Vehicle rear structure

• US 9,308,805 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2013
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Shiromura, Hiroyasu, Tamaki, Hideyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Rocca, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coolman, Travis
• Application Number:
  US13/906,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20140008137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0416 Arrangement in the rear part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0438 Arrangement under the floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0007 Measures or means for preventing or attenuating collisions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2306/01 Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/087 Luggage compartments
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/952 Housing details

Abstract

A vehicle rear structure protects a battery unit in a rear-end collision. The vehicle rear structure has a battery unit positioned behind a torsion beam; first and second cross members spanning between side members; a frame member that supports the battery unit; a bridge member spanning from the first cross member to the second cross member, and connected at a rear flange to the second cross member; and reinforcements that are respectively disposed to the side members and reinforce the side members from the front edge to the rear edge of the second cross member. The torsion beam is positioned near directly below the second cross member. The side members slope down to the front from the front end part of the reinforcement.

Claims

1. A vehicle rear structure comprising:

a rear floor panel forming a rear floor of a hybrid vehicle;

a suspension member disposed below the rear floor panel and extending in a vehicle width direction;

a battery unit disposed behind the suspension member;

a pair of side members disposed extending in a vehicle front-rear direction alongside edges of the rear floor panel;

a first cross member spanning between the pair of side members at a position below and near a front end of the rear floor panel;

a second cross member disposed behind the first cross member on an underside of the rear floor panel and spanning between the pair of side members;

a rectangular frame member that surrounds and supports the battery unit;

a bridge member that is disposed spanning, in the middle of the vehicle width, from the first cross member to the second cross member, has a rear flange projecting to the rear at its rear end, and is connected by the rear flange to the second cross member;

a pair of reinforcements that are disposed inside the pair of side members and reinforce areas of the pair of side members that correspond to from a front edge to a rear edge of the second cross member;

a fuel tank mounted between the bridge member and one of the pair of side members; and

an electrical component mounted between the bridge member and the other of the pair of side members;

wherein the suspension member is positioned directly below the second cross member or positioned forward and downward from the second cross member,

wherein the pair of side members slopes down from or near front ends of the pair of reinforcements to the first cross member, and

wherein the fuel tank and the electrical component are fastened to the bridge member, the pair of side members, and the first cross member, and not fastened to the second cross member.

2. A vehicle rear structure comprising:

a rear floor panel forming a rear floor of a hybrid vehicle;

a suspension member disposed below the rear floor panel and extending in a vehicle width direction;

a battery unit disposed behind the suspension member;

a pair of side members disposed extending in a vehicle front-rear direction alongside edges of the rear floor panel;

a first cross member spanning between the pair of side members at a position below and near a front end of the rear floor panel;

a second cross member disposed behind the first cross member on an underside of the rear floor panel and spanning between the pair of side members;

a rectangular frame member that surrounds and supports the battery unit;

a bridge member that is disposed spanning, in the middle of the vehicle width, from the first cross member to the second cross member, has a rear flange projecting to the rear at its rear end, and is connected by the rear flange to the second cross member;

a pair of reinforcements that are disposed inside the pair of side members and reinforce areas of the pair of side members that correspond to from a front edge to a rear edge of the second cross member;

a fuel tank mounted between the bridge member and one of the pair of side members; and

an electrical component mounted between the bridge member and the other of the pair of side members;

wherein the suspension member is positioned directly below the second cross member or positioned forward and downward from the second cross member,

wherein the pair of side members slopes down from or near front ends of the pair of reinforcements to the first cross member,

wherein the second cross member has an upside-down hat shape including a first flange projecting to the front, a second flange projecting to the rear, and a protrusion that protrudes down between the first flange and the second flange,

wherein the first flange and the second flange are fastened to the underside of the rear floor panel, and

wherein the fuel tank and the electrical component are fastened to the bridge member, the pair of side members, and the first cross member, and not fastened to the second cross member.

3. A vehicle rear structure comprising:

a rear floor panel forming a rear floor of a hybrid vehicle;

a suspension member disposed below the rear floor panel and extending in a vehicle width direction;

a battery unit disposed behind the suspension member;

a pair of side members disposed extending in a vehicle front-rear direction alongside edges of the rear floor panel;

a first cross member spanning between the pair of side members at a position below and near a front end of the rear floor panel;

a second cross member disposed behind the first cross member on an underside of the rear floor panel and spanning between the pair of side members;

a rectangular frame member that surrounds and supports the battery unit;

a bridge member that is disposed spanning, in the middle of the vehicle width, from the first cross member to the second cross member, has a rear flange projecting to the rear at its rear end, and is connected by the rear flange to the second cross member;

a pair of reinforcements that are disposed inside the pair of side members and reinforce areas of the pair of side members that correspond to from a front edge to a rear edge of the second cross member;

a fuel tank mounted between the bridge member and one of the pair of side members; and

an electrical component mounted between the bridge member and the other of the pair of side members;

wherein the suspension member is positioned directly below the second cross member or positioned forward and downward from the second cross member,

wherein the pair of side members slopes down from or near front ends of the pair of reinforcements to the first cross member,

wherein the second cross member has an upside-down hat shape including a first flange projecting to the front, a second flange projecting to the rear, and a protrusion that protrudes down between the first flange and the second flange,

wherein the first flange and the second flange are fastened to the underside of the rear floor panel,

wherein the rear flange of the bridge member is connected to a first flange of the second cross member, and

wherein the fuel tank and the electrical component are fastened to the bridge member, the pair of side members, and the first cross member, and not fastened to the second cross member.

4. A vehicle rear structure comprising:

a rear floor panel forming a rear floor of a hybrid vehicle;

a suspension member disposed below the rear floor panel and extending in a vehicle width direction;

a battery unit disposed behind the suspension member;

a pair of side members disposed extending in a vehicle front-rear direction alongside edges of the rear floor panel;

a first cross member spanning between the pair of side members at a position below and near a front end of the rear floor panel;

a second cross member disposed behind the first cross member on an underside of the rear floor panel and spanning between the pair of side members;

a rectangular frame member that surrounds and supports the battery unit;

a bridge member that is disposed spanning, in the middle of the vehicle width, from the first cross member to the second cross member, has a rear flange projecting to the rear at its rear end, and is connected by the rear flange to the second cross member;

a pair of reinforcements that are disposed inside the pair of side members and reinforce areas of the pair of side members that correspond to from a front edge to a rear edge of the second cross member;

a fuel tank mounted between the bridge member and one of the pair of side members; and

an electrical component mounted between the bridge member and the other of the pair of side members;

wherein the suspension member is positioned directly below the second cross member or positioned forward and downward from the second cross member,

wherein the pair of side members slopes down from or near front ends of the pair of reinforcements to the first cross member,

wherein the pair of reinforcements, the pair of side members, and the second cross member are joined together in three layers, and

wherein the fuel tank and the electrical component are fastened to the bridge member, the pair of side members, and the first cross member, and not fastened to the second cross member.

5. A vehicle rear structure comprising:

a rear floor panel forming a rear floor of a hybrid vehicle;

a suspension member disposed below the rear floor panel and extending in a vehicle width direction;

a battery unit disposed behind the suspension member;

a pair of side members disposed extending in a vehicle front-rear direction alongside edges of the rear floor panel;

a first cross member spanning between the pair of side members at a position below and near a front end of the rear floor panel;

a second cross member disposed behind the first cross member on an underside of the rear floor panel and spanning between the pair of side members;

a rectangular frame member that surrounds and supports the battery unit;

a bridge member that is disposed spanning, in the middle of the vehicle width, from the first cross member to the second cross member, has a rear flange projecting to the rear at its rear end, and is connected by the rear flange to the second cross member; and

a pair of reinforcements that are disposed inside the pair of side members and reinforce areas of the pair of side members that correspond to from a front edge to a rear edge of the second cross member;

an anchor member that is positioned at a vehicle exterior side and secures an end of a seat belt;

a fuel tank mounted between the bridge member and one of the pair of side members; and

an electrical component mounted between the bridge member and the other of the pair of side members;

wherein the suspension member is positioned directly below the second cross member or positioned forward and downward from the second cross member,

wherein the pair of side members slopes down from or near front ends of the pair of reinforcements to the first cross member,

wherein the anchor member is secured by the pair of reinforcements, and

wherein the fuel tank and the electrical component are fastened to the bridge member, the pair of side members, and the first cross member, and not fastened to the second cross member.