Vehicle rear structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10766348-B2
Application number	US-201916295269-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2019
Priority date	Mar 9, 2018
Publication date	Sep 8, 2020
Grant date	Sep 8, 2020

Abstract

A vehicle rear structure secures a battery pack to rear side members by suspension. Each rear side member includes a less-strengthened portion further rearward of a vehicle with respect to a coupling portion with a rear cross member. The coupling portion is a suspending portion configured to fasten the rear end of the battery pack by suspension. The less-strengthened portion causes the rear side member to deform by bending when a collision load F is applied from rearward of the vehicle to the rear side member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle rear structure comprising:
rear side members configured to secure a battery pack by suspension, the rear side members each including a rear end portion, a horizontal portion horizontally extending rearward in a vehicle from a suspending portion toward the rear end portion, and a less-strengthened portion disposed in the horizontal portion, the suspending portion is on the rear side member and configured to secure a rear end of the battery pack by suspension, wherein
the less-strengthened portion causes the rear side member to bend and deform when a collision load is applied from rearward of the vehicle to the rear side member, and
when the collision load is applied from rearward of the vehicle to the rear side member, the rear side member deforms such that the less-strengthened portion is located further upward in the vehicle than the suspending portion and the rear end portion of the rear side member.

2. The vehicle rear structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the less-strengthened portion is disposed in a center portion between the suspending portion of the rear side member and the rear end portion of the rear side member.

3. The vehicle rear structure according to claim 2 , wherein
the less-strengthened portion is disposed on the rear side member between a front fastener and a rear fastener configured to fasten a rear suspension member.

4. A vehicle rear structure comprising:
rear side members configured to secure a battery pack by suspension, the rear side members each including a rear end portion, a horizontal portion horizontal) extending rearward in a vehicle from a suspending portion toward the rear end portion, and a less-strengthened portion disposed in the horizontal portion, the suspending portion is on the rear side member and configured to secure a rear end of the battery pack by suspension, wherein
the less-strengthened portion causes the rear side member to bend and deform when a collision load is applied from rearward of the vehicle to the rear side member,
when the collision load is applied from rearward of the vehicle to the rear side member, the rear side member retains the rear end of the battery pack secured by suspension.

5. The vehicle rear structure according to claim 4 , wherein
the less-strengthened portion is disposed in a center portion between the suspending portion of the rear side member and a rear end portion of the rear side member.

6. The vehicle rear structure according to claim 5 , wherein
the less-strengthened portion is disposed on the rear side member between a front fastener and a rear fastener configured to fasten a rear suspension member.

7. A vehicle rear structure comprising:
rear side members configured to secure a battery pack by suspension, the rear side members each including a rear end portion, a horizontal portion horizontally extending rearward in a vehicle from a suspending portion toward the rear end portion, and a less-strengthened portion disposed in the horizontal portion, the suspending portion being configured to secure a rear end of the battery pack by suspension, wherein
the less-strengthened portion causes the rear side member to bend and deform when a collision load is applied from rearward of the vehicle to the rear side member, and
the less-strengthened portion includes a notch or a bead in the rear side member.

8. The vehicle rear structure according to claim 7 , wherein
the less-strengthened portion is disposed in a center portion between the suspending portion of the rear side member and a rear end portion of the rear side member.

9. The vehicle rear structure according to claim 8 , wherein
the less-strengthened portion is disposed on the rear side member between a front fastener and a rear fastener configured to fasten a rear suspension member.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Fukui Ryosuke
• Tsuchida Masahiro

Classifications

• B60Y2306/01

  Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection · CPC title

• B62D21/02

  comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members · CPC title

• B60K2001/0438

  Arrangement under the floor · CPC title

• B60K1/04 Primary

  of the electric storage means for propulsion · CPC title

• B62D21/15

  having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body (bumpers B60R19/02; shock absorbers in general F16F) · CPC title