JP4581621B2 - Vehicle fuel tank support structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a support structure for a fuel tank disposed below a floor of a vehicle.

  Conventionally, a fuel tank support for a vehicle having a pair of body frames joined to the lower surface of the floor and extending forward and backward on both ends in the vehicle width direction of the floor, and supporting a fuel tank disposed below the floor on the pair of body frames The structure is known.

In such a fuel tank support structure for a vehicle, the front and rear four corners of the fuel tank are supported by a body frame or a cross member, and at least one side of the front and rear of the fuel tank is separated from the floor panel, A tank mount member is provided on the lower side of the panel along the vehicle width direction, and both ends are fixed to the body frame, and at least one vehicle width direction center side of the front and rear portions of the fuel tank is supported on the tank mount member. Is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-10-181629

  However, in the conventional fuel tank support structure of a vehicle, there is a problem that the tank mount member must be arranged in accordance with the tank, and when the size of the tank changes, the configuration of the vehicle body must also change.

  On the other hand, a plurality of cross members are provided between the pair of body frames on the lower surface of the floor in order to improve the rigidity at the time of a side collision of the vehicle. Thus, in the case where the fuel tank is disposed between a pair of front and rear cross members that originally exist and the front and rear portions are supported by the cross member, a method of supporting the fuel tank with a belt extending front and rear can be considered. In such a case, if the cross member is separated from the arrangement position of the fuel tank, there is a problem that the angle of the belt with respect to the lower surface of the floor becomes small and sufficient support cannot be performed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such points, and the object of the present invention is to devise the configuration of the frame on the lower surface of the floor without providing a cross member only for supporting the fuel tank, It is to reliably support the fuel tank.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the fuel tank is supported by a vertical frame extending rearward so as to sandwich the center tunnel.

Specifically, in the first aspect of the invention, the fuel tank has a pair of body frames joined to the lower surface of the floor and extending forward and backward on both ends in the vehicle width direction of the floor. The vehicle fuel tank support structure for supporting the side portion is the object.

A plurality of cross members for connecting the pair of body frames in the vehicle width direction are provided between the pair of body frames, and a center tunnel in the center in the vehicle width direction of the floor is connected to the front and rear of the plurality of cross members. A pair of vertical frames extending rearward are provided so as to sandwich the fuel tank, and at least one of the pair of vertical frames supports the center side in the vehicle width direction of the fuel tank, and branches from the body frame to the vehicle width direction inner side. comprising a tunnel frame extending backward along the tunnel, the said floor bottom surface, the configuration load dividing unit and the tunnel frame and the vertical frame is divided in the longitudinal direction that are provided.

According to the above configuration, the fuel tank is not only supported by the pair of body frames on the outer side in the vehicle width direction as in the prior art, but also has a plurality of cross members that originally exist in the center in the vehicle width direction. Are supported by a pair of vertical frames that tie the front and rear. In addition , the load applied to the body frame flows to the tunnel frame at the time of frontal collision of the vehicle, but the load applied to the tunnel frame is divided by the load dividing portion on the lower surface of the floor, so that it is transmitted to the vertical frame. It will be difficult.

In the second invention, a cross member is provided at the front end of the load dividing portion, and the rear end of the tunnel frame is connected to the cross member.

  According to the above configuration, the load transmitted to the tunnel frame at the time of the frontal collision of the vehicle is transmitted to the cross member on the front side of the load dividing portion, so that it is difficult to transmit to the vertical frame.

In 3rd invention, the cross member located in the lower side of the pillar of the rear end of a front door is provided in the rear end of the said load parting part.

  According to said structure, the cross member of the pillar lower side for improving the rigidity with respect to the side collision of a vehicle is used as a cross member which connects a vertical frame front end.

In the fourth aspect of the invention, the vehicle body has a pair of body frames joined to the lower surface of the floor and extending forward and backward on both ends in the vehicle width direction of the floor, and this body frame supports the side portion of the fuel tank disposed below the floor. The target is a fuel tank support structure of a vehicle.

A plurality of cross members for connecting the pair of body frames in the vehicle width direction are provided between the pair of body frames, and a center tunnel in the center in the vehicle width direction of the floor is connected to the front and rear of the plurality of cross members. A pair of vertical frames extending rearward is provided so as to sandwich the fuel tank, and at least one of the pair of vertical frames supports the center side in the vehicle width direction of the fuel tank, and cross members above the front side and the rear side of the fuel tank, respectively. The vertical frame is divided between the cross members, and the upper surface of the fuel tank is bulged upward.

  According to said structure, the area | region where a vertical frame does not exist above a fuel tank is made, and the upper surface of a fuel tank bulges to the floor lower surface vicinity in this area | region.

In a fifth aspect of the invention, a spare tire pan is formed to project downward on the rear side of the floor, a cross member is provided in front of the spare tire pan with a predetermined interval, and the rear end of the vertical frame is connected to the cross member.

  According to the above configuration, the load transmitted to the spare tire pan at the time of rear-end collision of the vehicle is not directly transmitted to the cross member spaced a predetermined distance from the spare tire pan, so that the load is hardly transmitted to the vertical frame.

In the sixth invention, a cross member is provided immediately before the spare tire pan.

  According to the above configuration, since the load transmitted to the spare tire pan is received by the cross member immediately before the spare tire pan, the load is further difficult to be transmitted to the vertical frame.

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, a pair of vertical frames that connect a plurality of cross members that originally exist between a pair of body frames back and forth are provided without providing a cross member for supporting a fuel tank. By supporting the center side of the fuel tank in the vehicle width direction on the vertical frame, the fuel tank can be firmly supported on the vehicle body while reducing costs without newly providing a cross member. In addition, a load dividing part that is divided in the front-rear direction is provided between the tunnel frame that branches inward in the vehicle width direction from the body frame and the vertical frame that supports the fuel tank, so that the load applied to the body frame in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle because were you are so hardly transmitted to the frame, to prevent damage to the fuel tank, it is possible to safely and reliably supported on the vehicle body of the fuel tank.

According to the second aspect of the invention, by connecting the rear end of the tunnel frame to the cross member at the front end of the load dividing portion, the load transmitted to the tunnel frame at the time of the front collision of the vehicle is divided at the front side of the load dividing portion. I am doing so. For this reason, damage to the fuel tank can be prevented, and the fuel tank can be supported on the vehicle body more safely and reliably.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the vertical frame is connected to the cross member on the lower side of the pillar provided to increase the rigidity at the time of a side collision of the vehicle. For this reason, without providing a new cross member, the fuel tank can be safely and firmly supported on the vehicle body while preventing the fuel tank from being damaged while reducing the cost.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, while the fuel tank is firmly supported by the vertical frames before and after the fuel tank, the vertical frame is not provided above the fuel tank that is not related to the support, and the vicinity of the floor lower surface without the vertical frame is provided. By expanding the upper surface of the fuel tank, the capacity can be increased while firmly supporting the fuel tank.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the rear end of the vertical frame is connected to the cross member provided at a predetermined interval in front of the spare tire pan, so that the load transmitted to the spare tire pan is difficult to be transmitted to the vertical frame at the time of the rear collision of the vehicle. is doing. For this reason, the fuel tank can be prevented from being damaged at the time of rear-end collision of the vehicle, and safety can be improved.

According to the sixth aspect, it is easily transmitted to the load transmitted to Supeyataiyapan provided cross member just before the Supeyataiyapan to vertical frame. For this reason, since damage to the fuel tank can be prevented, a fuel tank support structure for a vehicle with higher safety can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the following embodiment is an essentially preferable illustration, Comprising: It does not intend restrict | limiting the range of this invention, its application thing, or a use.

  FIG. 1 shows a lower part of a vehicle body provided with a fuel tank support structure for a vehicle according to the present invention. On the lower surface of the floor panel 1 constituting the lower part of the vehicle body, a pair of reinforcing body frames 2 extending back and forth in the vehicle width direction both ends of the floor panel 1, that is, inside the vehicle panel in the vehicle width direction by a predetermined distance. Is provided. A center tunnel 3 extending in the front-rear direction is provided at the center in the vehicle width direction between the pair of body frames 2 so as to bulge toward the passenger compartment side. A transmission (not shown) or the like is disposed below the center tunnel 3.

  Further, on the front side of the pair of body frames 2, a tunnel frame 4 is provided which branches from the body frame 2 inward in the vehicle width direction and extends rearward along the center tunnel 3. The tunnel frame 4 allows a load applied to the body frame 2 to flow inward in the vehicle width direction when the vehicle collides. A first cross member 6 that connects the pair of body frames 2 in the vehicle width direction is formed by connecting the leading ends of the tunnel frames 4. Note that the cross member that connects the pair of body frames 2 such as the first cross member 6 in the vehicle width direction has a shape in which the center portion bulges toward the passenger compartment side along the lower surface of the center tunnel 3. And prevents interference with the transmission and the like.

  A third cross member 7 that connects the pair of body frames 2 in the vehicle width direction is formed below the B pillar (not shown) at the rear end of the front door. The third cross member 7 increases the rigidity at the time of a side collision of the vehicle.

  Between the first cross member 6 and the third cross member 7, a second cross member 8 to which the rear end of the tunnel frame 4 is connected is provided. A substantially flat front load dividing portion 9 is formed between the second cross member 8 and the third cross member 7. The front load dividing portion 9 is not provided with a reinforcing member extending in the front-rear direction such as the tunnel frame 4.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a fuel tank 30 disposed below the floor panel 1 is supported on the body frame 2 behind the third cross member 7. Above the front side and the rear side of the fuel tank 30, fourth and fifth cross members 11, 12 that connect the pair of body frames 2 in the vehicle width direction are provided. Between the third cross member 7 and the fourth cross member 11, a pair of front vertical frames 15 extending rearward so as to sandwich the center tunnel 3 are provided.

  A spare tire pan 16 is formed on the rear side of the floor panel 1 so as to protrude downward. A sixth cross member 17 that connects the pair of body frames 2 in the vehicle width direction at a predetermined interval is provided in front of the spare tire pan 16. A seventh cross member 18 that connects the pair of body frames 2 in the vehicle width direction is provided immediately before the spare tire pan 16.

  A pair of rear vertical frames 19 extending rearward are provided between the fifth cross member 12 and the sixth cross member 17 so as to correspond to the pair of front vertical frames 15. A substantially flat tank accommodating portion 20 is formed between the fourth cross member 11 and the fifth cross member 12. In this tank accommodating part 20, the said front side vertical frame 15 and the rear side vertical frame 19 are parted, and the reinforcement member extended in the front-back direction is not provided.

  A substantially flat rear load dividing portion 21 is formed between the sixth cross member 17 and the seventh cross member 18. The rear load dividing portion 21 is not provided with a reinforcing member extending in the front-rear direction like the rear vertical frame 19.

  As described above, if the tunnel frame 4 is extended rearward, the front vertical frame 15 and the rear vertical frame 19 are provided on the extension thereof, and the front load dividing portion 9, the tank accommodating portion 20 and the rear side are provided therebetween. The shape is divided at the load dividing portion 21.

  Since the fuel tank 30 is provided in a narrow space in the height direction below the floor panel 1, the fuel tank 30 has a substantially rectangular flat shape. A flange 31 is provided on the outer periphery of the fuel tank 30 so as to extend in the horizontal direction, and bolt through holes (not shown) are provided on the four corners of the side of the fuel tank 30 in the flange 31. ing. The outer side in the vehicle width direction of the flange portion 31 of the fuel tank 30 is fastened to the pair of body frames 2 by bolts 32 using the bolt through holes.

  The front side of the flange portion 31 of the fuel tank 30 is on the right side of the front vertical frame 15 when the floor panel 1 is viewed from the lower surface (that is, the left side of the lower surface of the floor panel 1 when viewed from the passenger in the vehicle compartment). In the extending direction of the front vertical frame 15, a front support bracket 33 for supporting the fuel tank 30 is provided so as to overlap the front vertical frame 15 when viewed from below. A bolt through hole (not shown) for fastening to the front vertical frame 15 is provided in a flat portion at the upper end (tip) of the front support bracket 33. The front side of the fuel tank 30 is fastened to and supported by the front vertical frame 15 by bolts 32 using the bolt through holes.

  A fuel tank 30 is supported on the rear side of the flange portion 31 of the fuel tank 30 so as to overlap the rear vertical frame 19 when viewed from below in the extending direction of the pair of rear vertical frames 19. Rear support brackets 34 are provided so as to protrude. The flat portions at the upper ends (tips) of the pair of rear support brackets 34 are respectively provided with bolt through holes (not shown) for fastening to the rear vertical frame 19. Using these bolt through holes, the rear side of the fuel tank 30 is supported by the rear vertical frame 19 by bolts 32.

  In this way, in addition to the four corners on the side of the fuel tank 30, the front and rear vertical frames 15 and 19 are also supported at three points on the center side in the vehicle width direction of the fuel tank 30.

  In the fuel tank 30, the tank upper surface 30a corresponding to the tank housing portion 20 of the floor panel 1 bulges up to the vicinity of the lower surface of the floor panel 1, and the capacity thereof is secured. In the present embodiment, the tank lower surface 30b at the center in the vehicle width direction of the fuel tank 30 is recessed upward, and a propeller shaft (not shown) of a 4WD vehicle passes under the tank lower surface 30b. Yes.

  In addition, a crash pipe 35 is provided on the outside of the body frame 2 on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the first to fifth cross members 6, 7,... .

-Effect of the embodiment-
Therefore, according to the fuel tank support structure for a vehicle according to the present embodiment, a plurality of cross members 7, 11, 12, 17 that originally exist between the pair of body frames 2 without providing a cross member for supporting the fuel tank 30 are provided. By providing a pair of vertical frames 15 and 19 for connecting the front and rear, and supporting the center side in the vehicle width direction of the fuel tank 30 on the vertical frames 15 and 19, the fuel can be reduced without newly providing a cross member while reducing costs. The tank 30 can be firmly supported by the vehicle body.

  According to the present embodiment, the front load dividing portion 9 divided in the front-rear direction is provided between the tunnel frame 4 branched from the body frame 2 in the vehicle width direction and the front vertical frame 15 supporting the fuel tank 30. The load applied to the body frame 2 at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle is hardly transmitted to the front vertical frame 15. For this reason, damage to the fuel tank 30 can be prevented, and the fuel tank 30 can be safely and reliably supported on the vehicle body.

  According to the present embodiment, by connecting the rear end of the tunnel frame 4 to the second cross member 8 at the front end of the front load dividing portion 9, the load transmitted to the tunnel frame 4 at the time of the front collision of the vehicle can be divided. The front side of the part 9 is divided. For this reason, damage to the fuel tank 30 can be prevented, and the fuel tank 30 can be supported on the vehicle body more safely and reliably.

  According to the present embodiment, the front vertical frame 15 is connected to the third cross member 7 on the lower side of the pillar provided to increase the rigidity at the time of a side collision of the vehicle. For this reason, without providing a new cross member, the fuel tank 30 can be safely and firmly supported on the vehicle body while preventing the damage of the fuel tank 30 while reducing costs.

  According to the present embodiment, while the fuel tank 30 is firmly supported by the longitudinal frames 15 and 19 before and after the fuel tank 30, the longitudinal frames 15 and 19 are not provided above the fuel tank 30 not related to the support. By expanding the tank upper surface 30a to the vicinity of the lower surface of the floor panel 1 without the vertical frames 15 and 19, the capacity of the fuel tank 30 can be increased while firmly supporting it. In particular, in the 4WD vehicle as in this embodiment, since the tank lower surface 30b is recessed upward, the effect of projecting the tank upper surface 30a upward becomes significant.

  According to the present embodiment, the rear end of the rear vertical frame 19 is connected to the sixth cross member 17 provided at a predetermined interval in front of the spare tire pan 16, and the rear load is divided behind the sixth cross member 17. A portion 21 is provided to make it difficult for the load transmitted to the spare tire pan 16 during rear collision of the vehicle to be transmitted to the rear vertical frame 19. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the fuel tank 30 from being damaged at the time of rear-end collision of the vehicle and improve safety.

  According to the present embodiment, the seventh cross member 18 is provided immediately before the spare tire pan 16 to make it difficult for the load transmitted to the spare tire pan 16 to be transmitted to the rear vertical frame 19. For this reason, damage to the fuel tank 30 is prevented and a fuel tank support structure for a vehicle with higher safety can be obtained.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention may be configured as follows with respect to the above embodiment.

  That is, in the above-described embodiment, the front support bracket 33 protrudes in the extending direction of the right front vertical frame 15 when the floor panel 1 is viewed from the lower surface and is supported by the front vertical frame 15. The front support bracket 33 may be provided so as to correspond only to the frame 15, or the front support bracket 33 may be provided so as to correspond to both the front vertical frames 15.

  In the above embodiment, a 4WD vehicle is targeted, but a 2WD vehicle may be used. In that case, there is no need to pass the propeller shaft rearward, so there is no need to dent the bottom surface of the tank upward. Therefore, when the fuel tank 30 is divided into two in the vertical direction, the 4WD vehicle and the 2WD vehicle share the upper part, and the lower part may be used separately.

  As described above, the present invention is useful for a fuel tank support structure for a vehicle in which side portions of a fuel tank are supported by a pair of body frames extending forward and backward on both ends of the floor in the vehicle width direction.

It is the top view which looked at the vehicle body lower part provided with the fuel tank support structure of the vehicle concerning embodiment of this invention from the bottom. It is the top view which looked at the fuel tank support structure of the vehicle concerning the embodiment of the present invention from the bottom. It is the III-III sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is the IV-IV line cross section of FIG.

1 Floor panel (floor)
2 Body Frame 3 Center Tunnel 4 Tunnel Frame 7 3rd Cross Member 8 2nd Cross Member 9 Front Load Dividing Part 11 4th Cross Member 12 5th Cross Member 15 Front Vertical Frame 16 Spare Tire Pan 17 6th Cross Member 18 7th Cross Member 19 Rear vertical frame 30 Fuel tank 30a Tank upper surface

Claims (6)

A fuel tank support structure for a vehicle having a pair of body frames joined to the lower surface of the floor and extending forward and backward on both ends in the vehicle width direction of the floor, and supporting the side portions of the fuel tank disposed below the floor on the body frames Because
A plurality of cross members connecting the pair of body frames in the vehicle width direction are provided between the pair of body frames,
A pair of vertical frames extending rearward so as to sandwich the center tunnel in the center in the vehicle width direction of the floor so as to tie the plurality of cross members back and forth,
The vehicle width direction center side of the fuel tank is supported on at least one of the pair of vertical frames ,
A tunnel frame branched from the body frame in the vehicle width direction and extending rearward along the center tunnel;
A fuel tank support structure for a vehicle, wherein a load dividing portion in which the tunnel frame and the vertical frame are divided in the front-rear direction is provided on the lower surface of the floor . The fuel tank support structure for a vehicle according to claim 1 ,
A fuel tank support structure for a vehicle, wherein a cross member is provided at a front end of the load dividing portion, and a rear end of the tunnel frame is connected to the cross member. The fuel tank support structure for a vehicle according to claim 1 ,
A fuel tank support structure for a vehicle, wherein a cross member positioned below the pillar at the rear end of the front door is provided at the rear end of the load dividing portion. A fuel tank support structure for a vehicle having a pair of body frames joined to the lower surface of the floor and extending forward and backward on both ends in the vehicle width direction of the floor, and supporting the side portions of the fuel tank disposed below the floor on the body frames Because
A plurality of cross members connecting the pair of body frames in the vehicle width direction are provided between the pair of body frames ,
A pair of vertical frames extending rearward so as to sandwich the center tunnel in the center in the vehicle width direction of the floor so as to tie the plurality of cross members back and forth,
The vehicle width direction center side of the fuel tank is supported on at least one of the pair of vertical frames,
A fuel for a vehicle characterized in that cross members are respectively provided above the front side and the rear side of the fuel tank, the vertical frame is divided between the cross members, and the upper surface of the fuel tank is bulged upward. Tank support structure. The fuel tank support structure for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
A vehicle tire characterized in that a spare tire pan is formed to project downward on the rear side of the floor, a cross member is provided in front of the spare tire pan at a predetermined interval, and a rear end of a vertical frame is connected to the cross member. Fuel tank support structure. The fuel tank support structure for a vehicle according to claim 5 ,
A fuel tank support structure for a vehicle, wherein a cross member is provided immediately before the spare tire pan.

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