JP7696384B2 - vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle in which a cross member is disposed between side members.

Conventionally, vehicles such as electric vehicles equipped with electronic devices such as a power control unit (PCU) are known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the vehicle described in Patent Document 1 above, a cross member is bridged between a pair of side members arranged on both sides in the vehicle width direction.

JP 2021-104759 A

The vehicle described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 has a structure in which a straight cross member runs in the vehicle width direction between the side members on both sides in the vehicle width direction. However, when mounting a component such as a drive battery (hereinafter also referred to simply as mounted components) on the lower side of the cross member between the two side members, the straight portion of the cross member interferes with the mounted components in the height direction, making it difficult to secure the mounting space. Therefore, in order to secure the mounting space for the mounted components, it was necessary to bend the straight portion of the cross member that connects to the side members upward.

However, when the cross member is bent as described above, in order to ensure the formability and assembly of the cross member, there is a problem that gaps will occur at the connection between the side member and the cross member. This raises concerns that the mounting space for the mounted parts will be reduced. Furthermore, if such gaps occur, when the vehicle is hit from the side (hereinafter also referred to simply as a side impact), the side member and cross member will move by the amount of the gap, and there is a concern that the side member and cross member will come into contact with the mounted parts and cause damage to the mounted parts.

The present invention aims to provide a vehicle that can secure space for mounting components such as a drive battery, while also improving the ease of assembly of the cross member.

(1) The vehicle of the present invention, which is provided to solve the above-mentioned problems, is a vehicle that travels by transmitting rotational power from a drive unit to drive wheels, and has a pair of side members extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and arranged at a predetermined interval in the vehicle width direction, at least one cross member arranged in a direction intersecting the side members, and a connecting member provided on both sides of the cross member in the vehicle width direction and connecting the side members and the cross member to each other, the connecting member having a first connecting portion for connecting to the cross member and a second connecting portion for connecting to the side member, and the first connecting portion being located higher on the vehicle than the second connecting portion.

In the above-mentioned vehicle, the side members and the cross members are connected to each other by the connecting member, so that the cross member can be attached to the connecting member after the connecting member is attached to the side member. In other words, the above-mentioned vehicle can be equipped with the cross member later. Therefore, the above-mentioned vehicle can be easily assembled. Here, it is preferable that the connecting member is detachable from the side members and the cross member. Also, in the above-mentioned vehicle, the connecting member has a first connecting portion for connecting to the cross member and a second connecting portion for connecting to the side member, and the first connecting portion is located higher on the vehicle than the second connecting portion. Therefore, according to the above-mentioned vehicle, a space is formed between the pair of side members and below the cross member. Therefore, according to the above-mentioned vehicle, a space can be secured below the cross member for mounting a drive battery, electronic devices, etc.

(2) The vehicle of the present invention described above may be characterized in that the first connection portion is configured to be in close contact with the cross member, and the second connection portion is configured to be in close contact with the side member.

The above-mentioned vehicle can connect the cross member and the side member without leaving a gap between them. That is, the cross member and the side member are connected so as to cross linearly. Therefore, in the above-mentioned vehicle, when the vehicle is hit from the side (hereinafter also simply referred to as a side impact), the cross member acts as a brace against the side member. This makes it possible for the above-mentioned vehicle to suppress deformation of the side member inward in the vehicle width direction during a side impact. In addition, since no gap is required between the cross member and the side member, it is possible to secure installation space for, for example, a drive battery, electronic devices, etc., between the side members arranged on both sides in the vehicle width direction.

(3) The vehicle of the present invention described above may be characterized in that the connecting member has a covering portion that covers at least the upper surface side of the cross member along the cross-sectional shape when the cross member is viewed in a cross-sectional view from the vehicle width direction.

The above-mentioned vehicle can match the cross-sectional shape of the connecting member with the cross-sectional shape of the cross member by adopting such a configuration. This allows the above-mentioned vehicle to connect the cross member and the connecting member while maintaining the bending strength of the cross member. In other words, the above-mentioned vehicle can distribute the load received during a side collision along the cross member via the connecting member, thereby maintaining the bending strength of the cross member. Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle, at least the upper surface side of the cross member is covered by the covering portion, so that, for example, the portion to which the load is applied during a side collision is reinforced by the covering portion. Therefore, the above-mentioned vehicle can further suppress deformation of the cross member and side members.

(4) The vehicle of the present invention described above may be characterized in that the cross member has a rectangular cross section when viewed from the vehicle width direction, and the covering portion is formed to cover at least the upper surface and both side surfaces of the cross member in accordance with the shape of the cross section.

The above-mentioned vehicle has such a configuration, which improves the bending strength of the cross member in the vertical direction and the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. This allows the above-mentioned vehicle to suppress deformation of the cross member in the event of a collision from the longitudinal direction of the vehicle or a side collision. In addition, the above-mentioned vehicle can suppress deformation of the side members in the inward direction of the vehicle width in the event of a side collision, which can suppress damage to, for example, the drive battery and electronic devices arranged between the side members.

(5) In the vehicle of the present invention described above, the covering portion may be formed to protrude in the vertical direction, and the inner surface side may be formed into a shape that fits along the upper surface side of the cross member.

By configuring the vehicle as described above, a covering portion can be provided along the upper surface side of the cross member. This allows the vehicle described above to distribute the load acting on the covering portion during a side collision along the cross member, further suppressing deformation of the cross member during a side collision.

(6) The vehicle of the present invention described above may be characterized in that the second connection portion has a first protruding portion that protrudes on the opposite side from the side member.

In the above-mentioned vehicle, the second connection portion has a first raised portion, so the bending strength of the second connection portion can be increased. This allows the above-mentioned vehicle to reliably support the side member. Therefore, the above-mentioned vehicle can suppress deformation of the side member inward in the vehicle width direction during a side collision.

(7) The vehicle of the present invention described above may be characterized in that the second connection portion is formed to extend downward from the first connection portion along the side surface of the side member.

The above-mentioned vehicle can be configured in such a way that the side surfaces at both ends of the cross member are close to the inner side surfaces of the side members in the vehicle width direction. This allows the above-mentioned vehicle to be braced by the cross member in the event of a side collision, thereby preventing the side members from deforming inward in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the above-mentioned vehicle can reduce the gap between the cross member and the side members, so it is possible to ensure, for example, space for mounting a drive battery, electronic devices, etc., that are placed between the pair of side members.

(8) The vehicle of the present invention described above may be characterized in that the cross member is arranged in a direction intersecting with the side member so that a cross section of the cross member when viewed in a vehicle width direction faces a side surface of the side member directly or indirectly via the connecting member.

The above-mentioned vehicle is configured in such a way that the cross member can reliably function as a brace for the side members during a side collision. This allows the above-mentioned vehicle to prevent the side members from deforming inward in the vehicle width direction during a side collision.

(9) The vehicle of the present invention described above may be characterized in that the connection member is divided into the first connection portion and the second connection portion, the first connection portion has a pair of first connection portion side flanges that protrude on both sides along the width direction when the cross member is viewed in cross section from the vehicle width direction, the second connection portion has a bottom surface covering portion formed along the bottom surface of the cross member and a second connection portion side flange that is continuous with the bottom surface covering portion and formed along the first connection portion side flange, and the first connection portion and the second connection portion are integrated by joining the first connection portion side flange and the second connection portion side flange.

The above-mentioned vehicle can be configured in such a way that the first connection portion and the second connection portion can be formed separately. This can improve the ease of assembly of the cross member to the side member. In addition, in the above-mentioned vehicle, the second connection portion has a bottom surface covering portion that covers the bottom surface of the cross member, and this bottom surface covering portion can increase the bending strength of the cross member. Furthermore, by joining the first connection portion side flange and the second connection portion side flange, the first connection portion and the second connection portion are integrated, so that the strength as a connection member can also be maintained.

(10) The vehicle of the present invention described above may be characterized in that the bottom covering portion has a second raised portion that protrudes on the opposite side to the bottom surface of the cross member.

The above-mentioned vehicle has a second raised portion, which increases the bending strength of the bottom covering portion. This increases the bending strength of the cross member, which can prevent the side members from deforming inward in the vehicle width direction during a side collision. Therefore, the above-mentioned vehicle can prevent damage to components such as the drive battery and various electronic devices that are arranged between the side members.

The present invention provides a vehicle that can secure space for mounting components such as a drive battery and can improve the assembly of the cross member.

1 is a plan view diagrammatically showing a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a partially omitted perspective view of a side member and a cross member constituting a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front side of the vehicle. FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a main part of FIG. 1 . 1 is a perspective view of a rear cross member constituting a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention, seen from the front side of the vehicle, with the front cross member omitted; FIG. FIG. 6 is a partially omitted side view of FIG. 5 as seen from the left side in the vehicle width direction. 1 is a perspective view of a front cross member constituting a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention, seen from the front side of the vehicle, with electronic devices and a rear cross member omitted. FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a cross member and a side member constituting a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front side of the vehicle. 1A is an oblique view of a rear cross member and a connecting member that constitute a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is an oblique view of a front cross member and a connecting member that constitute a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The vehicle 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. These drawings are schematic diagrams and are not necessarily drawn to scale. In addition, in the drawings, similar components are indicated by similar reference numerals. In this embodiment, the vehicle 1 will be described as an electric vehicle, for example.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 runs by transmitting rotational power generated by electricity to the drive wheels 2, 2. In this embodiment, the vehicle 1 is equipped with a motor 3 (also referred to as a drive unit 3) as a drive source for running, and runs by transmitting rotational power generated by supplying electricity to the motor 3 to the drive wheels 2, 2. Here, the vehicle 1 may be, for example, a cab-over type electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.

The vehicle 1 is provided with a pair of side members 5L, 5R at the bottom of the vehicle body 4. The side members 5L, 5R are configured symmetrically and are provided to extend in the front-rear direction with a gap between them in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction). The side members 5L, 5R are arranged approximately parallel to each other on both sides in the longitudinal direction, but are bent in the middle so that they approach each other toward the front of the vehicle. The side members 5L, 5R are formed from materials such as metals such as iron and fiber-reinforced resins such as CFRP.

The area formed between the side members 5L, 5R can be roughly divided into three areas: a rear area 10, a middle area 11, and a front area 12. The rear area 10 is an area formed in a portion of the rear side of the vehicle 1 where the side members 5L, 5R are arranged substantially parallel with a predetermined distance between them. The rear area 10 is a substantially rectangular area.

The driving battery 6 is arranged from the rear region 10 to the intermediate region 11. The driving battery 6 is a single-stage battery cell 6a arranged in a single vertical row in a horizontal direction (in the present embodiment, the vehicle width direction and the vehicle front-rear direction). The driving battery 6 is arranged from the rear region 10, which is formed between the side members 5L and 5R at the rear of the vehicle, to the front end side of the intermediate region 11. Therefore, the driving battery 6 is also of a height (thickness) sufficient to accommodate the battery cells 6a, and has an external shape that is approximately rectangular. Therefore, the driving battery 6 mounted on the vehicle 1 is a battery cell 6a arranged with almost no dead space inside, and is thin yet high-capacity. In addition, the motor 3, transaxle (not shown), etc. are mounted in the rear region 10. Details of the motor 3 and transaxle are omitted.

The intermediate region 11 is a region formed between the side members 5L and 5R at the intermediate portion of the side members 5L and 5R. The intermediate region 11 is formed in a portion where the side members 5L and 5R are inclined so that the distance therebetween becomes narrower toward the front side than in the rear region 10. Therefore, the intermediate region 11 is a substantially trapezoidal region, unlike the rear region 10. The electronic device 40 described later is mounted in the intermediate region 11. The intermediate region 11 is also provided with a front cross member 20F located on the front side of the vehicle, and a rear cross member 20R located on the rear side of the vehicle with a predetermined distance from the front cross member 20F. The front cross member 20F may also be simply referred to as the cross member 20F, and the rear cross member 20R may also be simply referred to as the cross member 20R. When there is no particular need to distinguish between them, the front cross member 20F and the rear cross member 20R may both be referred to as the cross member 20. The driving battery 6 is disposed below the cross members 20F and 20R.

The front region 12 is a region formed in a portion of the vehicle 1 further forward than the intermediate region 11, where the side members 5R, 5L are arranged substantially parallel to one another. The front region 12 is substantially rectangular in shape, like the rear region 10, but because the distance between the side members 5L, 5R is narrower than in the rear region 10, the front region 12 is smaller in the vehicle width direction than the rear region 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cross members 20F, 20R are each formed as a hollow rectangular column. In other words, the cross members 20F, 20R have a rectangular cross section when viewed from the vehicle width direction, and are hollow inside. The cross members 20F, 20R are formed from materials such as metals such as iron and fiber-reinforced resins such as CFRP. The cross members 20F, 20R are formed to extend in the vehicle width direction, and are bridged in a direction intersecting with the side members 5L, 5R. In addition, support frames 21, 21 (see FIG. 3) are provided between the cross members 20F and 20R.

Connecting members 30 (also referred to as brackets 30) are provided on both sides of the cross members 20F, 20R in the vehicle width direction. The brackets 30 connect the side members 5L, 5R and the cross members 20F, 20R to each other. In other words, the cross members 20F, 20R are attached to the side members 5L, 5R via the brackets 30. The brackets 30 are also formed so as to be detachable from the cross members 20F, 20R and the side members 5L, 5R.

8(a) and 8(b), the bracket 30 has first connection parts 31F, 31R for connecting to the cross members 20F, 20R, respectively, and second connection parts 35F, 35R bent relative to the first connection parts 31F, 31R. The bracket 30 is formed, for example, from a metal such as iron or a fiber-reinforced resin such as CFRP. In this embodiment, the first connection parts 31F, 31R are formed separately from the second connection parts 35F, 35R. For convenience of explanation, when there is no need to distinguish between the first connection part 31F attached to the front cross member 20F and the first connection part 31R attached to the rear cross member 20R, the first connection parts 31F, 31R will each be described as the first connection part 31. When there is no need to distinguish between the second connection parts 35F, 35R, each will be described as the second connection part 35.

The first connection portion 31 is provided on both sides of the cross member 20 in the vehicle width direction. The first connection portion 31 has a first connection portion side flange 32 that protrudes on both sides along the width direction (vehicle front-rear direction) when the cross members 20F, 20R are viewed in cross section from the vehicle width direction. The first connection portion 31 and the second connection portion 35 are integrated by joining the first connection portion side flange 32 and the second connection portion side flange 36 described below. In addition, the first connection portion 31 is located higher on the vehicle 1 than the second connection portion 35.

The first connection portion 31 (bracket 30) has a covering portion 33 that covers at least the upper surface side of the cross member 20 on both sides of the cross member 20 in the vehicle width direction.

In this embodiment, the covering portion 33 is formed to cover at least the upper surface and both side surfaces of the cross member 20, following the cross-sectional shape when the cross member 20 is viewed in a cross-sectional view from the vehicle width direction. The covering portion 33 is formed to fit along the upper surface side of the cross member 20. In other words, the covering portion 33 is formed to protrude in the vertical direction, and the inner surface side is formed into a shape that fits along the upper surface side of the cross member 20. That is, the covering portion 33 is configured to be in close contact with the cross member 20. The covering portion 33 is also intended to function as a reinforcing member.

The first connection portion 31 can be fixed to both ends of the cross member 20 by fastening the first connection portion side flange 32 to the cross member 20 with a bolt or the like while covering both ends of the cross member 20 with the covering portion 33. In this embodiment, the first connection portion side flange 32 is fastened to the cross member 20 via the second connection portion side flange 36.

In this embodiment, one of the support parts 55 for supporting electronic devices 40 and the like is erected on the covering part 33 that covers one end side (left side) of the rear cross member 20R. The support part 55 is attached to the covering part 33 by welding or the like. The other support part 55 is erected on the cross member 20R. Holding parts 50 (see Figures 2 to 4) are provided on both support parts 55, 55. For example, an electronic control unit (also called an Electronic Control Unit: ECU, not shown) can be mounted on the upper and lower surfaces of the holding part 50.

As shown in Figures 6 and 8(b), the second connection portion 35 has a bottom surface covering portion 38 formed along the bottom surface of the cross member 20, and a second connection portion side flange 36 connected to the bottom surface covering portion 38 and formed along the first connection portion side flange 32.

The second connection portion 35F, which is connected (attached) to the front cross member 20F, is formed to extend downward from the bottom cover portion 38. In other words, the second connection portion 35F is formed by bending the bottom cover portion 38 downward. The lower end portion of the second connection portion 35F is bent in an L-shape. The side members 5L, 5R can be placed on the horizontal surface of the lower end portion of the second connection portion 35F. The second connection portions 35F, 35F on both sides can be fixed to the side members 5L, 5R by fastening bolts or the like from below the horizontal surface with the side members 5L, 5R (see FIG. 2) placed on the horizontal surfaces on both sides. As a result, the side members 5L, 5R are supported by the brackets 30, 30. The second connection portions 35F are in close contact with the side members 5L, 5R.

As shown in Figures 4, 5, and 8(a), the second connection portion 35R connected (attached) to the rear cross member 20R is formed to extend downward along the side surface of the side members 5L, 5R. In other words, the second connection portion 35R is formed by bending the bottom cover portion 38 downward. The second connection portion 35R can be in close contact with the side surface of the side members 5L, 5R. The second connection portions 35R, 35R on both sides are fixed to the side members 5L, 5R by fastening bolts or the like from the side surface while in close contact with the side surface of the side members 5L, 5R. As a result, the side members 5L, 5R are supported by the brackets 30, 30.

In addition, in this embodiment, the second connection portion 35R has a first raised portion 37 that protrudes to the opposite side of the side members 5L, 5R. In this way, since the second connection portion 35R of the vehicle 1 described above has the first raised portion 37, the bending strength of the second connection portion 35R can be increased. This allows the vehicle 1 described above to reliably support the side members 5L, 5R. Therefore, the vehicle 1 described above can suppress deformation of the side members 5L, 5R inward in the vehicle width direction when a collision from the side (hereinafter also referred to as a side impact) occurs. In addition, the vehicle 1 described above can suppress damage to components such as the driving battery 6 and electronic devices 40 arranged between the side members 5L, 5R, for example.

In addition, in this embodiment, the bottom covering portion 38 of the second connection portion 35R has a second raised portion 39 that protrudes on the opposite side to the bottom surface of the cross member 20R. Therefore, the above-mentioned vehicle 1 can increase the bending strength of the bottom covering portion 38. As a result, the above-mentioned vehicle 1 can increase the bending strength of the cross member 20R, and therefore can suppress deformation of the side members 5L, 5R inward in the vehicle width direction during a side collision. Therefore, the above-mentioned vehicle 1 can suppress damage to parts such as the driving battery 6 and electronic devices 40 arranged between the side members 5L, 5R.

The second connection portion 35 is disposed in a direction in which the cross member 20 intersects with the side members 5L, 5R so that the cross section of the cross member 20 viewed in the vehicle width direction indirectly faces the side surfaces of the side members 5L, 5R via the bracket 30 (see Figures 2 and 7). In other words, the cross sections of the cross member 20 at both ends are disposed so as to face the inner surfaces of the side members 5L, 5R.

Therefore, the vehicle 1 described above can reliably cause the cross member 20 to function as a brace for the side members 5L, 5R during a side collision. This allows the vehicle 1 described above to suppress deformation of the side members 5L, 5R inward in the vehicle width direction during a side collision.

As shown in FIG. 3, the support frames 21, 21 are bridged in a direction intersecting the cross members 20F and 20R (the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1) and integrally support the cross members 20F and 20R. Electronic equipment 40 is mounted on the support frames 21, 21 and the cross member 20R.

In this embodiment, for example, an Electricity Supply Unit 40 (also referred to as ESU 40) is installed as the electronic device 40. The ESU 40 is responsible for the charging function and power conversion function of the vehicle 1. Instead of the ESU 40 or together with the ESU 40, various types of electronic device 40, such as an electronic control unit (ECU) or a power control unit (PCU), can be used.

The above is the configuration of vehicle 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Next, we will explain the effects of vehicle 1 according to the present invention.

In the above-described vehicle 1, the side members 5L, 5R and the cross member 20 are connected to each other by the connecting member 30 (bracket 30), so that the cross member 20 can be attached to the connecting member 30 after the connecting member 30 is attached to the side members 5L, 5R. Specifically, the cross member 20 is attached to the vehicle 1, for example, by attaching the cross member 20 on which the electronic device 40 is mounted to the connecting member 30 from the lower side of the side members 5L, 5R (vehicle body 4). In other words, the cross member 20 can be mounted later on the above-described vehicle 1. Therefore, the above-described vehicle 1 can be easily assembled.

Here, the connecting member 30 may be detachable from the side members 5L, 5R and the cross member 20. In addition, in the vehicle 1 described above, the connecting member 30 has a first connection portion 31 for connecting to the cross member 20 and a second connection portion 35 for connecting to the side members 5L, 5R, and the first connection portion 31 is located above the second connection portion 35 in the vehicle 1. Therefore, in the vehicle 1 described above, a space is formed between the pair of side members 5L, 5R and below the cross member 20. Therefore, in the vehicle 1 described above, space can be secured below the cross member 20 for mounting the driving battery 6, electronic devices 40, etc.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle 1, the first connection portion 31 is configured to be in close contact with the cross member 20, and the second connection portion 35 is configured to be in close contact with the side members 5L, 5R.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the above-mentioned vehicle 1 can connect the cross member 20 and the side members 5L, 5R without providing a gap between the cross member 20 and the side members 5L, 5R. That is, the cross member 20 and the side members 5L, 5R are connected so as to cross linearly. Therefore, in the above-mentioned vehicle 1, when the vehicle 1 is subjected to a side collision, the cross member 20 acts as a brace against the side members 5L, 5R. As a result, the above-mentioned vehicle 1 can suppress deformation of the side members 5L, 5R inward in the vehicle width direction during a side collision. In addition, since no gap is required between the cross member 20 and the side members 5L, 5R, it is possible to secure installation space between the side members 5L, 5R, for example, for the driving battery 6 and electronic devices 40.

In addition, in the above-mentioned vehicle 1, the connecting member 30 has a covering portion 33 that covers at least the upper surface side of the cross member 20 along the cross-sectional shape when the cross member 20 is viewed in a cross-sectional view from the vehicle width direction.

Therefore, the above-mentioned vehicle 1 can match the cross-sectional shape of the connecting member 30 with the cross-sectional shape of the cross member 20. As a result, the above-mentioned vehicle 1 can connect the cross member 20 and the connecting member 30 while maintaining the bending strength of the cross member 20. In other words, the above-mentioned vehicle 1 can distribute the load received during a side collision along the cross member 20 via the connecting member 30, so the bending strength of the cross member 20 can be maintained. In addition, since at least the upper surface side of the cross member 20 is covered by the covering portion 33 in the above-mentioned vehicle 1, for example, the portion to which the load is applied during a side collision is reinforced by the covering portion 33. Therefore, the above-mentioned vehicle 1 can further suppress deformation of the cross member 20 and the side members 5L, 5R.

In addition, in the above-mentioned vehicle 1, the cross member 20 has a rectangular cross section when viewed from the vehicle width direction, and the covering portion 33 is formed to cover at least the upper surface and both side surfaces of the cross member 20 in accordance with the shape of the cross section.

As a result, the vehicle 1 described above has improved bending strength of the cross member 20 in the vertical direction and the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. This allows the vehicle 1 described above to suppress deformation of the cross member 20 in the event of a collision from the longitudinal direction of the vehicle or a side collision. In addition, the vehicle 1 described above can suppress deformation of the side members 5L, 5R inward in the vehicle width direction in the event of a side collision, thereby suppressing damage to, for example, the driving battery 6 and electronic devices 40 arranged between the side members 5L, 5R.

In addition, in the vehicle 1 described above, the covering portion 33 is formed to protrude in the vertical direction, and the inner side is formed in a shape that fits along the upper surface side of the cross member 20. Therefore, the vehicle 1 described above can provide the covering portion 33 along the upper surface side of the cross member 20. As a result, the vehicle 1 described above can distribute the load acting on the covering portion 33 during a side collision along the cross member 20, thereby further suppressing deformation of the cross member 20 during a side collision.

In addition, in the above-mentioned vehicle 1, the second connection portion 35 is formed so as to extend downward from the first connection portion 31 along the side surface of the side members 5L, 5R. Therefore, in the above-mentioned vehicle 1, the side surfaces at both ends of the cross member 20 and the vehicle width direction inner side surfaces of the side members 5L, 5R can be brought into close proximity. As a result, the above-mentioned vehicle 1 can be braced by the cross member 20 during a side collision, so that the deformation of the side members 5L, 5R toward the inside in the vehicle width direction can be suppressed. In addition, in the above-mentioned vehicle 1, the gap between the cross member 20 and the side members 5L, 5R can be reduced, so that, for example, the mounting space for the driving battery 6 and electronic devices 40 arranged between the pair of side members 5L, 5R can be secured. Here, the second connection portion 35 may be formed, for example, in an L-shape, like the second connection portion 35F in the above-mentioned embodiment. As a result, the above-mentioned vehicle 1 can reliably support the side members 5L, 5R.

In addition, in the above-mentioned vehicle 1, the connection member 30 is divided into a first connection portion 31 and a second connection portion 35, and the first connection portion 31 has a pair of first connection portion side flanges 32 that protrude on both sides along the width direction when the cross member 20 is viewed in cross section from the vehicle width direction. In addition, the second connection portion 35 has a bottom surface covering portion 38 formed along the bottom surface of the cross member 20, and a second connection portion side flange 36 that is connected to the bottom surface covering portion 38 and formed along the first connection portion side flange 32, and the first connection portion 31 and the second connection portion 35 are integrated by joining the first connection portion side flange 32 and the second connection portion side flange 36.

In this way, the above-mentioned vehicle 1 can have the first connection portion 31 and the second connection portion 35 formed separately. This improves the ease of assembly of the cross member 20 to the side members 5L, 5R. In addition, in the above-mentioned vehicle 1, the second connection portion 35 has a bottom surface covering portion 38 that covers the bottom surface of the cross member 20, and this bottom surface covering portion 38 can increase the bending strength of the cross member 20. Furthermore, by joining the first connection portion side flange 32 and the second connection portion side flange 36, the first connection portion 31 and the second connection portion 35 are integrated, so the strength of the connection member 30 can also be maintained.

The above is the configuration and effects of the vehicle 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, but the vehicle 1 of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be modified in various ways.

In this embodiment, an electric vehicle is used as an example of the vehicle 1, but the vehicle 1 of the present invention is not limited to this and can be used in various vehicles (hybrid vehicles, engine vehicles, etc.). In addition, the side members 5L, 5R and cross members 20F, 20R in the vehicle 1 can have various shapes, sizes, and arrangements depending on the form of the vehicle 1. In addition, in this embodiment, the vehicle is composed of two cross members 20, a front cross member 20F and a rear cross member 20R, but the number of cross members 20 provided can vary from one to multiple.

In addition, in this embodiment, the connection member 30 is divided into the first connection portion 31 and the second connection portion 35, but the first connection portion 31 and the second connection portion 35 may be integrally formed. In addition, in this embodiment, the shape of the connection member 30 provided on the front cross member 20F is different from the shape of the connection member 30 provided on the rear cross member 20R, but the shape of the connection member 30 (including the first connection portion 31 and the second connection portion 35) can be formed into various shapes and sizes depending on the shapes of the cross member 20 and the side members 5L, 5R. For example, the shapes of multiple connection members 30 may be the same. In addition, various materials such as metal and fiber-reinforced resin can be used to form the side members 5L, 5R, the cross member 20, and the connection member 30.

In addition, in this embodiment, the first connection portion 31 is configured to be in close contact with the cross member 20, but the first connection portion 31 may have a gap between it and the cross member 20 as long as the bending strength of the cross member 20 can be maintained. In addition, the second connection portion 35 may have a gap between it and the side members 5L, 5R as long as the bending strength of the side members 5L, 5R can be maintained.

In this embodiment, the cross member 20 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape when viewed from the vehicle width direction, but the cross-sectional shape of the cross member 20 is not limited to a rectangular shape, and various shapes can be used. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the cross member 20 may be a triangle, a circle, an oval, a polygon with four or more sides, etc. In such a case, it is desirable that the covering portion 33 is formed along the shape of the upper surface side of the cross member 20 in the cross section. In addition, the connecting member 30 may be provided with a covering portion 33 as necessary, or may be configured without a covering portion 33.

In addition, in this embodiment, the cross section of the cross member 20 when viewed from the vehicle width direction is rectangular, and the covering portion 33 is formed to cover at least the top surface and both side surfaces of the cross member 20 in accordance with the shape of the cross section, but the coverage area of the covering portion 33 is not limited to this. For example, the covering portion 33 can be formed in various shapes and sizes with various coverage areas, such as one that covers only the top surface of the cross member 20 or one that covers one of the side surfaces of the cross member 20.

In addition, in this embodiment, the second connection portion 35 has the first raised portion 37, but the first raised portion 37 may be provided as necessary, and the configuration may also be such that the first raised portion 37 is not provided. In addition, when the first raised portion 37 is provided, the first raised portion 37 can be formed in various shapes, sizes, and directions, and the number of the first raised portion 37 can be various, from one to multiple.

In addition, in this embodiment, the cross member 20 is arranged in a direction intersecting the side members 5L, 5R so that the cross section of the cross member 20 when viewed in a cross section from the vehicle width direction indirectly faces the side surfaces of the side members 5L, 5R via the connecting member 30, but this is not limited to this. For example, the cross section of the cross member 20 can also be configured to directly face the side surfaces of the side members 5L, 5R. It is also possible to configure the cross section of the cross member 20 so that it does not face the side members 5L, 5R.

In addition, in this embodiment, the second connection portion 35 has a bottom covering portion 38, but the bottom covering portion 38 may be provided as necessary, and the configuration may not have the bottom covering portion 38. In this embodiment, the support portion 55 is provided upright on the first connection portion 31R connected to the rear cross member 20R, but the support portion 55 may be provided as necessary, and the configuration may not have the support portion 55. In addition, the second raised portion 39 provided on the bottom covering portion 38 may be provided as necessary, and the configuration may not have the second raised portion 39. In addition, when the second raised portion 39 is provided, the second raised portion 39 can be formed in various shapes, sizes, and directions, and the number of second raised portions 39 can be various, from one to multiple.

The above are various embodiments and modifications of the vehicle according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and modifications, and it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the teachings and spirit of the present invention without departing from the scope of the claims.

The vehicle of the present invention can be used in various vehicles such as electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and engine vehicles. The vehicle of the present invention can be preferably used in cab-over electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles.

1: Vehicle 5L: Side member 5R: Side member 20: Cross member 20F: Cross member 20R: Cross member 30: Bracket (connecting member)
31: First connection portion 31F: First connection portion 31R: First connection portion 32: First connection portion side flange 33: Covering portion 35: Second connection portion 35F: Second connection portion 35R: Second connection portion 36: Second connection portion side flange 37: First protrusion 38: Bottom surface covering portion 39: Second protrusion 40: Electronic device (electric supply unit, ESU)

Claims (4)

A vehicle that travels by transmitting rotational power from a drive unit to drive wheels,
A pair of side members extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle and arranged at a predetermined interval in a vehicle width direction;
At least one cross member disposed in a direction intersecting the side members;
a connecting member provided on each side of the cross member in a vehicle width direction and connecting the side members and the cross member to each other;
having
The connecting member is
A first connection portion for connecting to the cross member;
A second connection portion for connecting to the side member;
having
The first connection portion is located above the second connection portion on the vehicle ,
The connection member is divided into the first connection portion and the second connection portion,
The first connection portion has a pair of first connection portion side flanges protruding on both sides along a width direction when the cross member is viewed in a cross section from the vehicle width direction,
The second connection portion is
A bottom covering portion formed along a bottom surface of the cross member;
A second connection portion side flange connected to the bottom surface covering portion and formed along the first connection portion side flange;
having
A vehicle characterized in that the first connection portion and the second connection portion are integrated by joining the first connection portion side flange and the second connection portion side flange . The first connection portion is configured to be in close contact with the cross member,
The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the second connection portion is configured to be in close contact with the side member. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting member has a covering portion that covers at least the upper surface side of the cross member along the cross-sectional shape when the cross member is viewed in a cross-sectional view from the vehicle width direction. 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second connection portion is formed so as to extend downward from the first connection portion along a side surface of the side member.

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