FLOOR STRUCTURE OF REAR VEHICLE BODY

A floor structure of a rear vehicle body, in which at least one component including a high-voltage battery is mounted in a rear portion of a vehicle body, includes: a first cross member coupled to each front portion of first and second rear side members in a vehicle width direction; and a second cross member coupled to the first and second rear side members at a rear of the corresponding first cross member in the vehicle width direction, wherein a space in which the at least one component is mounted is formed between the first cross member and the second cross member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0104417 filed on Aug. 9, 2021, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

Field of the Present Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a structure of a rear vehicle body, and more particularly, to a rear floor structure, in which a high-voltage battery or the like is mounted.

Description of Related Art

In general, a high-voltage battery applying power to a drive motor may be mounted in a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle or a hydrogen-powered vehicle (also referred to as a ‘hydrogen electric vehicle’ by those skilled in the art), which are referred to as an eco-friendly vehicle.

For example, in the case of a general hydrogen-powered vehicle, the high-voltage battery may be mounted in a rear floor structure of a rear portion of a vehicle body.

Furthermore, components such as a hydrogen tank, the drive motor, an inverter, a 12V battery and a cooling module may be mounted in the rear floor structure.

In recent years, a hydrogen electric vehicle-based super sports vehicle has been introduced as a purpose built vehicle.

However, such a hydrogen electric vehicle-based super sports vehicle may have difficulty in mounting the high-voltage battery and other components in a limited space in the rear portion of the vehicle body, and may cause damage to the high-voltage battery and other components when a vehicle crash occurs due to a decrease in skeletal rigidity of the rear portion of the body.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to providing a floor structure of a rear vehicle body which may increase skeletal rigidity of a rear portion of a vehicle body and protect components including a high-voltage battery when a vehicle crash occurs.

According to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, a floor structure of a rear vehicle body, in which at least one component including a high-voltage battery is mounted in a rear portion of a vehicle body, includes: i) a first cross member coupled to each front portion of first and second rear side members in a vehicle width direction; and ii) a second cross member coupled to the first and second rear side members at a rear of the corresponding first cross member in the vehicle width direction, wherein a space in which the at least one component is mounted is formed between the first cross member and the second cross member.

Furthermore, the floor structure of a rear vehicle body may further include first and second side sills respectively coupled to first and second sides of the first cross member in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle thereof.

Furthermore, the first cross member and the second cross member may be connected to each of the first and second rear side members to have a square shape therebetween.

Furthermore, the floor structure of a rear vehicle body may further include: a rear floor front portion formed by each of the first cross member, the first side sill and the second side sill; a rear floor center portion formed at a rear of the rear floor front portion by each of the first cross member, the second cross member, the first rear side member and the second rear side member; and a rear floor rear portion formed at a rear of the rear floor center portion by each of the second cross member, the first rear side member and the second rear side member.

Furthermore, the floor structure of a rear vehicle body may further include a front floor panel connected to each of the first cross member, the first side sill and the second side sill.

Furthermore, the floor structure of a rear vehicle body may further include a rear floor panel connected to a rear portion of each of the second cross member, the first rear side member and the second rear side member.

Furthermore, at least one open hole may be formed in the front floor panel.

Furthermore, a battery mounting space may be formed in the front floor panel by each of the first cross member, the first side sill and the second side sill.

Furthermore, a tunnel member may be coupled to a front portion of the front floor panel.

Furthermore, a tunnel reinforcement member may be coupled to an upper surface of the tunnel member.

Furthermore, the floor structure of a rear vehicle body may further include: a battery lower fixing unit positioned at each of the first cross member, the first side sill and the second side sill; and a battery upper fixing unit positioned at a lower internal side of the front floor panel.

Furthermore, the battery lower fixing unit may include a plurality of weld bolts positioned on a lower surface of the first cross member, and a plurality of weld nuts positioned on each lower surface of the first and second side sills.

Furthermore, the battery upper fixing unit may include at least one mounting bracket coupled to an upper internal surface of the front floor panel.

Furthermore, between the first cross member and the second cross member, a shock absorber cover panel may be coupled to an upper surface of each of the first and second rear side members.

Furthermore, between the first cross member and the second cross member, at least one chassis arm mounting member may be coupled to an external surface of each of the first and second rear side members.

Furthermore, the front floor panel connected to each of the first cross member, the first side sill and the second side sill may be positioned in the rear floor front portion.

Furthermore, the high-voltage battery may be provided inside the front floor panel by the first cross member, the first and second side sills and the front floor panel.

Furthermore, a drive motor and an inverter may be provided in the space formed by the first cross member, the second cross member, the first rear side member and the second rear side member.

Furthermore, a hydrogen tank may be provided above the drive motor and the inverter.

Furthermore, the rear floor panel connected to each of the second cross member, the first rear side member and the second rear side member may be positioned in the rear floor rear portion.

Furthermore, a 12V battery may be provided on an upper surface of the rear floor panel.

Furthermore, a cooling module may be provided on a lower surface of the rear floor panel.

The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may secure the space in which the high-voltage battery is mounted in a limited space in the rear portion of the vehicle body, increase the skeletal rigidity, and minimize damage to the components such as the high-voltage battery and injury to the passenger when the vehicle crash occurs.

Another effect which may be obtained or predicted by various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is disclosed directly or implicitly in the detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

That is, various effects predicted by various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed in the detailed description described below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Terms in the exemplary embodiment are used to describe specific exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

Singular forms used herein are intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It is to be understood that terms “include” or “have” used in the exemplary embodiment specify the presence of features, numerals, steps, operations, elements and/or components, and do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numerals, steps, operations, components and/or groups thereof.

The term “and/or” used herein includes any one or all combinations of one or more associated listed items.

A term “coupled” used herein indicates a physical relationship between two components directly connected to each other by welding or the like, or indirectly connected to each other through one or more medium components.

“Vehicle,” “of a vehicle,” “automobile” or other similar terms used herein generally refer to a passenger vehicle including a sports car, a sports utility vehicle (SUV), a bus, a truck and a passenger automobile including various commercial vehicles, and also refer to a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, a hydrogen powered vehicle, and a vehicle using another alternative fuel (e.g., fuel derived from resources other than petroleum).

Hereinafter, various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG.1andFIG.2are perspective views each showing a floor structure of a rear vehicle body according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;FIG.3is a plan view showing the floor structure of a rear vehicle body according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; andFIG.4is a cross-sectional view showing the floor structure of a rear vehicle body according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG.1,FIG.2,FIG.3, andFIG.4, a floor structure of a rear vehicle body100according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to a body of an electric vehicle and furthermore, a body of a hydrogen electric vehicle-based super sports car.

For example, such a super sports vehicle may include two rows of seats for a driver's seat and a passenger seat positioned in a front portion of the vehicle body.

Components including a high-voltage battery1, a drive motor3, an inverter5, a hydrogen tank6, a 12V battery7and a cooling module9may be mounted in a rear portion of the vehicle body.

As described above, various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is described as being applied to the body of the hydrogen electric vehicle-based super sports car. However, the scope of the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto.

Accordingly, the spirit of the present disclosure may be applied to a body of an eco-friendly vehicle including a conventional hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle and a hydrogen powered vehicle.

In the exemplary embodiment, a ‘vehicle front and rear direction’ may be defined as a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, a ‘vehicle width direction’ may be defined as the left and right direction of the vehicle body, and an ‘up and down direction’ may be defined as a height direction of the vehicle body.

Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, an ‘inner surface’ of a component may indicate each corresponding surface of two components spaced from each other, and an ‘outer surface’ of a component may indicate a surface opposite to the inner surface.

Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, the ‘upper end portion’, ‘upper portion’, ‘upper end’ or ‘upper surface’ of a component may indicate the end portion, portion, end or surface of a component positioned on a relatively upper side in the drawings, and the ‘lower end portion’, ‘lower portion’, ‘lower end’ or ‘lower surface’ may indicate the end portion, portion, end or surface of a component positioned on a relatively lower side in the drawings.

Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, an end of a component (e.g., one end or another end or the like) may indicate an end of the component in any one direction, and an end portion of a component (e.g., one end portion or the other end portion or the like) may indicate a certain portion of the component including an end thereof

Meanwhile, the floor structure of the rear vehicle body100according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied to the rear floor structure of the rear portion of the vehicle body in which the above-described components including the high-voltage battery1may be mounted.

The floor structure of the rear vehicle body100according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a rear floor structure which may secure a space in which the components including the high-voltage battery1may be mounted in a limited space of the rear portion of the vehicle body.

Furthermore, the floor structure of the rear vehicle body100according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a rear floor structure which may increase skeletal rigidity of the rear portion of the vehicle body, and protect the components including the high-voltage battery1when a vehicle crash occurs.

To the present end, the floor structure of the rear vehicle body100according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may include two rear side members10, a first cross member20, two side sills30, a second cross member40, a front floor panel50, a rear floor panel60, a battery lower fixing unit70and a battery upper fixing unit80.

In various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the two rear side members10may extend from the rear portion of the vehicle body in the vehicle front and rear direction and respectively provided on the left and right sides of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction.

For example, each of the two rear side members10may have a rectangular box shape.

In various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the first cross member20may be coupled to each front portion of two rear side members10in the vehicle width direction.

For example, the first cross member20may have at least two members coupled to each other, or have at least one reinforcing unit such as a bulkhead mounted in a space formed between the at least two members.

In various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the two side sills30may be included in side portions of the rear floor structure.

The two side sills30may respectively be coupled to both sides (or both end portions) of the first cross member20in the vehicle front and rear direction.

At least one reinforcement member31may be coupled to an external surface of one of the two side sills30.

For example, each of the two side sills30may have at least two members coupled to each other, and at least one reinforcing unit such as a bulkhead mounted in a space formed between the at least two members.

In various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the second cross member40may be coupled to the rear portions of two rear side members10at the rear away from the corresponding first cross member20in the vehicle width direction.

For example, the second cross member40may have at least two members coupled to each other, or have at least one reinforcing unit such as a bulkhead mounted in a space formed between the at least two members.

The first cross member20and the second cross member40as described above may be connected to each of the two rear side members10to have a square shape therebetween.

Furthermore, a space SP in which the above-described components are mounted may be formed between the first cross member20and the second cross member40.

In various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the front floor panel50may be connected to each of the first cross member20and the two side sills30.

The front floor panel50may form a space set inside.

Here, the inside may be defined as an internal region of the front floor panel50having an open lower portion.

The front floor panel50may be coupled to an upper surface of the first cross member20, each upper surface of the two side sills30, and each internal surface of the two side sills30.

Here, a dome-shaped battery mounting space51may be formed in the front floor panel50by each of the first cross member20and the two side sills30.

The battery mounting space51may be formed as an internal space of the front floor panel50in which the high-voltage battery1may be mounted.

Furthermore, at least one open hole53may be formed in the front floor panel50.

The at least one open hole53may be the plurality of open holes, and one of the plurality of open holes53may be formed in a front side of an upper surface of the front floor panel50.

Furthermore, the rest of the plurality of open holes53may be formed in a rear side of the upper surface of the front floor panel50.

Here, the plurality of open holes53may allow a unit cooling the high-voltage battery1to pass therethrough and make maintenance of the high-voltage battery1easy.

Furthermore, a tunnel member55may be coupled to a front portion (or front surface) of the front floor panel50.

The tunnel member55may allow an electric wire or the like connected to the high-voltage battery1to pass therethrough.

Furthermore, a tunnel reinforcement member57may be coupled to an upper surface of the tunnel member55.

The tunnel reinforcement member57may reinforce rigidity of the tunnel member55and rigidity of the upper surface of the front floor panel50.

In various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the rear floor panel60may be connected to a rear portion of each of the second cross member40and the two rear side members10.

The rear floor panel60may be coupled to a rear surface of the second cross member40and each internal surface of the two rear side members10.

In various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the battery lower fixing unit70may serve to fix a lower portion of the high-voltage battery1provided in the battery mounting space51of the front floor panel50to each of the first cross member20and the two side sills30.

The battery lower fixing unit70may be positioned at each of the first cross member20and the two side sills30.

As shown inFIG.5AandFIG.5B, the battery lower fixing unit70may include a plurality of weld bolts71and a plurality of weld nuts73.

The plurality of weld bolts71may be positioned on a lower surface of the first cross member20.

The plurality of weld bolts71may be coupled (e.g., welded) to the lower surface of the first cross member20and extending vertically from the lower surface.

Here, the plurality of weld bolts71may be inserted into a plurality of bolt fastening portions positioned in the high-voltage battery1and may be fastened to a plurality of nuts.

The plurality of weld nuts73may be positioned on each lower surface of the two side sills30.

The plurality of weld nuts73may be coupled (e.g., welded) to each lower surface of the two side sills30, and connected to a plurality of fastening holes75formed in each lower surface of the two side sills30.

The plurality of weld nuts73may be inserted into the plurality of nut fastening portions positioned in the high-voltage battery1and may be fastened to the plurality of bolts.

Here, as shown inFIG.5A,FIG.5BandFIG.6, each of the first cross member20and the two side sills30may be configured to form a rectangular battery mounting section77by the plurality of weld bolts71, the plurality of weld nuts73and the front floor panel50, based on a direction toward a bottom surface of the front floor panel50.

Referring toFIG.2andFIG.3, in various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the battery upper fixing unit80may serve to fix an upper portion of the high-voltage battery1provided in the battery mounting space51of the front floor panel50to an upper internal surface of the front floor panel50.

The battery upper fixing unit80may be positioned at a lower internal side of the front floor panel50.

The battery upper fixing unit80may include at least one mounting bracket81coupled to the upper internal surface of the front floor panel50.

The at least one mounting bracket81may be joined to a front center portion of the front floor panel50from the upper internal surface of the front floor panel50through a joint flange83.

Meanwhile, the floor structure of the rear vehicle body100according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure configured as described above may include a rear floor front portion91positioned on a front side, a rear floor center portion92positioned on a central side, and a rear floor rear portion93positioned on a rear side.

The rear floor front portion91may be formed by the first cross member20, each of the two side sills30, and the front floor panel50.

The above-described battery mounting space51may be formed in the rear floor front portion91.

Accordingly, the high-voltage battery1may be provided in the battery mounting space51of the rear floor front portion91formed by the first cross member20, each of the two side sills30and the front floor panel50.

The rear floor center portion92may be formed at the rear of the rear floor front portion91by each of the first cross member20, the second cross member40and the two rear side members10.

The rear floor center portion92may have a rectangular shape by each of the first cross member20, the second cross member40and the two rear side members10.

A shock absorber cover panel95may be coupled to an upper surface of each or at least one of the two rear side members10positioned between the first cross member20and the second cross member40in the rear floor center portion92.

Furthermore, at least one chassis arm mounting member97may be coupled to an external surface of each of the two rear side members10.

Furthermore, the drive motor3and the inverter5may be provided in the rear floor center portion92formed by each of the first cross member20, the second cross member40and the two rear side members10.

That is, the drive motor3and the inverter5may be provided in the space SP formed by the first cross member20, the second cross member40and the two rear side members10.

Furthermore, the corresponding drive motor3and inverter5may be provided on a lower side of the rear floor center portion92, and at least one hydrogen tank6may be provided in the space SP formed by each of the first cross member20, the second cross member40and the two rear side members10.

That is, the at least one hydrogen tank6may be provided above the drive motor3and the inverter5.

The drive motor3, the inverter5and the at least one hydrogen tank6may be positioned on a mounting unit (e.g., mounting bracket) coupled to each of the first cross member20, the second cross member40and the two rear side members10.

The rear floor rear portion93may be formed at the rear of the rear floor center portion92by the second cross member40, each of the two rear side members10and the rear floor panel60.

The 12V battery7may be provided on an upper surface of the rear floor panel60in the rear floor rear portion93formed by each of the second cross member40and the two rear side members10.

Furthermore, a cooling module9may be provided on a lower surface of the rear floor panel60by each of the second cross member40and the two rear side members10.

The 12V battery7and the cooling module9may be provided on a mounting unit (e.g., mounting bracket) coupled to the second cross member40, each of the two rear side members10and the rear floor panel60.

Hereinafter, the description describes an operation of the floor structure of the rear vehicle body100according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure configured as described above in detail with reference toFIGS.1to6.

First provided are the first cross member20, each of the two side sills30, and the rear floor front portion91formed by the front floor panel50.

Also provided is the rear floor center portion92formed at the rear of the rear floor front portion91by each of the first cross member20, the second cross member40and the two rear side members10.

Further provided is the rear floor rear portion93formed at the rear of the rear floor center portion92by the second cross member40, each of the two rear side members10and the rear floor panel60.

Here, the battery mounting space51may be formed in the rear floor front portion91.

Furthermore, the rear floor center portion92may have the rectangular shape by each of the first cross member20, the second cross member40and the two rear side members10.

In the floor structure of the rear vehicle body100, the high-voltage battery1may be provided in the battery mounting space51of the rear floor front portion91.

The lower portion of the high-voltage battery1may be fastened to the plurality of weld bolts71positioned on the lower surface of the first cross member20.

Furthermore, the lower portion of the high-voltage battery1may be fastened to the plurality of weld bolts73positioned on each lower surface of the two side sills30.

The lower portion of the high-voltage battery1may be fastened to the plurality of weld bolts71and the plurality of weld nuts73in the rectangular battery mounting section77.

In the floor structure of the rear vehicle body100, the drive motor3, the inverter5and the at least one hydrogen tank6may be provided in the rear floor center portion92.

The drive motor3and the inverter5may be provided on the lower side of the rear floor center portion92, and the at least one hydrogen tank6may be provided on an upper side thereof.

In the floor structure of the rear vehicle body100, the 12V battery7and the cooling module9may be provided in the rear floor rear portion93.

In the rear floor rear portion93, the 12V battery7may be provided on the upper surface of the rear floor panel60, and the cooling module9may be provided on the lower surface of the rear floor panel60.

Accordingly, the floor structure of the rear vehicle body100according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may secure the space SP in which the high-voltage battery1, the drive motor3, the inverter5, and the hydrogen tank6, the 12V battery7and the cooling module9are mounted in a limited space of the rear portion of the vehicle body.

Furthermore, in the floor structure of the rear vehicle body100according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the two rear side members10, the first cross member20and the second cross member40may be coupled to one another in a set shape (e.g.,4shape).

Accordingly, the floor structure of the rear vehicle body100according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may reinforce connectivity of the members to increase the skeletal rigidity which may counter a shear stress and a torsional deformation.

Furthermore, the floor structure of the rear vehicle body100according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may effectively distribute a crash load transmitted to the vehicle width direction and the vehicle front and rear direction when the side crash and rear crash of the vehicle occur.

Accordingly, the floor structure of the rear vehicle body100according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may minimize damage to the components such as the high-voltage battery1and injury to a passenger when the vehicle crash occurs.