JP7487840B2 - Vehicle Structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle structure in a frame vehicle.

In a frame vehicle in which the cab body and cargo box are supported by a chassis frame, the chassis frame includes a pair of side frames extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle at intervals in the vehicle width direction, and cross members extending in the vehicle width direction at multiple points spaced in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle and connecting the pair of side frames.

Patent document 1 discloses a vehicle structure in which, in such a frame vehicle, the central portion of the fifth cross member 15 is curved upward and a bracket 68 is provided in the curved central portion, and the propeller shaft 37 is supported below the fifth cross member 15 by this bracket 68.

WO 11/101906

In such a vehicle structure, when a collision load during a side collision of the vehicle is input to the cross member from one of the side frames, the central portion of the cross member is curved upward, causing the central portion of the cross member to deform upward. At this time, the propeller shaft supported by the cross member moves upward as the central portion of the cross member deforms upward. In such a case, there is a risk that the propeller shaft will interfere with and deform the cab body or the bottom surface of the cargo box.

In addition, since the cross member has a shape in which the central portions of its upper and lower surfaces are displaced in the vertical direction, there is room for improvement in terms of ensuring the torsional rigidity of the body and improving the vehicle's handling stability.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a vehicle body structure that is advantageous in realizing both protection of vehicle body components such as the cab body and cargo boxes during a side collision and ensuring the handling stability of the vehicle.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one embodiment of the present invention comprises a pair of side frames extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, a propeller shaft located between the pair of side frames and extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and a cross member passing below the propeller shaft and extending in the vehicle width direction to connect the pair of side frames, wherein the cross member includes an upper surface and a lower surface, the central portion of the upper surface extends in the vehicle width direction and both vehicle width direction ends of the upper surface are inclined so as to displace upward as they move toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, and the lower surface extends in a straight line in the vehicle width direction and is connected to the lower ridge lines of the pair of side frames.
One embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the propeller shaft is supported between a pair of brackets spaced apart in the vehicle width direction on the cross member, and a deformation-inducing portion is provided at a location on the cross member between the pair of brackets which is more susceptible to deformation than other locations on the cross member.
One embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a fuel tank is provided between the pair of side frames, and the fuel tank is provided adjacent to the propeller shaft on one side of the propeller shaft in a vehicle width direction.
One embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the fuel tank is provided on one side of the cross member in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and both ends of the cross member in the vehicle width direction are widened in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, with the amount of widening set larger on the fuel tank side in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle than on the opposite side.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, when a collision load during a side collision of a vehicle is input to the cross member from one of the side frames, the collision load is transmitted to the central part of the upper surface along the slope of the upper surface, causing the central part of the cross member in the vehicle width direction to easily deform downward.
This prevents the propeller shaft, which passes above the cross member, from displacing upward, and prevents the propeller shaft from interfering with the vehicle body components located above it, such as the cab body and the bottom of the cargo box, which is advantageous in protecting the vehicle body components.
In addition, since the underside of the cross member is connected to the lower ridges of a pair of highly rigid side frames and extends in a straight line in the vehicle width direction, the rigidity of the underside of the cross member is ensured, which is advantageous for increasing the torsional rigidity of the body and for improving the vehicle's handling stability.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, when a collision load during a side collision of the vehicle is input to the cross member from one of the side frames, the collision load deforms the deformation inducing portion, and the portion of the cross member located between the pair of brackets is likely to deform downward. This suppresses outward movement of the pair of brackets in the vehicle width direction, and suppresses outward movement of the propeller shaft in the vehicle width direction, thereby suppressing interference of the propeller shaft with vehicle-mounted components arranged adjacent to the propeller shaft in the vehicle width direction, which is advantageous in protecting the vehicle-mounted components.
Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, interference of the propeller shaft with the fuel tank disposed adjacent to it in the vehicle width direction is suppressed, which is advantageous in terms of protecting the fuel tank.
In addition, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the strength rigidity around the point where the widening portion on the side where the fuel tank is located is joined to a pair of side frames is lower than the strength rigidity around the point where the widening portion on the opposite side is joined to a pair of side frames.Therefore, when a collision load is input to a portion of one of the side frames that is located in front of or behind the fuel tank across the cross member in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle during a side collision of the vehicle, the cross member is prevented from deforming in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and when a collision load is input to a portion that is located closer to the fuel tank than the cross member in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, the one side frame is prevented from deforming inward in the vehicle width direction.
Therefore, when a collision load is input to one of the side frames during a side collision of the vehicle, interference between the cross member and the side frame and the fuel tank is suppressed, which is further advantageous in protecting the fuel tank.

1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a vehicle to which a vehicle structure according to an embodiment is applied; 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a center portion in the vehicle width direction of FIG. 2 . FIG. 4 is a plan view of the peripheral portion of the third cross member as viewed from above. 4 is a bottom view of the peripheral portion of the third cross member as viewed from below. FIG.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A vehicle structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
In the following drawings, the symbol FR indicates the front of the vehicle, the symbol UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle, and the symbol HL indicates the vehicle width direction.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle 10 is a frame vehicle 10 in which a chassis frame 12 supports a cab body (not shown) including a passenger compartment in which occupants ride as a vehicle body component.
The frame vehicle 10 includes a pickup truck type vehicle in which a cab body and a cargo box arranged at the rear of the cab body are supported by a chassis frame 12 as vehicle body components.
In this embodiment, the frame vehicle 10 is a pickup truck, with an engine and transmission (not shown) and front wheels 14 arranged at the front of the vehicle, and a differential gear 18 and rear wheels 16, which serve as drive wheels, arranged at the rear of the vehicle.

The chassis frame 12 is configured to include a pair of side frames 20 and a plurality of cross members 22 , 24 , 26 , 28 , and 30 .
The pair of side frames 20 extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle with a gap in the vehicle width direction. The pair of side frames 20 include a front portion 20A extending rearward from a front end of the side frame 20, a front inclined portion 20B inclined rearward and downward from a rear end of the front portion 20A, a central portion 20C extending rearward from the rear end of the front inclined portion 20B, a rear inclined portion 20D extending rearward and upward from the rear end of the central portion 20C, and a rear portion 20E extending rearward from the rear end of the rear inclined portion 20D.
The pair of side frames 20 support the cab body and the cargo box from below via a plurality of mounts 32 .

The multiple cross members extend in the vehicle width direction at multiple locations spaced apart in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction and connect a pair of side frames 20. In this embodiment, the multiple cross members include five cross members, namely, first, second, third, fourth and fifth cross members 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30, which are arranged in that order from front to rear.
In this embodiment, the first cross member 22 is connected to the front portions 20A of the pair of side frames 20, the second and third cross members 24, 26 are connected to the central portions 20C of the pair of side frames 20, the fourth cross member 28 is connected to the rear inclined portions 20D of the pair of side frames 20, and the fifth cross member 30 is connected to the rear portions 20E of the pair of side frames 20.
A bumper beam 34 extending in the vehicle width direction is connected to the front ends of the pair of side frames 20, and a bumper fascia (not shown) is attached to the bumper beam 34.

A propeller shaft 36, a fuel tank 38, and an exhaust pipe 40 (see FIG. 4) are attached to the chassis frame 12.
The propeller shaft 36 connects the transmission and the differential gear 18 , and transmits the driving force of the engine to the rear wheels 16 via the differential gear 18 .
In this embodiment, the transmission is located above the second cross member 24, and the differential gear 18 is located rearward of the fourth cross member 28. The propeller shaft 36 extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle so as to pass above the third cross member 26 and below the fourth cross member 28. In other words, the third cross member 26 passes below the propeller shaft 36 and extends in the vehicle width direction, and corresponds to the "cross member" in the claims.
In this embodiment, the propeller shaft 36 is supported above the center of the vehicle width of the third cross member 26 by a pair of brackets 44 spaced apart in the vehicle width direction at the center of the extension direction of the upper surface 26A of the third cross member 26 described later.

2, 4 and 5, the fuel tank 38 is an on-vehicle component made of synthetic resin or sheet metal, and has an elongated shape. The fuel tank 38 is provided between the pair of side frames 20 with its longitudinal direction aligned with the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and more specifically, is provided between the propeller shaft 36 and the side frame 20.
In other words, the fuel tank 38 is adjacent to the propeller shaft 36 on one side of the propeller shaft 36 in the vehicle width direction, and extends along the propeller shaft 36 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.
In the present embodiment, the fuel tank 38 is provided rearward of the third cross member 26. In detail, the fuel tank 38 extends from rearward of the third cross member 26 to rearward of the fourth cross member 28.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a front end portion 3802 of the fuel tank 38 is attached to a cantilevered support bracket 46 extending from one of the side frames 20 toward the inside in the vehicle width direction by being sandwiched from above and below by tank bands (not shown).
In addition, the rear end 3804 of the fuel tank 38 is attached to the fourth cross member 28 .

The exhaust pipe 40 is a pipe through which exhaust from the engine passes, and is an on-vehicle component as shown in FIG. 4 . The exhaust pipe 40 passes above the third cross member 26 between a pair of side frames 20 and extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.
More specifically, the exhaust pipe 40 is provided between the propeller shaft 36 and the side frame 20, on the vehicle width outer side of the propeller shaft 36, opposite the fuel tank 38, and extends adjacent to the propeller shaft 36 along the propeller shaft 36 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

Next, the third cross member 26 will be described.
2, 4, and 5, the third cross member 26 has an upper surface 26A facing upward, a front surface 26B extending downward from the front end of the upper surface 26A, a rear surface 26C extending downward from the rear end of the upper surface 26A, and a lower surface 26D connecting the lower ends of the front surface 26B and the rear surface 26C, and presents a closed rectangular cross-sectional structure. The upper surface 26A, the front surface 26B, the rear surface 26C, and the lower surface 26D extend in the vehicle width direction.
As shown in FIG. 2, the top surface 26A has a central top surface portion 2602 and a pair of inclined surface portions 2604.
The central upper surface portion 2602 is provided on the upper surface 26A of the third cross member 26 in the center in the vehicle width direction excluding both ends in the vehicle width direction, and extends linearly in the vehicle width direction.
The pair of inclined surface portions 2604 are provided at both ends of the upper surface 26A in the vehicle width direction and are connected to both ends of the central upper surface portion 2602 in the extending direction.
The pair of inclined surface portions 2604 are inclined so as to gradually displace upward from both ends of the central upper surface portion 2602 in the extending direction toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, and are connected to the upper parts of the vehicle width direction inner surfaces of the pair of side frames 20.
As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the lower surface 26D extends linearly in the vehicle width direction parallel to the central upper surface portion 2602, and both ends in the vehicle width direction are connected to the lower ridge lines 2002 of the pair of side frames 20.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, when viewed in a plan view, a front widening portion 2610 that is widened forward and a rear widening portion 2612 that is widened rearward are provided at both ends of the third cross member 26 in the vehicle width direction.
In this embodiment, the front widened portion 2610 and the rear widened portion 2612 are provided over the range in which the pair of inclined surface portions 2604 are provided.
In detail, the front widened portion 2610 is formed by an upper surface 26A, a front surface 26B, and a lower surface 26D, and widens forward as it moves outward in the vehicle width direction from both ends of the vehicle width central portion of the third cross member 26, and is connected to the vehicle width directional inner surfaces of the pair of side frames 20. In addition, the rear widened portion 2612 is formed by an upper surface 26A, a rear surface 26C, and a lower surface 26D, and widens rearward as it moves outward in the vehicle width direction from both ends of the vehicle width central portion of the third cross member 26, and is connected to the vehicle width directional inner surfaces of the pair of side frames 20.
The rear widened portion 2612 located on the fuel tank 38 side is set to have a larger amount of width expansion in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction than the front widened portion 2610. In other words, the rear widened portion 2612 is set to have a larger inclination in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction with respect to the vehicle width directional center portion of the third cross member 26 than the front widened portion 2610.

3, a deformation inducing portion 48 that is more easily deformed than other portions of the third cross member 26 is provided at a portion of the third cross member 26 located between a pair of brackets 44. The deformation inducing portion 48 may be formed by making the third cross member 26 less rigid than other portions or by providing it with irregularities.
In the present embodiment, the deformation inducing portion 48 is formed by depressing downward a portion of the central upper surface portion 2602 located between the pair of brackets 44. In other words, the portion of the central upper surface portion 2602 located between the pair of brackets 44 is lower in height than the portions of the central upper surface portion 2602 located on the outer sides of the pair of brackets 44 in the vehicle width direction.
The deformation inducing portion 48 may be formed by, for example, drilling a hole in a portion of the third cross member 26 located between the pair of brackets 44. The deformation inducing portion 48 may be formed such that, when a large load is input to the third cross member 26 due to a side collision, the third cross member 26 deforms downward at the portion where the deformation inducing portion 48 is provided.

Next, the effects will be described.
According to this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the third cross member 26 has a central portion of the upper surface 26A extending in the vehicle width direction, and both ends of the upper surface 26A in the vehicle width direction are inclined so as to displace upward as they move toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, and the lower surface 26D extends in a straight line in the vehicle width direction and is connected to the lower ridge 2002 of a pair of side frames 20.
Therefore, when a collision load during a side collision of the vehicle 10 is input from one of the side frames 20 to the third cross member 26, the collision load is transmitted to the central portion of the upper surface 26A along the slope of the upper surface 26A, making the central portion of the third cross member 26 in the vehicle width direction more likely to deform downward.
This prevents the propeller shaft 36, which passes above the third cross member 26, from displacing upward, and prevents the propeller shaft 36 from interfering with the vehicle body components located above it, such as the cab body and the bottom surface of a cargo box, which is advantageous in protecting the vehicle body components. In particular, when the cab body is located above the third cross member 26, the propeller shaft 36 can be prevented from interfering with the floor panel, which is the bottom surface of the cab body, which leads to the protection of the occupants.
In addition, since the lower surface 26D of the third cross member 26 is connected to the lower ridge 2002 of a pair of highly rigid side frames 20 and extends in a straight line in the vehicle width direction, the rigidity of the lower surface 26D of the third cross member 26 is ensured, which is advantageous for increasing the torsional rigidity of the vehicle body and for improving the handling stability of the vehicle 10.
Therefore, by constructing the third cross member 26 in the above manner, it is advantageous to realize both protection of the vehicle body components in the event of a side collision and ensuring the driving stability of the vehicle 10.

In addition, in this embodiment, the propeller shaft 36 is supported between a pair of brackets 44 spaced apart in the vehicle width direction on the third cross member 26, and a deformation-inducing portion 48 is provided at a location located between the pair of brackets 44 of the third cross member 26, which is more easily deformed than other locations on the third cross member 26.
Therefore, when a collision load during a side collision of the vehicle 10 is input from one of the side frames 20 to the third cross member 26, the deformation-inducing portion 48 is deformed by the collision load, making the area of the third cross member 26 located between a pair of brackets 44 more likely to deform downward.
As a result, movement of the pair of brackets 44 outward in the vehicle width direction is suppressed, and movement of the propeller shaft 36 outward in the vehicle width direction is suppressed, thereby suppressing interference of the propeller shaft 36 with vehicle-mounted components arranged adjacent to the propeller shaft 36 in the vehicle width direction, which is advantageous in protecting the vehicle-mounted components.
In this embodiment, the deformation inducing portion 48 is formed by recessing the upper surface 26A of the third cross member 26 downward between a pair of brackets 44, so that the deformation inducing portion 48 itself has the effect of bending the third cross member 26 downward. However, even if the deformation inducing portion 48 itself does not have such an effect, a load is input that deforms the third cross member 26 downward due to the inclination of both ends of the upper surface 26A in the vehicle width direction, making it easier for the third cross member 26 to deform downward at the deformation inducing portion 48.

In this embodiment, a fuel tank 38 is provided between the pair of side frames 20, and the fuel tank 38 is provided adjacent to the propeller shaft 36 on one side of the propeller shaft 36 in the vehicle width direction.
According to this embodiment, the propeller shaft 36 is prevented from interfering with the fuel tank 38 disposed adjacent thereto in the vehicle width direction, which is advantageous in terms of protecting the fuel tank 38.
Therefore, there is no need to provide a protector between the propeller shaft 36 and the fuel tank 38, or the plate thickness of the protector can be reduced. Also, since the distance between the propeller shaft 36 and the fuel tank 38 can be reduced, the capacity of the fuel tank 38 can be increased.
In this embodiment, the vehicle mounted part is the fuel tank 38, but the vehicle mounted part may be various conventionally known parts such as an exhaust pipe 40 or a battery.

In addition, in this embodiment, the fuel tank 38 is provided rearward of the third cross member 26, and both ends of the third cross member 26 in the vehicle width direction are each widened in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, with the rear widened portion on the side where the fuel tank 38 is located in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle being set to a larger amount of widening than the front widened portion on the opposite side.
Therefore, the strength and rigidity around the point where the front widening portion 2610 and the pair of side frames 20 are joined is lower than the strength and rigidity around the point where the rear widening portion 2612 and the pair of side frames 20 are joined.
Therefore, when a collision load is input forward of the third cross member 26 of one of the side frames 20 during a side collision of the vehicle 10, a large load is prevented from being transmitted in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle from the one of the side frames 20 to the third cross member 26, and deformation of the third cross member 26 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle is suppressed. In other words, a rectangular portion formed by the third cross member 26, the fourth cross member 28, and the portions of the pair of side frames 20 connecting the third and fourth cross members 26, 28 is crushed into a parallelogram, and deformation such as interference of the third cross member 26 or the side frame 20 with the fuel tank 38 is suppressed.
Furthermore, when a collision load is applied rearward of the third cross member 26 of one side frame 20, the load is actively transmitted from the one side frame 20 to the third cross member 26, and deformation of the one side frame 20 toward the inside in the vehicle width direction is suppressed. Therefore, deformation of the side frame 20 that would cause it to interfere with the fuel tank 38 is suppressed.
Therefore, when a collision load is input to one of the side frames 20 during a side collision of the vehicle 10, interference between the third cross member 26 and the side frame 20 and the fuel tank 38 is suppressed, which is even more advantageous in protecting the fuel tank 38.

In this embodiment, the case where the fuel tank 38 is provided on the rear side of the vehicle of the third cross member 26 has been described. However, if the fuel tank 38 is provided on the front side of the vehicle of the third cross member 26, the front widening portion 2610 on the side where the fuel tank 38 is located can be set to a larger widening amount than the rear widening portion 2612 on the side where the fuel tank 38 is not located, and in this case too, the same effect as this embodiment can be achieved.

In addition, in this embodiment, the chassis frame 12 is described as having five cross members, the first to fifth cross members 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30, but the number of cross members is arbitrary, and the cross member above which the propeller shaft 36 passes is not limited to the third cross member 26.

This application is based on Japanese patent application No. 2021-044630 filed on March 18, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

10 vehicle 12 chassis frame 14 front wheel 16 rear wheel 18 differential gear 20 side frame 2002 lower ridge 22 first cross member 24 second cross member 26 third cross member 26A upper surface 26B front surface 26C rear surface 26D lower surface 2602 central upper surface portion 2604 inclined surface portion 2610 front widened portion 2612 rear widened portion 28 fourth cross member 30 fifth cross member 32 mount 34 bumper beam 36 propeller shaft 38 fuel tank 3802 front end portion 3804 rear end portion 40 exhaust pipe 44 bracket 46 support bracket 48 deformation induction portion

Claims (4)

A pair of side frames extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle;
a propeller shaft located between the pair of side frames and extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle;
a cross member extending in a vehicle width direction so as to pass below the propeller shaft and connect the pair of side frames,
The cross member includes an upper surface and a lower surface.
The central portion of the upper surface extends in the vehicle width direction,
Both ends of the upper surface in the vehicle width direction are inclined so as to be displaced upward toward the outside in the vehicle width direction,
The lower surface extends linearly in the vehicle width direction and is connected to lower ridge lines of the pair of side frames,
The propeller shaft is supported between a pair of brackets provided on the cross member at an interval in the vehicle width direction,
A deformation inducing portion is provided at a portion of the cross member located between the pair of brackets, which is more easily deformed than a portion of the cross member not located between the pair of brackets.
A vehicle structure characterized by: (delete) A fuel tank is provided between the pair of side frames,
The fuel tank is provided adjacent to the propeller shaft on one side of the propeller shaft in a vehicle width direction.
2. The vehicle structure according to claim 1. The fuel tank is provided on one side of the cross member in the vehicle front-rear direction,
4. The vehicle structure according to claim 3, wherein both ends of the cross member in the vehicle width direction are widened in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the amount of widening is set larger on the fuel tank side than on the opposite side in the vehicle front-rear direction.

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