JP2014046765A - Charge port structure of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle charging port structure that can sufficiently protect a pedestrian (contact object).
A charging port structure according to the present invention includes a charging port side peripheral wall portion 18a and a charging port side peripheral wall portion that close a gap between a charging bracket 10 and a connector bracket 15 around the charging connectors 12 and 13. The connector bracket side peripheral wall portion 18b has a lower elastic modulus than the connector bracket side peripheral wall portion, and the connector bracket side peripheral wall portion extends from the surface of the connector bracket to the charging port side in the arrangement direction toward the charging port. , Longer than the charging connector. According to this configuration, when a predetermined impact force is transmitted, the connector bracket side peripheral wall portion is deformed and absorbs the applied impact. The peripheral wall of the connector bracket side is longer than the charging connector over the entire circumference of the charging connector in the direction toward the charging port side starting from the surface of the connector bracket. Is ensured and sufficient shock absorbing performance is exhibited.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a charging port structure for a vehicle having a charging port at a longitudinal end portion of a vehicle body.

The charging port structure of a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle is provided with a charging port on the outer plate member at the end portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and is placed in the charging port using an external quick charging device or a household power supply device. There is something that can be charged from the charging connector.
In many of these charging port structures, a charging connector is arranged inside (inside) the charging port, the charging connector is supported on the vehicle body by a plate-shaped connector bracket, and around the charging connector of the connector bracket and the charging port on the peripheral wall portion. A structure is used that closes the gap between the peripheral edge of the opening (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-298263 A

  By the way, in vehicles (electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles) having a charging port on the front side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, the outer plate part where the charging port is arranged is covered by a lid, a connector bracket, a peripheral wall, etc. There is a tendency for rigidity to be higher than the outer plate portion of the vehicle body. For this reason, when the contact target object which contacts the front-end part of a vehicle turns into a pedestrian, there exists a possibility that the part with a charging port may give a burden to a pedestrian.

In particular, in many of electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, a saddle-shaped rubber sheet member as shown in Patent Document 1 simply has a large and small gap around the charging connector, specifically, from the middle stage to the upper part of the charging connector. Since it is arranged so as to block it, the impact force cannot be sufficiently absorbed and the pedestrian cannot be sufficiently protected.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle charging port structure that can sufficiently protect a pedestrian (contact object).

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the peripheral wall provided so as to close the gap between the opening peripheral edge of the charging port and the connector bracket around the charging connector includes a charging port side peripheral wall portion positioned on the charging port side, And a connector bracket side peripheral wall portion formed of a first peripheral wall member that is located on the connector bracket side and has a lower elastic modulus than the charging port side peripheral wall portion, and the connector bracket side peripheral wall portion starts from the surface of the connector bracket In the arrangement direction toward the charging port side, the charging connector is provided longer than the charging connector over the entire circumference of the charging connector.

  According to this configuration, when the longitudinal end of the vehicle body comes into contact with a pedestrian (contact object) and an impact force of a predetermined level or more is transmitted from the outer plate or the peripheral wall portion of the vehicle body, the first peripheral wall member is formed. The connector bracket side peripheral wall is deformed and absorbs the applied impact. In particular, the peripheral wall of the connector bracket side is longer than the charging connector over the entire circumference of the charging connector toward the charging port side starting from the surface of the connector bracket. Therefore, sufficient shock absorbing performance is exhibited. Thus, pedestrian protection (contact object protection) can be sufficiently performed.

Preferably, when the charging port is provided in the bumper portion assembled to the front and rear portions of the vehicle body, the shock absorbing characteristics of the bumper portion are not impaired.
In the invention according to claim 2, the connector bracket is formed of a plate-like member arranged in a direction facing the charging port so that high shock absorption can be secured with a simple structure, and the peripheral wall portion is formed. A cylindrical shape that is oriented almost perpendicular to the plate-shaped connector bracket, and a buckling deformation that exhibits high shock absorption occurs in the peripheral wall portion of the connector bracket formed by the first peripheral wall member. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the charging port side peripheral wall portion is formed of a second peripheral wall member that is deformed by a predetermined impact load so that the shock absorption can be performed by utilizing the charging port side peripheral wall portion. The first peripheral wall member forming the peripheral wall portion is deformed with a smaller impact load than the second peripheral wall member. First, the connector bracket side peripheral wall portion is deformed, and then the charging port side peripheral wall portion is deformed. To absorb the shock.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the charging port side peripheral wall portion forming the joint portion between the charging port side peripheral wall portion and the connector bracket side peripheral wall portion is formed in a protruding shape so that the impact load can be effectively absorbed. The connector bracket side peripheral wall portion is formed in a shape that fits the protruding charging port side peripheral wall portion.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the end of the vehicle body in the front-rear direction comes into contact with an object to be contacted, an impact of a predetermined level or more is applied from the outer plate member or the like to the connector bracket side peripheral wall formed by the first peripheral wall member When force is applied, the connector bracket side peripheral wall portion is deformed (destroyed). Thereby, when a contact target object is a pedestrian, the impact force which acts on a pedestrian is absorbed. In addition, the connector bracket side peripheral wall portion is provided longer than the charging connector over the entire circumference of the charging connector in the arrangement direction toward the charging port side starting from the surface of the connector bracket. The length is secured and sufficient shock absorbing performance is exhibited.

Therefore, it is possible to sufficiently protect the pedestrian (protect the contact object).
According to the invention of claim 2, the connector bracket side peripheral wall portion formed of the first peripheral wall member has a simple structure in which the cylindrical peripheral wall portion is arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plate-shaped connector bracket. Since it causes buckling deformation, high shock absorption can be secured.
According to the invention of claim 3, not only the connector bracket side peripheral wall portion but also the charging port side peripheral wall portion can be utilized to absorb the applied impact force, and the pedestrian (contact object) can be more effectively obtained. Can be protected.

  According to the invention of claim 4, when an impact load is applied, at the joint between the charging port side peripheral wall portion and the connector bracket side peripheral wall portion, the connector bracket side peripheral wall portion end is cut at the charging port side peripheral wall end. The impact load can be absorbed by the resistance at this time, and the impact load can be absorbed more effectively.

The perspective view which shows the charge port structure which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention with the front-end part of the vehicle in which the charge port structure was installed. Sectional drawing of the charging port structure which follows the AA line in FIG. The side view which shows the state which the front-end part of the vehicle contacted the pedestrian. Sectional drawing which shows the behavior (deformation | transformation) of an impact-absorbing member when it contacts. Sectional drawing which shows the behavior (deformation | transformation) of the impact-absorbing member and other surrounding wall part when the same contact. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the principal part of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on a first embodiment shown in FIGS.
FIG. 1 shows a front view of a vehicle to which the present invention is applied and which can be charged from the outside, such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.
Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle body of the vehicle, 2 denotes a front window provided on the front side of the vehicle body 1, and 3 denotes a power unit room (not shown) located on the front side of the vehicle body from the front window 2. ) Shows the hood that covers the upper opening of 4), and 4 shows a bumper portion provided on the front side of the hood 3.

  Among these, the bumper portion 4 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 2 (a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1), a bumper beam 7 (a beam member extending in the vehicle width direction) disposed at the front portion of the vehicle body 1. And a bumper face 8 disposed in the vicinity of the front of the bumper beam 7. For the bumper face 8, a face member is used in which a lower face 8 a that covers the front side of the bumper beam 7 and an upper face 8 b that covers a front portion between the lower face 8 a and the foremost part of the hood 3 are integrally formed. That is, when an impact is applied to the front side of the vehicle body 1, the bumper face 8 is deformed and the impact force is reduced. Further, when the deformation of the bumper face 8 reaches the bumper beam 7, the bumper beam 7 is deformed to absorb the impact force.

In the vehicle body 1, a charging port structure is provided on an outer plate member that constitutes a front end that is an end in the front-rear direction, for example, an upper face 8 b of the bumper face 8. As shown in FIG. 1, for example, a structure in which a charging port 10 that is closed with a plate-shaped lid 10 a is provided at the center of the upper face 8 b in the vehicle width direction is used as the charging port structure.
The charging port structure includes, for example, two types of guns such as a quick charging gun 11 (charging socket: shown in FIG. 1) of a quick charging device and a normal charging gun (charging socket: not shown) connected to a household power supply device. A structure that enables connection is used. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, a rectangular charging port 10 extending in the vehicle width direction is formed at the center of the upper face 8b in the vehicle width direction, and the charging port 10 is formed inside the vehicle body 1 from the charging port 10. Two types of charging connectors, that is, a quick charging connector 12 and a normal charging connector 13, a connector bracket 15 that supports both connectors 12, 13 on the vehicle body 1, and a gap around both connectors 12, 13 are closed. A structure in which the peripheral wall portion 17 is assembled is used.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector bracket 15 is formed of, for example, a plate-shaped metal member disposed to face the charging port 10. The bracket 15 is firmly fixed to a vehicle body constituting member such as a bumper beam 7 or another skeleton member (not shown). The quick charging connector 12 and the normal charging connector 13 are assembled on the plate surface of the connector bracket 15 side by side in the vehicle width direction. Both connectors 12 and 13 penetrate the connector bracket 15, and cylindrical input portions 12 a and 13 a that receive power from the charging gun protrude from the upper surface of the connector bracket 15. Incidentally, lid members 12b and 13b for closing connection ports (not shown) of the input units 12a and 13a are attached to the uppermost portions of the input units 12a and 13a, respectively. The output portions 12 c and 13 c that output power protrude from the lower surface of the connector bracket 15. These output units 12b and 13b are connected to a battery unit mounted on the vehicle body 1 or a normal charger (both not shown) via various cables 19, and using a quick charger or a household power supply. Charging is possible.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the peripheral wall portion 17 has a cylindrical shape (rectangular frame shape) that follows the edge shape of the opening peripheral edge portion 10 b of the charging port 10. One end of the cylindrical peripheral wall portion 17 is fixed to the peripheral edge of the opening of the charging port 10, here fixed by the fitting portion 20. By this fixing, the other end portion of the peripheral wall portion 17 is disposed so as to extend to the upper surface of the connector bracket 15 around the charging connectors 12 and 13, and the opening peripheral portion 10 b of the charging port 10 and the charging connector are formed in the entire peripheral wall portion 17. A gap between the upper surfaces of the connector brackets 15 around 12 and 13 is closed.

  A vehicle having such a charging port 10 has a cover 10a, a connector bracket 15 and a peripheral wall portion 17 in which an outer plate portion where the charging port 10 is arranged, here a central portion in the vehicle width direction of the bumper portion 4 is assembled. For example, if the front end of the vehicle comes into contact with a contact object, such as a pedestrian, the pedestrian may be burdened.

Therefore, the charging port structure is devised to protect pedestrians (contact objects).
For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 2, the peripheral wall portion 17 has two bodies including a charging port side peripheral wall portion 18a positioned on the charging port 10 side and a connector bracket side peripheral wall portion 18b positioned on the connector bracket 15 side. The connector bracket side peripheral wall portion 18b has a structure and a wall portion 22 formed of a member having a lower elastic modulus than the charging port side peripheral wall portion 18a, for example, a rubber member (shock absorbing member) (corresponding to the first peripheral wall member of the present application) The wall portion 22 is formed in a region at least from the end on the connector bracket 15 side to a point beyond the uppermost portion of the connectors 12 and 13 (charging connector). Specifically, the rubber wall portion 22 (connector bracket side peripheral wall portion 18b) is formed from the end portion on the connector bracket 15 side to a point t slightly beyond the uppermost portions of the connectors 12 and 13. The rubber wall portion 22 (connector bracket side peripheral wall portion 18b) is thus connected to the connector 12 in the direction (X in FIG. 2) toward the charging port 10 side with the surface (upper surface) of the connector bracket 15 as a starting point. , 13 is provided longer than the connectors 12, 13 over the entire circumference. T in FIG. 2 indicates a region up to the point t beyond the top of the connectors 12 and 13. Thereby, the wall part 22 has ensured sufficient full length (length) to absorb an impact in the perimeter. That is, when an impact force exceeding the collision load of the wall portion 22 (impact force greater than a predetermined value) is applied due to contact with the pedestrian, the wall portion 22 is deformed (destructed) under a sufficient shock absorption stroke. And absorb the applied impact force.

In particular, the plate-like connector bracket 15 is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the connectors 12 and 13 so that high shock absorption can be obtained with the rubber wall portion 22, and the peripheral wall portion 17 is formed with the plate-like connector bracket. 15 is arranged in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to 15. That is, the rubber wall portion 22 has a structure in which buckling deformation that exhibits high shock absorption occurs.
Further, among the peripheral wall portions 17 arranged in a vertical direction so as to be able to absorb the impact by utilizing the peripheral wall portion other than the rubber wall portion 22, the charging port 10 outside the T range that forms the charging port side peripheral wall portion 18a. From the end on the opening peripheral edge 10b side to a point close to the top of the connectors 12 and 13, a peripheral wall member that deforms with a predetermined impact load δ1, for example, a peripheral wall of a synthetic resin member (corresponding to the second peripheral wall member of the present application) From the point exceeding the uppermost part of the connectors 12 and 13 in the T range forming the connector bracket side peripheral wall portion 18b to the end portion on the connector bracket 15 side, the synthetic resin member forming the charging port side peripheral wall portion 18b is used. Also, it is formed of a rubber member that is deformed by a small impact load δ2, and has a structure that can absorb impact according to the magnitude of the applied impact force by the two-body structure (δ1> δ2). Of course, both members are joined (connected).

Next, the operation of the charging port structure configured as described above will be described.
Here, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, just before the vehicle stops, the lid 10a of the charging port 10b, which is the front of the vehicle, the bumper face portion (upper face 8b) around it, and the pedestrian a (contact object) Suppose the case is in contact with the object.
At this time, the impact force accompanying the contact is transmitted to the connector bracket 15 via the peripheral wall portion 17 from the lid body 10a, the upper face 8b (bumper portion 4) and the like. At this time, it is assumed that the applied impact force F exceeds the collision load set on the rubber wall 22, that is, the set collision load value set for contact with the pedestrian a. Then, as shown in the Y part of FIG. 4, the rubber wall portion 22 undergoes buckling deformation, and the impact force F is absorbed along with the deformation of the upper face 8b and the lid body 10a which are deformed together with the buckling deformation, The pedestrian a is protected from the impact force F.

  At this time, the rubber wall 22 extends from the surface (upper surface) of the connector bracket 15 over the entire circumference of the connectors 12 and 13 in the arrangement direction toward the charging port 10 side. Specifically, the wall portion 22 is formed to a point slightly beyond the uppermost portions of the connectors 12 and 13, and has a full length (length) sufficient to absorb an impact over the entire circumference of the connectors 12 and 13. Secured. Therefore, the wall portion 22 is deformed (destructed) under a sufficient shock absorbing stroke and sufficiently absorbs the impact force F.

When the applied impact force is large, the remaining synthetic resin peripheral wall portion, that is, the charging port side peripheral wall portion 18a is deformed (destructed) following the deformation of the rubber wall portion 22, as shown in the Z portion of FIG. Wake up. This further absorbs the impact and protects the pedestrian a from the impact force F.
Therefore, even in a vehicle in which the charging port 10 is arranged at the end portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle (here, the front end portion), it is possible to sufficiently protect the pedestrian (protect the contact object). In particular, when the charging port 10 is provided in the bumper part 4, the charging port structure sufficiently absorbs the shock, so that the shock absorption characteristic of the bumper part 4 is not impaired.

In addition, since the cylindrical peripheral wall portion 17 is arranged substantially perpendicular to the connector bracket 15, the rubber wall portion 22 can cause buckling deformation resulting in high shock absorption, and has a simple structure and high height. Shock absorption can be secured.
In addition, since the peripheral wall portion 17 is composed of a synthetic resin peripheral wall portion and a rubber peripheral wall portion, an impact force F applied by utilizing not only the rubber wall portion 22 but also other peripheral wall portions. Can be absorbed, and pedestrians (contact objects) can be more effectively protected.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, the impact force is absorbed not only by buckling deformation of the rubber wall portion 22 but also by other deformations.
Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the end of the cylindrical charging port side peripheral wall 18a made of synthetic resin and the end of the rubber cylindrical connector bracket side peripheral wall 18b are formed. Of the joined portions to be joined, the end of the charging port side peripheral wall portion 18a is formed into a taper portion 25 having a projecting shape, for example, an acute triangular cross section, and the end of the connector bracket side peripheral wall portion 18 is tapered. When a collision load is applied to a shape that fits the portion 25, for example, a V-shaped portion 26, the tip of the tapered portion 25 enters the bottom side of the V-shaped portion 26 as shown in FIG. The taper portion 25 cuts the wall portion 22 from the bottom side of the V-shaped portion 26 and absorbs the impact force F by resistance when the wall portion 22 is torn. Thus, the joint portion between the cylindrical charging port side peripheral wall portion 18a made of synthetic resin and the rubber cylindrical connector bracket side peripheral wall portion 18b has a protruding shape on the charging port side peripheral wall portion 18a made of synthetic resin. By forming the rubber connector bracket side peripheral wall portion 18b into a shape that fits the protruding synthetic resin charging port side peripheral wall portion 18a, the protruding synthetic resin charging port side peripheral wall portion 18a is formed. It is possible to effectively absorb the impact load transmitted from the rubber connector bracket side peripheral wall portion 18b to the rubber connector bracket side peripheral wall portion 18b. The shape of the protrusion of the charging port side peripheral wall portion 18a at the joint is not limited to the acute triangular cross section as described above, and may be a convex cross section, or of course other structures.

Even if it does in this way, there exists an effect similar to one Embodiment. However, in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the same parts as those in the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the rubber connector bracket side peripheral wall portion of the embodiment described above is formed to a point slightly beyond the uppermost portion of the charging connector, but may be formed to a point closer to the charging port, at least the connector bracket. As long as the surface of the charging connector is used as a starting point, it may be formed so as to extend to a point beyond the top of the charging connector. Moreover, although the example which provided the charging port in the bumper part was given in the above-mentioned embodiment, the structure which provided the edge part outer plate of vehicles other than a bumper part, for example, a part of front grill, etc. may be sufficient.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car body 4 Bumper part 10 Charging port 10a Cover body 12,13 Connector for quick charge, connector for normal charge (charge connector)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Connector bracket 17 Peripheral wall part 18a Charging port side peripheral wall part 18b Connector bracket side peripheral wall part 22 Rubber wall part (1st peripheral wall member)

Claims (4)

A charging port provided in an outer plate member constituting a longitudinal end of the vehicle body, a charging connector provided inside the vehicle body from the charging port, a connector bracket for supporting the charging connector on the vehicle body, A charging port structure for a vehicle configured to include an opening peripheral portion of a charging port and a peripheral wall portion provided so as to close a gap between connector brackets around the charging connector,
The peripheral wall portion is formed of a charging port side peripheral wall portion positioned on the charging port side and a first peripheral wall member positioned on the connector bracket side and having a lower elastic modulus than the charging port side peripheral wall portion. A side peripheral wall portion,
The connector bracket side peripheral wall portion is provided longer than the charging connector over the entire circumference of the charging connector in the arrangement direction toward the charging port side with the surface of the connector bracket as a starting point. Vehicle charging port structure. The connector bracket is formed from a plate-like member arranged in a direction facing the charging port,
The charging port structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall portion has a cylindrical shape that is substantially perpendicular to the plate-shaped connector bracket. The charging port side peripheral wall portion is formed of a second peripheral wall member that is deformed by a predetermined impact load, and the first peripheral wall member forming the connector bracket side peripheral wall portion is smaller than the second peripheral wall member. The vehicle charging port structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the charging port structure is deformed by an impact load.   The joint between the charging port side peripheral wall portion and the connector bracket side peripheral wall portion is such that the charging port side peripheral wall portion is formed in a protruding shape, and the connector bracket side peripheral wall portion is the protruding shape of the charging port side peripheral wall portion. The charging port structure for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the charging port structure is formed in a fitting shape.

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