Sub frame structure of vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9744995-B2
Application number	US-201614987007-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2016
Priority date	Jan 16, 2015
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

A sub frame structure of a vehicle comprises a pair of right-and-left side members, to which a pair of right-and-left uppers-side lower arms are connected, a rear cross member holding rear ends of the side members, and a front cross member interconnecting the side members and being positioned in front of the rear cross member, being spaced apart from the rear cross member. A front end of each of the side members is rigidly connected to a floor frame, the front cross member is joined to a front side member of each of the side members, and a rear side member is provided at a portion of each of the side members which is positioned in back of the front cross member. Herein, the rear side member is configured to be weaker than the front side member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sub frame structure of a vehicle, comprising:
a pair of right-and-left side members extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, to which a pair of right-and-left arm members supporting right-and-left rear wheels are pivotally connected;
a rear cross member having a pair of right-and-left side member holding members extending in a vehicle width direction, each of the pair of right-and-left side member holding members formed in a cylindrical shape, and an inward end of each one of the pair of right-and-left side member holding members contact an upper face, an outward side face, and a lower face of a respective one of the pair of right-and-left side member to hold a vicinity of respective rear ends of the pair of right-and-left side members; and
a front cross member interconnecting the pair of right-and-left side members in a vehicle width direction and being positioned in front of the rear cross member, being spaced apart from the rear cross member,
wherein a front end of each of said side members is rigidly connected to a vehicle body, said front cross member is joined to each of the side members at a position located in back of the vicinity of the front end of the side members, and a weak portion is provided at a portion of each of the side members which is positioned in back of the front cross member, the weak portion being configured to be weaker than another portion of each of the side members which is positioned in front of the front cross member.

2. The sub frame structure of the vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a portion of each of said side members which is positioned between said front cross member and said rear cross member is configured to slant inward, in the vehicle width direction, relative to a vehicle longitudinal direction in a plan view.

3. The sub frame structure of the vehicle of claim 2 , wherein said side members are provided to protrude rearward beyond said rear cross member.

4. The sub frame structure of the vehicle of claim 3 , wherein each one of the pair of right-and-left side members extends obliquely forward and outward from a respective rear end such that a distance between the rear ends is relatively small and a distance between front ends of the pair of right-and-left side members is relatively large.

5. The sub frame structure of the vehicle of claim 2 , wherein each of said side members is formed in a roughly tubular shape having an inside hollow space, and a thickness of said weak portion of the side member is configured to be thinner than that of said portion of the side member positioned in front of the front cross member.

6. The sub frame structure of the vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said side members are provided to protrude rearward beyond said rear cross member.

7. The sub frame structure of the vehicle of claim 6 , wherein each of said side members is formed in a roughly tubular shape having an inside hollow space, and a thickness of said weak portion of the side member is configured to be thinner than that of said portion of the side member positioned in front of the front cross member.

8. The sub frame structure of the vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each of said side members is formed in a roughly tubular shape having an inside hollow space, and a thickness of said weak portion of the side member is configured to be thinner than that of said portion of the side member positioned in front of the front cross member.

9. The sub frame structure of the vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each one of the pair of right-and-left side member holding members is welded on the upper face, the outward side face, and the lower face of the respective one of the pair of right-and-left side members.

10. A vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle body;
a pair of right-and-left side members extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, to which a pair of right-and-left arm members supporting right-and-left rear wheels are pivotally connected, each one of the pair of right-and-left side members including a first, front end and a second, rear end;
a rear cross member holding a vicinity of respective rear ends of the pair of right-and-left side members on a respective outward side of each one of the pair of right-and-left side members at a respective first location inward of an innermost end of each one of the pair of right-and-left arm members; and
a front cross member connected to each one of the pair of right-and-left side members at a respective second location outward from the inward first location at which the respective rear ends of the pair of right-and-left side member are held by the rear cross member, interconnecting the pair of right-and-left side members in a vehicle width direction, the front cross member being positioned in front of the rear cross member, and the front cross member being spaced apart from the rear cross member,
wherein a front end of each of said side members is rigidly connected to a vehicle body at a respective third location outward from the respective second location, said front cross member is joined to each one of the pair side members at a position located in back of the vicinity of the front end of the side member, and a weak portion is provided at a portion of each of the side members which is positioned in back of the front cross member, the weak portion being configured to be weaker than another portion of each of the side members which is positioned in front of the front cross member.

Assignees

• Mazda Motor

Inventors

• Tanaka Masaaki

Classifications

• B60G2200/18

  Multilink suspensions, e.g. elastokinematic arrangements · CPC title

• B62D21/11 Primary

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

• B62D21/155

  Sub-frames or underguards · CPC title

• B60G3/20

  all arms being rigid · CPC title