Vehicle body end section structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9550463-B2
Application number	US-201314649705-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2013
Priority date	Dec 7, 2012
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle body end section structure is obtained that enables a spacer member that transmits load to a framework member in a small overlap collision to be suppressed from impinging on a wheel in a minor collision. The vehicle body end section structure comprises a pair of left and right framework members, a bumper framework section connected to leading end portions of the pair of framework members, and a spacer member that projects out from a jutting-out portion of the bumper framework section toward a framework member side. The spacer member is disposed such that a rotation trajectory of the spacer member about a connection location between the bumper framework section and the framework member, the connection location is positioned on an opposite side in the vehicle width direction of the spacer member, does not impinge on a wheel in plan view.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle body end section structure comprising:
a framework member that is long in a vehicle front-rear direction, that comprises an energy absorption section at a front end side in the vehicle front-rear direction, and that is disposed offset with respect to center in the vehicle width direction;
a jutting-out portion that is formed at a bumper framework section connected to a vehicle front end of the framework member, that juts out further to the vehicle width direction outside than the framework member, and that is shaped such that a vehicle width direction outside portion of the jutting-out portion is positioned further to the vehicle rear than a vehicle width direction inside portion of the jutting-out portion;
a first wall that faces an outside face, that looks outward in the vehicle width direction, of the framework member across a gap, or that contacts the outside face;
a second wall that couples together a back face of the jutting-out portion and a vehicle front-rear direction front side portion of the first wall; and
a third wall that is provided at the vehicle width direction outside of the second wall, that is angled or curved such that a vehicle front-rear direction rear side of the third wall is positioned to be closer to the second wall than a vehicle front-rear direction front side of the third wall, and that couples together a back face of the jutting-out portion and a vehicle front-rear direction rear side portion of the first wall.

2. The vehicle body end section structure of claim 1 , wherein:
the jutting-out portion is shaped, in plan view, to include a first angled portion angled with respect to the vehicle width direction such that a vehicle width direction outside of the first angled portion is positioned further to the vehicle front-rear direction rear side than a vehicle width direction inside, and a second angled portion disposed at the vehicle width direction outside of the first angled portion, at a greater angle with respect to the vehicle width direction than the first angled portion;
the second wall couples together a back face of the first angled portion and the vehicle front side portion of the first wall; and
the third wall couples together a back face of the second angled portion and the vehicle rear side portion of the first wall.

3. The vehicle body end section structure of claim 1 , further comprises a plate member including a portion at a vehicle width direction inside, the portion is interposed at a connection location between a front end of the framework member and the bumper framework section, and the plate member further includes another portion at a vehicle width direction outside, the other portion is interposed between a back face of the jutting-out portions and the second wall and third wall.

4. The vehicle body end section structure of claim 1 , wherein:
a low strength portion, having lower strength with respect to bending load than other portions, is formed at the framework member at a position offset toward the rear from the facing location or contact location of the first wall, by an amount of an energy absorption stroke of the energy absorption section.

5. The vehicle body end section structure of claim 1 , wherein:
at least front portions in the vehicle front-rear direction of the second wall and the third wall are formed by flat plate portions with a straight line shape in plan view.

6. The vehicle body end section structure of claim 1 , wherein: an end portion of a spacer member on a framework member side is separated from the framework member.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hara Yasuhiro
• Nuruki Tetsuo
• Tamura Yoichi
• Ishiyama Nobuhisa
• Mizuo Hiroshi
• Kitakata Shintaro
• Kato Hiroshi
• Oka Yukio

Classifications

• B60R19/34 Primary

  destroyed upon impact, e.g. one-shot type · CPC title

• B62D25/082

  Engine compartments · CPC title

• B60R2019/247

  Fastening of bumpers' side ends · CPC title

• B62D21/152

  Front or rear frames · CPC title

• B60R19/24

  Arrangements for mounting bumpers on vehicles · CPC title