JPH07277227A - Lower body structure of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To secure sufficient safety to protect occupants in a vehicle interior in a vehicle side collision, while minimizing increases in the vehicle body weight and cost. CONSTITUTION:A side-collision load transfer member 24 in the form of a pipe is provided inside a cross member 20 joined to an interior floor panel 14. In that case, the side collision load transfer member 24 has its vehicle-cross- direction outer end portion connected to the reinforcement 16c of a side sill 16 and has its vehicle-cross-direction inner end portion extended to near a propeller shaft 12 and opposed to the side part of the propeller shaft 12. Thereby the side collision load transfer member 24 is relatively displaced in the inward direction along the vehicle width at the application of a side-collision load to the side sill 16 and is made to abut to the propeller shaft 12. Flexural deformation of the propeller shaft 12 due to the abutting causes impact forces at the time of a vehicle side collision to be dispersed not only to the side sill 16 and its surrounding body members but also to the propeller shaft 12 for an enhanced impact absorbing effect.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lower body structure of a vehicle, and more particularly to a structure for improving safety when a vehicle undergoes a side collision (abbreviated as "side collision" in the present specification). Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Side sills are generally provided as strength members at both ends of a passenger compartment floor of a vehicle such as an automobile so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 64-1179). The side sill load that is input to the lower portion of the vehicle body during a vehicle side collision is received by this side sill, but if the side sill may be deformed inward in the vehicle width direction due to the side sill load input, the occupant in the vehicle interior It becomes impossible to ensure sufficient safety.

On the other hand, as disclosed in the above publication, when the vehicle has a vehicle body structure in which a cross member is joined to the side sill, the vehicle body deformation at the time of a vehicle side collision is somewhat suppressed by this cross member. However, the cross member is originally a strength member for improving the rigidity of the vehicle body, and it cannot be expected that a sufficient effect of suppressing the deformation of the vehicle body at the time of a vehicle side collision can be obtained.

Therefore, conventionally, by increasing the plate thickness of the side sill, the floor panel, the cross member, and the like joined to the side sill, or by making the cross-sectional shape complicated, the rigidity of the vehicle body is increased and the vehicle body deformation is suppressed, whereby the vehicle is The safety of passengers in the vehicle in the event of a side collision was ensured.

[0005]

However, such an increase in the plate thickness and complication of the cross-sectional shape of the side sill and the surrounding vehicle body member lead to an increase in the weight of the vehicle body and an increase in cost and a reduction in the impact force absorbing effect. This is not preferable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to sufficiently secure the safety of passengers in the passenger compartment in the event of a vehicle side collision while suppressing an increase in vehicle body weight and an increase in cost. An object of the present invention is to provide a lower body structure of a vehicle that can be manufactured.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, in a so-called FR vehicle having a propeller shaft extending in the front-rear direction of a vehicle body, it is possible to absorb impact force at the time of a vehicle side collision by flexural deformation of the propeller shaft. By paying attention to this, by adopting a side collision countermeasure structure using this propeller shaft, the above object is achieved.

That is, according to the present invention, as described in claim 1, the side sill extending in the vehicle front-rear direction at the vehicle body side end, and the vehicle body front-rear direction extending inward in the vehicle width direction of the side sill. A lower vehicle body structure in a vehicle including a propeller shaft, wherein an outer end portion in the vehicle width direction is connected to the side sill and an inner end portion in the vehicle width direction extends in the vicinity of the propeller shaft and extends in the vehicle width direction. When a vehicle side collision occurs, the vehicle includes a side collision load transmission member that relatively displaces inward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the vehicle body by a side collision load input to the side sill and transmits the side collision load to the propeller shaft. , Is characterized.

[0009]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a vehicle side collision occurs, the side collision load transmission member is displaced relative to the vehicle body inward in the vehicle width direction due to the side collision load input to the side sill. Since the side impact load is transmitted to the propeller shaft, it is possible to disperse and absorb the impact force at the time of a vehicle side impact not only to the side sill and its surrounding body members but also to the propeller shaft, As a result, the deformation of the vehicle body and the impact force can be suppressed without increasing the plate thickness of the side sill and its surrounding vehicle body members and complicating the sectional shape.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to sufficiently secure the safety of the passenger in the passenger compartment in the event of a side collision of the vehicle while suppressing an increase in the weight of the vehicle body and an increase in the cost.

In the configuration of the present invention described above, of course, when a side impact load is input to the side sill, the side sill itself may receive the side impact load, but as described in claim 2, A side impact load input member for receiving a side impact load may be provided in the closed cross section of the side sill. In such a case,
As described in the same claim, if the side impact load transmitting member is connected to the side sill with respect to the side impact load input member, it is effective in efficiently transmitting the side impact load.

In this case, as described in claim 3, if the impact force absorbing member for absorbing the impact force due to the side impact load is attached to the side impact load input member, the impact force alleviating effect is further enhanced. You can

In the above-mentioned structure of the present invention, when the side impact load is transmitted to the propeller shaft through the side impact load transmission member, the propeller shaft is deformed by the side impact load. As described in 4, when the propeller shaft is provided with a downward urging means for urging the propeller shaft downward so that the propeller shaft is deformed obliquely downward in the vehicle width direction, the propeller shaft enters the vehicle compartment. This is preferable because it can be reliably prevented from pushing up.

As a specific construction of the present invention, as described in claim 5, a propeller shaft supporting member for supporting the propeller shaft on the vehicle body is provided, and the propeller shaft supporting member has a vehicle width of the side impact load transmitting member. The direction inner end may be connected. When such a configuration is adopted, as described in claim 6, the inner end portion in the vehicle width direction of the side impact load transmission member is connected to the portion of the propeller shaft support member located below the propeller shaft. As a result, the lower urging means can be configured.

Alternatively, as a specific configuration of the present invention,
As described in claim 7, an inner end portion of the side impact load transmitting member in the vehicle width direction faces the propeller shaft side portion, and the side impact load transmitting member is disposed in the vehicle width direction of the side impact load transmitting member. It can be configured to be slidably supported by the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction in the vicinity of the end portion. When such a configuration is adopted, as described in claim 8, when the inner end portion of the side collision load transmission member contacts the side portion of the propeller shaft when the inner end portion contacts the propeller shaft side portion. The lower biasing means can be configured by forming an oblique contact surface that presses the shaft obliquely downward in the vehicle width direction.

As a specific configuration of the present invention, as described in claim 9, it has a tunnel portion which is formed in an inverted U-shape to surround the propeller shaft and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the vehicle width direction. The floor panel may have an outer end joined to the side sill, and a cross member joined to the floor panel and forming a closed cross section extending in the vehicle width direction with the floor panel. When such a configuration is adopted, if the side impact load transmitting member is arranged in the cross member as described in the same claim, a new space for disposing the side impact load transmitting member is provided. The need to secure can be eliminated.

Further, as a specific configuration of the present invention, as described in claim 10, the side impact load transmitting member has a V-shaped portion that spreads bifurcated forward and backward toward the vehicle width direction outward, and this V-shaped portion. If a configuration is used in which a pair of front and rear frame members that form a circular portion is provided with a damper member whose both ends are connected, the V-shaped portion is appropriately regulated by the damper member when a side impact load is input. Since it will be opened while it is possible to prevent momentary large side impact load from being transmitted to the propeller shaft, it is possible to elastically bend and deform the propeller shaft without causing bending or the like,
As a result, it is possible to reliably absorb the impact force of the propeller shaft.

In this case, as a specific configuration of the present invention,
As described in claim 11, a floor panel that has a tunnel portion that is formed in an inverted U-shape to surround the propeller shaft and that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction, and that has an outer end portion in the vehicle width direction joined to a side sill. A configuration may be adopted in which a side frame is joined between the side sill and the propeller shaft and which forms a closed cross section extending in the vehicle front-rear direction with the floor panel. However, when such a configuration is adopted According to this aspect, if the damper member is arranged in the side frame, it is possible to eliminate the need to secure a new space for disposing the damper member.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a first embodiment of the lower body structure of a vehicle according to the present invention, and FIG.
-II is a sectional view taken along line II.

As shown in these drawings, the lower vehicle body structure of the vehicle according to this embodiment is FR (front engine rear wheel drive) in which a propeller shaft 12 extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction at the center in the vehicle width direction. A lower vehicle body structure of a passenger car, comprising a floor panel 14 forming a floor surface of a passenger compartment, a pair of side sills 16 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction at both side ends of the vehicle body,
The floor panel 1 is joined to the upper surface of the floor panel 14.
4 and two front and rear cross members 18, 20 forming a closed cross section extending in the vehicle width direction.

At the center portion of the floor panel 14 in the vehicle width direction, a tunnel portion 14a is formed so as to surround the propeller shaft 12 and has an inverted U-shaped cross section and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction. In addition, each side sill 16 forms a closed cross section that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction by an inner panel 16a and an outer panel 16b, and a reinforcement 16c that divides the closed cross section into left and right is provided in the closed cross section. ing. The side sill 16 is provided at the vehicle width direction outer ends of the floor panel 14 and the cross members 18, 20.
Is joined to the inner panel 16a. The inner ends of the cross members 18, 20 in the vehicle width direction are joined to the side surfaces of the tunnel portion 14a of the floor panel 14.
Side frames 22 are joined to the lower surface of the floor panel 14 between the tunnel portion 14a and the side sills 16, respectively, and the side frames 22 together with the floor panel 14 have a closed cross section extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Is formed.

Among the two pairs of front and rear cross members 18, 20, the cross member 18 located on the front left side of the vehicle body and the cross member 20 located on the rear right side of the vehicle body have a pipe-like shape extending in the vehicle width direction within the closed cross section. Side impact load transmission member 24
Are arranged. Each of the side impact load transmission members 24 has an outer end portion in the vehicle width direction connected to the reinforcement 16c of the side sill 16 and an inner end portion in the vehicle width direction extending to the vicinity of the propeller shaft 12 so that the propeller shaft 1 extends.
The side sill 16 faces the side portion of the vehicle 2 at the time of a vehicle side collision.
When a side impact load is input to the vehicle body, the side impact load is relatively displaced inward with respect to the vehicle body and abuts against the side portion of the propeller shaft 12, whereby the side impact load is transmitted to the propeller shaft 12. The side impact load transmission member 24 is connected to the reinforcement 16c by connecting the side impact load transmission member 24 to the reinforcement 16c.
A male screw portion is formed at the outer end portion in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle, while a burring portion is formed on the reinforcement 16c to form a female screw portion on the burring portion, and these two screw portions are screwed together. ing. The side impact load transmission member 24 penetrates the side surface portion of the tunnel portion 14a of the floor panel 14 in the vicinity of the inner end in the vehicle width direction, and slides in the vehicle width direction on the floor panel 14 at the penetration portion. It is movably supported. This side impact load transmission member 24
The floor panel 14 is supported by forming a burring portion on the side surface of the tunnel portion 14a, fitting the guide piece 25 into the burring portion, and inserting the side impact load transmission member 24 into the guide piece 25. Has been done.

At the inner end portion of the side impact load transmission member 24 in the vehicle width direction, the side impact load transmission member 24 is located at the propeller shaft 12.
The propeller shaft facing portion is formed in a vertically bifurcated shape so as to surely abut. An oblique contact surface 24a that presses the propeller shaft 12 obliquely downward in the vehicle width direction when the propeller shaft 12 is in contact with the side portion of the propeller shaft 12 is formed in the recess.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, when a side impact load is input to the side sill 16 due to a side collision of the vehicle, the side sill 16 is deformed by the side impact load and receives the side impact load. When the side impact load reaches the reinforcement 16c of the side sill 16, the side impact load transmitting member 24, whose outer end in the vehicle width direction is connected to the reinforcement 16c, moves inward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the vehicle body. Due to relative displacement, the vehicle width direction inner end of the side impact load transmission member 24 abuts on the propeller shaft 12. This contact is made by the oblique contact surface 2 formed at the vehicle width direction inner end of the side impact load transmission member 24.
4a, the propeller shaft 12 is pressed diagonally downward in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the propeller shaft 12 is bent and deformed obliquely downward in the vehicle width direction.

As described above, in this embodiment, the impact force due to the side impact load is applied to the side sill 16 and the floor panel 1.
4. The deformation can be absorbed not only by the deformation of the cross member 20 but also by the bending deformation of the propeller shaft 12.
In addition, since the direction of flexural deformation at that time is diagonally downward in the vehicle width direction, the propeller shaft 12 is attached to the tunnel portion 14a.
Can be flexibly deformed without interfering with the lower end of the side surface portion on the opposite side, whereby the impact force absorbing action of the propeller shaft 12 can be sufficiently exerted. Further, by pressing the propeller shaft 12 obliquely downward in the vehicle width direction in this manner, it is possible to prevent the worst situation in which the propeller shaft 12 breaks through the floor panel 14 and enters the vehicle interior.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to sufficiently increase the vehicle body weight and the cost, and to sufficiently secure the safety of the passenger in the passenger compartment during the vehicle side collision.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an essential part of the lower body structure of a vehicle according to this embodiment as seen from the front of the vehicle body.
FIG. 5 is a view (bottom view) taken in the direction of the arrow IV, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the members constituting the lower vehicle body structure in an exploded manner.

As shown in these drawings, the lower body structure of the vehicle according to this embodiment has the same basic construction as that of the first embodiment, but the propeller shaft 12, the side impact load transmitting member 24 and the surrounding vehicle body The structure of the members is different.

The propeller shaft 12 of the present embodiment includes a front propeller shaft 12a and a rear propeller shaft 12a.
The propeller shaft is a split type propeller shaft that is connected to and is supported by the floor panel 14 via a center support bearing 26 in the vicinity of the front end portion of the rear propeller shaft 12b. That is, the center support bearing 26 is provided with a pair of arm portions 26a, 26b that are offset in the front-rear direction and extend obliquely downward in the left-right direction, and are provided on the lower surface of the floor panel 14 in the vicinity of the tunnel portion 14a. The arm portions 26a and 26b are bolted to the bracket 28 which is bolted to support the floor panel 14. At that time, the bolt insertion hole 28a for connecting the bracket 28 to the floor panel 14 is
It is a long hole extending in the vehicle width direction, which allows the bracket 28 to be displaced relative to the floor panel 14 inward in the vehicle width direction.

The side impact load transmitting member 24 of this embodiment includes the above-mentioned bracket 28, a V-shaped portion extending in the front-rear bifurcation toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, and a pair of front-rear portions constituting this V-shaped portion. A damper member (hydraulic damper) 32 having front and rear ends connected to the frame members 30a and 30b is provided.

Each frame member 30 of the damper member 32
The connection position to a and 30b is set to such a position that the damper member 32 is arranged inside the side frame 22.

The inner ends of the frame members 30a and 30b in the vehicle width direction are bolted to the arm portions 26a or 26b of the center support bearing 26 via the bracket 28 as described above. In addition, the outer ends of the frame members 30a and 30b in the vehicle width direction have side sills 1.
6 outer panel 16b and reinforcement 16c
Front and rear of the frame member 34 arranged in a closed cross section between
It is bolted to the place.

The frame member 34 is a side sill 16
Is a member that receives the side impact load when the side impact load is input to the frame member 34.
When the side impact load is transmitted to a and 30b, these frame members 30a and 30b tend to open back and forth. The bolt insertion holes 34a for connecting bolts of the frame member 34 to the frame members 30a and 30b are provided in the frame members 30a and 30b.
It is an elongated hole extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body so that 30b can be opened back and forth. On the other hand, sudden opening of the frame members 30a and 30b back and forth is restricted by the damper action of the damper member 32 connected thereto.
In addition, the frame member 34 and the reinforcement 16c
In the space between and, a urethane member 36 is arranged as an impact force absorbing member that absorbs the impact force due to the side impact load.
The urethane member 36 is fastened together and attached to the frame member 34 when the bolts are connected.

Insertion holes 16ca, 16aa, 22a for inserting the frame members 30a, 30b are formed in the reinforcement 16c of the side sill 16, the inner panel 16a, and the side frame 22, respectively. Each of these insertion holes includes a frame member 30a,
The width of the frame members 30a and 30b is sufficiently wide so as not to interfere with the front and rear sides of the frame members 30a and 30b when the front and rear sides are opened.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, when a side impact load is input to the side sill 16 due to a side impact of the vehicle, the side sill 16 is deformed by the side impact load and receives the side impact load. When a side impact load reaches the frame member 34 arranged in the closed cross section of the side sill 16, the center support bearing is passed through the side impact load transmission member 24 having the outer end in the vehicle width direction connected to the frame member 34. Since a side impact load is transmitted to the floor panel 26,
In contrast, the vehicle is displaced inward in the vehicle width direction. As a result, a bending load is input to the propeller shaft 12 supported by the center support bearing 26, and the propeller shaft 12 is flexibly deformed. At that time, since the connecting portion of the center support bearing 26 of the bracket 28 is set to a portion located below the propeller shaft 12,
A bending load is input to the propeller shaft 12 obliquely downward in the vehicle width direction, whereby the propeller shaft 12 is bent and deformed obliquely downward in the vehicle width direction.

Therefore, also in this embodiment, the impact force due to the side impact load is applied to the side sill 1 as in the first embodiment.
6. The deformation can be absorbed not only by the deformation of the floor panel 14 and the like but also by the bending deformation of the propeller shaft 12.
In addition, since the direction of flexural deformation at that time is diagonally downward in the vehicle width direction, the propeller shaft 12 is attached to the tunnel portion 14a.
The lower end of the side surface on the opposite side can be flexibly deformed without interfering with the lower end of the side surface, whereby the impact force absorption by the propeller shaft 12 can be sufficiently exerted. Also,
By pressing the propeller shaft 12 obliquely downward in the vehicle width direction in this manner, it is possible to prevent the worst situation in which the propeller shaft 12 breaks through the floor panel 14 and enters the vehicle interior.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the frame member 34 that receives the side impact load input to the side sill 16 is provided within the closed cross section of the side sill 16, and the urethane member 36 is attached to this frame member 34. Therefore, the impact force absorption effect at the time of a vehicle side collision can be enhanced.

Further, in the side impact load transmitting member 24 in the present embodiment, the side impact load input to the side sill 16 causes the pair of front and rear frame members 30a and 30b to be opened back and forth, and the damper member 32 causes them to rapidly open. Since the opening to the front is regulated, it is possible to prevent the large impact force due to the side impact load from being directly transmitted to the propeller shaft 12, and thereby to further enhance the impact force absorption effect. it can.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to sufficiently increase the vehicle body weight and the cost, and to sufficiently secure the safety of the passenger in the passenger compartment in the event of a vehicle side collision.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a first embodiment of a lower body structure of a vehicle according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a main part of a second embodiment of a lower vehicle body structure for a vehicle according to the present invention as seen from the front of the vehicle body.

FIG. 4 is a view on arrow IV in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Propeller shaft 14 Floor panel 14a Tunnel part 16 Side sill 16a Inner panel 16b Outer panel 16c Reinforcement 18, 20 Cross member 22 Side frame 24 Side impact load transmission member 24a Oblique contact surface 25 Guide piece 26 Center support bearing 26a, 26b Arm Part 28 Brackets 30a, 30b Frame member 32 Damper member 34 Frame member 36 Urethane member

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A lower vehicle body structure for a vehicle, comprising a side sill extending in a vehicle front-rear direction at an end portion on a vehicle body side, and a propeller shaft extending in a vehicle front-rear direction inward of the side sill in a vehicle width direction. There, the vehicle width direction outer end is connected to the side sill and the vehicle width direction inner end is extended in the vehicle width direction so as to extend to the vicinity of the propeller shaft. A lower vehicle body structure for a vehicle, comprising: a side impact load transmission member that is relatively displaced inward in a vehicle width direction by a side impact load input and transmits the side impact load to the propeller shaft. 2. A side impact load input member for receiving the side impact load is provided within a closed cross section of the side sill, and the side impact load transmitting member is connected to the side sill at the side impact load input member. The lower body structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the lower body structure is performed for the vehicle body. 3. The lower vehicle body structure for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein an impact force absorbing member for absorbing an impact force due to the side impact load is attached to the side impact load input member. 4. When the propeller shaft is deformed by the side impact load transmitted via the side impact load transmitting member,
The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a downward urging means for urging the propeller shaft downward so that the propeller shaft is deformed obliquely downward in the vehicle width direction. Lower body structure. 5. A propeller shaft support member for supporting the propeller shaft on a vehicle body is provided, and a vehicle width direction inner end portion of the side impact load transmission member is connected to the propeller shaft support member. The lower body structure for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. A propeller shaft support member for supporting the propeller shaft on a vehicle body, wherein a vehicle width direction inner end portion of the side impact load transmission member is connected to the propeller shaft support member, and The biasing means is configured by connecting an inner end portion in the vehicle width direction of the side impact load transmission member to a portion of the propeller shaft support member located below the propeller shaft. Item 4. The lower body structure of the vehicle according to Item 4. 7. An inner end portion of the side impact load transmitting member in the vehicle width direction faces a side portion of the propeller shaft, and the side impact load transmitting member is an inner end portion of the side impact load transmitting member in the vehicle width direction. The lower vehicle body structure of the vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vehicle body is slidably supported in the vehicle width direction at a portion near the portion. 8. An inner end portion of the side impact load transmitting member in the vehicle width direction faces the propeller shaft side portion, and the side impact load transmitting member forms an inner end portion of the side impact load transmitting member in the vehicle width direction. Is supported slidably in the vehicle width direction on the vehicle body in the vicinity of the portion, and the lower urging means has the inner end portion at the vehicle width direction inner end portion of the side impact load transmission member and the inner end portion is the propeller shaft side portion. Is formed by forming an oblique contact surface that presses the propeller shaft obliquely downward in the vehicle width direction when contacting the
The lower body structure for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein 9. A floor panel, which has a tunnel portion formed in an inverted U-shape to surround the propeller shaft and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction, and an outer end portion in the vehicle width direction joined to the side sill, and the floor. A cross member joined to the panel and forming a closed cross section extending in the vehicle width direction together with the floor panel, wherein the side impact load transmission member is arranged in the cross member. A lower body structure for a vehicle according to claim 1. 10. The side impact load transmission member has a V-shaped portion that spreads bifurcated forward and backward toward the vehicle width direction outward, and both ends are connected to a pair of front and rear frame members forming the V-shaped portion. The lower body structure for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: 11. A floor panel having a tunnel portion formed in an inverted U-shape to surround the propeller shaft and extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, and an outer end portion in the vehicle width direction joined to the side sill, and the side sill. A side frame that is joined to the floor panel between the propeller shaft and the propeller shaft and forms a closed cross section that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction with the floor panel, and the damper member is arranged in the side frame. The lower body structure for a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein: