging member connected to the rear end of the unit fixing frame and suspended from the rear end;
A towing hook coupled to the hanging member,
The vehicle structure, wherein at least a part of the unit fixing frame is coupled to a skeleton member constituting a vehicle skeleton.   The hanging member includes a lateral member extending in the vehicle width direction and coupled with the towing hook at a central portion, and an end connecting member extending from both ends of the lateral member forward and upward of the vehicle and coupled to the unit fixing frame. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein:   The vehicle structure according to claim 2, wherein the hanging member further includes a central connecting member that extends upward from the vicinity of the central portion of the lateral member and is connected to the unit fixing frame.   The lateral member is positioned rearward of the rear end of the unit fixing frame, and both end portions thereof are formed relatively low so as to be substantially equal to the height of the lower end of the battery unit. Item 4. The vehicle structure according to Item 2 or 3.

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