JP2003002248A - Floor tunnel structure - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To enable efficient energy absorption and improve productivity. SOLUTION: A floor tunnel front 12 made of an extruded material and a floor tunnel rear 14 constituting a floor tunnel 10 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction are connected with a joint 16 made of a casting. The joint 16 is formed with a vertical rib and a horizontal rib. By changing the way of inserting the horizontal rib, the deformation load of the joint 16 is more than the deformation load of the floor tunnel front 12 and the deformation load of the floor tunnel rear 14. It is set small.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a floor tunnel structure, and more particularly to a floor tunnel structure formed on a floor of a vehicle such as an automobile along the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an example of a floor tunnel structure formed in the floor of a vehicle such as an automobile along the front-rear direction of the vehicle is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-128026.

As shown in FIG. 6, in this floor tunnel structure, a frame member 1 for constructing a vehicle body floor tunnel is used.
The top surface of 00 has a flat mountain shape and is opened downward, and continuous closed cross-section portions 100A are formed at both corners of the top surface 100B. Therefore, the closed cross section 100
With A, the bending rigidity as a floor tunnel can be increased without increasing the height dimension.

[0004]

However, in this floor tunnel structure, the frame member 100 for constructing the vehicle body floor tunnel is formed by extruding a light metal. As a result, in order to efficiently absorb the impact energy, the frame member 100 is deformed at a desired portion due to the load acting from the front of the vehicle at the time of a vehicle front collision, etc.
It is necessary to form a fragile portion or the like, which is a starting point of deformation, at a predetermined portion of the frame member 100 by processing after extrusion molding. Therefore, the processing is complicated and the productivity is not good.

In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a floor tunnel structure capable of efficiently absorbing energy and improving productivity.

[0006]

A floor tunnel structure of the present invention according to claim 1 is a floor tunnel which is made of an extruded material and is divided in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a floor tunnel which is made of a casting and is provided at an intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the floor tunnel. And a joint connecting the divided floor tunnels,
The deformation load of the joint with respect to the vehicle front collision is smaller than the deformation load of the floor tunnel.

Therefore, the load entering the floor tunnel at the time of vehicle front collision can be shared by the floor tunnel made of extruded material and the joint made of casting. Further, since the deformation load of the joint is smaller than the deformation load of the floor tunnel, the load shared by the floor tunnel and the joint deforms only the joint that can be arranged at the desired site, which enables efficient energy absorption. Become. In addition, since the joint made of cast material, which is easier to process than extruded material, serves as the starting point of deformation, complicated post-processing is more difficult than the configuration in which a weakened part, etc., which becomes the starting point of deformation, is formed in the floor tunnel made of extruded material. The productivity can be improved without the need.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the floor tunnel structure according to the first aspect, the joint is arranged at an intersection of the floor tunnel and a floor cross member made of an extruded material. Characterize.

Therefore, in addition to the contents described in claim 1,
The joint facilitates the connection between the floor tunnel and the floor cross member, and the load that enters the floor cross member at the time of a side collision is shared between the floor cross member made of extruded material and the joint made of cast material. The deformation allows efficient energy absorption. Also, since the joint made of cast material, which is easier to process than extruded material, serves as the starting point of deformation, it is more complicated than the structure in which the weak point that becomes the starting point of deformation is formed on the floor cross member made of extruded material. Productivity can be improved without the need for processing.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a floor tunnel structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the figure, an arrow FR indicates a vehicle front direction, and an arrow UP indicates a vehicle upward direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the floor tunnel structure of this embodiment, the floor tunnel 10 includes a floor tunnel front 12 made of a metal extruded material such as aluminum, which constitutes a front portion of the floor tunnel 10, and a floor tunnel. 10 is divided into a floor tunnel rear 14 made of an extruded material of metal such as aluminum.

A joint 16 made of cast metal such as aluminum is provided in the middle between the floor tunnel front 12 and the floor tunnel rear 14, and the rear end 12A of the floor tunnel front 12 and the joint 16 are connected to each other. The front end portion 16A is connected. In addition, the front end portion 14A of the floor tunnel rear 14 and the rear end portion 1 of the joint 16
6B is connected.

A front end portion 12B of the floor tunnel front 12 is connected to a rear wall portion 18A of a dash cross member 18 arranged along the vehicle width direction, and the dash cross member 18 is made of metal such as aluminum. It has a closed cross-section structure made of extruded material.

As shown in FIG. 2, projecting portions 12D and 12E projecting upward are formed on both sides in the vehicle width direction of the upper wall portion 12C of the floor tunnel front 12, and the lower portions of the projecting portions 12D and 12E are formed. Has closed cross-sections 20 and 22 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. In addition, each closed cross section 2
Notches 24 and 26 are formed in the rear end portions of the lower wall portions 12F and 12G that form 0 and 22, respectively.

On the other hand, projecting portions 16D and 16E projecting upward are formed on both sides of the upper wall portion 16C of the joint 16 in the vehicle width direction.
The front ends of the protrusions 16D and 16E are inserted into the cutouts 24 and 26 of the lower wall portions 12F and 12G of the floor tunnel front 12 from below.

As shown in FIG. 3, an inclined surface 16F extending downward toward the front of the vehicle is formed at the front ends of the projecting portions 16D and 16E of the joint 16, and the inclined surface 16 is formed.
A flange 16G is formed at the front end of F toward the front of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 4, the flange 16G of the joint 16 is also formed continuously with the front end of the upper wall 16C, and the flange 16G is formed on the inner periphery of the rear end 12A of the floor tunnel front 12. On the surface side (lower surface side), the lower wall portion 1 in the floor tunnel front 12
It is welded to 2F, 12G and the upper wall portion 12C (weld portion P1).

As shown in FIG. 5, the lower wall portions 12F and 12G and the upper wall portion 12 in the floor tunnel front 12 are shown.
Each rear end of C is welded to the upper wall 16C of the joint 16 and the upper surfaces of the front ends of the protrusions 16D and 16E (weld P2).

As shown in FIG. 1, at the rear portion of the joint 16, a branch portion 16H is provided outward in the vehicle width direction,
16J is formed, and these branch parts 16H, 16
A front floor cross member left 30 and a front floor cross member light 32, which form the front floor cross member 28, are connected to J, respectively. The front floor cross member left 30 and the front floor cross member right 32 each have a closed cross-section structure made of a metal extruded material such as aluminum.

Protrusions 16D and 1 in the joint 16
6E has a linearly reduced amount of protrusion at the portions where the branch portions 16H and 16J are formed, and disappears at the rear end portion 16B. The cross-sectional shape of the rear end portion 16B of the joint 16 when viewed from the vehicle rear side is a hat shape with the opening portion facing downward. On the other hand, the cross-sectional shape of the front end portion 14A of the floor tunnel rear 14 viewed from the front of the vehicle is a hat shape with the opening portion facing downward, and the outer peripheral surface 14B of the front end portion 14A is the rear end portion of the joint 16. It is welded to the inner surface 16K of 16B.

Branch portions 16H, 1 of the joint 16
The cross-sectional shape of the 6J viewed from the vehicle width direction is a hat shape with the opening facing downward. On the other hand, the vehicle-width-direction inner ends 30A and 32A of the front floor cross member left 30 and the front floor cross-member light 32 have a trapezoidal closed cross-sectional shape when viewed in the vehicle width direction. Outer peripheral surface 30 of the portions 30A and 32A
B and 32B are branch portions 16H of the joint 16,
It is welded to the inner surfaces 16L and 16M of 16J.

As shown in FIG. 4, a longitudinal rib 40 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction is provided on the inner peripheral side (lower surface side) of the joint 16.
And the vertical ribs 40 and the side wall portion 1 of the joint 16.
A lateral rib 42 that connects 6N and 16S is formed. The lateral ribs 42 are formed so as to be inclined with respect to the vehicle width direction or the vehicle front-rear direction, and the deformation load of the joint 16 can be changed by changing the way of inserting the lateral ribs 42. Also, it is set smaller than the deformation load of the floor tunnel rear 14.

The branch portion 16 of the joint 16
Vertical ribs 40 are also provided on the inner peripheral side (lower surface side) of H and 16J, and the vertical ribs 40 and the side wall portions 16 of the branch portions 16H and 16J.
A lateral rib 42 connecting T and 16U is formed. Also,
The lateral ribs 42 are formed so as to be inclined with respect to the vehicle front-rear direction, and by changing the way of inserting the lateral ribs 42, the deformation load of the joint 16 is changed to the deformation load of the front floor cross member left 30 and the front floor cross member light 32. It is set smaller than the deformation load of.

Reference numeral 50 shown in FIG. 1 indicates a floor panel.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment, the load that has entered the floor tunnel 10 from the vehicle front side at the time of a vehicle front collision is shared by the floor tunnel front 12 and floor tunnel rear 14 made of extruded material and the joint 16 made of a casting. can do. In addition, the joint 16 has a horizontal rib 42.
The deformation load is set to be smaller than the deformation load of the floor tunnel front 12 and the floor tunnel rear 14 by changing the way of inserting. As a result,
Due to the load shared by the floor tunnel front 12, the joint 16 and the floor tunnel rear 14, only the joint 16 is deformed, which enables efficient energy absorption.

Further, since the joint 16 made of a cast material, which is easier to process than the extruded material, is used as the starting point of the deformation, the floor tunnel front 12 and the floor tunnel rear 14 made of the extruded material are fragile portions which become the starting points of the deformation. As compared with the configuration of forming the same, the productivity can be improved without complicated post-processing.

Further, in the present embodiment, the joint 16 is formed with the branch portions 16H and 16J, and the branch portions 16H and 16J are formed.
Since the front floor cross member left 30 or the front floor cross member light 32 is connected to H and 16J, the connection between the floor tunnel 10 and the front floor cross member 28 becomes easy.

Further, the load that has entered the front floor cross from the side of the vehicle at the time of a vehicle side collision is generated by the front floor cross member left 30 and the front floor cross member light 32 made of extruded material, and the joint 16 made of a casting. You can share. Also, joint 16
The deformation load is set to be smaller than the deformation load of the front floor cross member left 30 and the deformation load of the front floor cross member right 32 by changing the way of inserting the lateral ribs 42. As a result, only the joint 16 is deformed by the load shared by the front floor cross member left 30, the front floor cross member right 32, and the joint 16, and efficient energy absorption becomes possible.

Further, since the joint 16 made of a cast material, which is easier to process than the extruded material, is used as the starting point of the deformation, the starting point of the deformation of the front floor cross member light 30 and the front floor cross member left 32 made of the extruded material. As compared with a configuration in which a fragile portion and the like are formed, productivity can be improved without complicated post-processing.

Further, in this embodiment, the joint 16, the floor tunnel front 12, the floor tunnel rear 1
4, at each welded portion of the front floor cross member left 30 and the front floor cross member light 32,
Since heat softening occurs during welding, these parts can be used as the starting points of deformation.

In the above, the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments within the scope of the present invention. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that For example, the cross-sectional shapes of the floor tunnel front 12, the floor tunnel rear 14, the joint 16, the front floor cross member left 30, and the front floor cross member light 32 are not limited to the shapes shown in the above embodiment, and other cross-sectional shapes are possible. Also good. Further, the numbers and shapes of the vertical ribs 40 and the horizontal ribs 42 formed on the joint 16 are not limited to those in the above embodiment.

Further, in the above embodiment, the joint 16
Branch portions 16H and 16J are formed in the
Although the front floor cross member left 30 or the front floor cross member light 32 is connected to H and 16J, instead of this, the branch portions 16H and 16J are not formed in the joint 16, and the front and rear portions of the joint 16 are not formed. The floor tunnel 10 may be connected to the front floor cross member left 30 or the front floor cross member light 32.

[0035]

According to the floor tunnel structure of the present invention as set forth in claim 1, the floor tunnel is made of an extruded material and is divided in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the floor tunnel structure is made of a cast material and is disposed at an intermediate portion in the front-rear direction. Since the deformation load of the joint with respect to the vehicle front collision is smaller than the deformation load of the floor tunnel, it has an excellent effect that efficient energy absorption is possible and productivity is improved. Have.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the floor tunnel structure according to the first aspect, the joint is arranged at the intersection of the floor tunnel and the floor cross member made of extruded material. In addition to the effect described in 1, the joint facilitates the connection between the floor tunnel and the floor cross member and enables efficient energy absorption even with respect to the load entering the floor cross member at the time of a side collision. It has an excellent effect that the property can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a floor tunnel structure according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen obliquely from the rear of a vehicle.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG.

3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view seen from below showing a floor tunnel structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the floor tunnel structure according to the embodiment of the present invention seen from above.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a floor tunnel structure according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 floor tunnel 12 floor tunnel front 14 floor tunnel rear 16 joints 28 Front floor cross member 30 front floor cross member left 32 Front floor cross member light

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A floor tunnel made of an extruded material and divided in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a joint made of a cast product, which is arranged at an intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the floor tunnel and connects the divided floor tunnels. A floor tunnel structure, wherein a deformation load of the joint with respect to a vehicle front collision is smaller than a deformation load of the floor tunnel. 2. The floor tunnel structure according to claim 1, wherein the joint is arranged at an intersection of the floor tunnel and a floor cross member made of an extruded material.