Suspended structure of lower part of vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025083623-A1
Application number	US-202418826140-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 5, 2024
Priority date	Sep 7, 2023
Publication date	Mar 13, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A suspended structure for suspending a suspended object from a lower part of a vehicle includes: a front structure connected to the lower part of the vehicle and connected to a vehicle front side of the suspended object; and a rear structure connected to the lower part of the vehicle and connected to a vehicle rear side of the suspended object. The rear structure is configured to guard the suspended object from the rear of the vehicle and detach from the lower part of the vehicle in response to a predetermined pushing force being applied from the rear of the vehicle. The front structure is configured so that at least a portion deforms to allow the suspended object to escape toward the front of the vehicle in response to the rear structure detaching from the lower part of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A suspended structure of a lower part of a vehicle for suspending a suspended object from the lower part of the vehicle, the suspended structure comprising:
a front structure connected to the lower part of the vehicle and connected to a vehicle front side of the suspended object; and a rear structure connected to the lower part of the vehicle and connected to a vehicle rear side of the suspended object, wherein the rear structure is configured to guard the suspended object from a rear of the vehicle and detach from the lower part of the vehicle in response to a predetermined pushing force being applied from the rear of the vehicle, and the front structure is configured so that at least a portion deforms to allow the suspended object to escape toward a front of the vehicle in response to the rear structure detaching from the lower part of the vehicle.

2 . The suspended structure of the lower part of the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the front structure comprises:
a front bracket connected to the lower part of the vehicle; and a front stay connected to the front bracket and the suspended object and being easily deformable.

3 . The suspended structure of the lower part of the vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the front bracket is composed of a metal plate comprising a web portion, a plurality of arm portions, and a flange portion, and having a substantially hat shape in a side view of the vehicle,
the plurality of arm portions are connected to the vehicle, the web portion is connected to the front stay, the front stay is composed of a metal plate comprising a web portion, a first flange portion, and a second flange portion, and having a substantially Z shape in a side view of the vehicle, the first flange portion is connected to the front bracket, and the second flange portion is connected to the suspended object.

4 . The suspended structure of the lower part of the vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the front stay and the suspended object are connected by screwing a bolt into a screw hole provided in the suspended object through a through hole drilled in the second flange portion of the front stay.

5 . The suspended structure of the lower part of the vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the front bracket and the front stay are connected by inserting a weld bolt joined to the web portion of the front bracket into a through hole drilled in the first flange portion of the front stay and screwing a nut onto the weld bolt.

6 . The suspended structure of the lower part of the vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of arm portions of the front bracket are connected to the vehicle by welding.

7 . The suspended structure of the lower part of the vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein in the front stay, a connection portion with the suspended object and a connection portion with the front bracket are offset in a vehicle lateral direction.

8 . The suspended structure of the lower part of the vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein a plate thickness of the front stay is greater than a plate thickness of the front bracket.

9 . The suspended structure of the lower part of the vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the rear structure comprises:
a rear stay connected to the lower part of the vehicle and connected to the suspended object; and a rear bracket connected to the rear stay and connected to the suspended object to guard the suspended object from the rear of the vehicle, wherein the rear stay is configured to detach from the lower part of the vehicle in response to a predetermined pushing force being applied to the rear bracket from the rear of the vehicle.

10 . The suspended structure of the lower part of the vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the rear stay is composed of a substantially flat metal plate,
a vehicle front side is connected to the suspended object, a vehicle rear side is connected to the vehicle, and connected to the rear bracket between a connection portion with the suspended object and a connection portion with the vehicle, the rear bracket is composed of a metal plate comprising a web portion, a first flange portion, and a second flange portion, the first flange portion is connected to the rear stay, the second flange portion is connected to the suspended object, and the web portion is disposed at a position that opens a predetermined gap from the suspended object and shields a part or entirety of the rear of the vehicle.

11 . The suspended structure of the lower part of the vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the rear stay comprises a slit-shaped cut portion from the rear of the vehicle in a connection portion with the vehicle, and is connected to the vehicle by fastening a bolt through the slit-shaped cut portion, and
a width of the slit-shaped cut portion is greater than an outer diameter of a threaded portion of the bolt and smaller than a diameter of a head portion.

12 . The suspended structure of the lower part of the vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the rear stay is connected to the vehicle by only one bolt.

13 . The suspended structure of the lower part of the vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein in response to a load of a predetermined value or more being applied toward the front of the vehicle to the rear stay, the bolt detaches from the slit-shaped cut portion of the rear stay due to slippage between the bolt and the rear stay.

14 . The suspended structure of the lower part of the vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the rear stay and the suspended object are connected by screwing a bolt into a screw hole provided in the suspended object through a through hole drilled in the rear stay.

15 . The suspended structure of the lower part of the vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the rear bracket and the suspended object are connected by screwing a bolt into a screw hole provided in the suspended object through a through hole drilled in the second flange portion.

16 . The suspended structure of the lower part of the vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the rear stay and the rear bracket are connected by welding.

17 . The suspended structure of the lower part of the vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein a plate thickness of the rear stay is greater than a plate thickness of the rear bracket.

18 . The suspended structure of the lower part of the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the suspended object is a relay connector that relays a harness mounted on the vehicle.

19 . The suspended structure of the lower part of the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the suspended object is a relay connector that is mounted on a vehicle and relays a harness connecting an inverter and a motor of an electric vehicle.

20 . The suspended structure of the lower part of the vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the suspended object is a relay connector that has a case of an aluminum alloy casting.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Shimizu Yasuo

Classifications

• B60L3/0007

  Measures or means for preventing or attenuating collisions · CPC title

• B62D21/11

  with resilient means for suspension {, e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions} · CPC title

• B62D21/09 Primary

  Means for mounting load bearing surfaces · CPC title

• B60R16/0215 Primary

  Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor · CPC title