IP Library Granted Patent US 8,480,102
Granted Patent B2
US 8,480,102 · App. 13/162,258 · Granted Jul 9, 2013

Lower vehicle-body structure of vehicle

Inventors: Ken Yamada (Hiroshima, JP); Kazuki Yamauchi (Hiroshima, JP); Hiroaki Takeshita (Hiroshima, JP); Masanobu Fukushima (Hiroshima, JP)
Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,480,102
App. No.
13/162,258
Granted
Jul 9, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a lower vehicle-body structure of a vehicle, there is provided a rear connecting member swingably supporting a rear portion of a lower arm at a sub frame and a front side frame, the rear connecting member comprising a support portion to support the lower arm, a fifth connection portion to connect the sub frame and the support portion, and a fourth connection portion to connect the front side frame and the support portion. Further, there is provided a separation mechanism to separate the fourth connection portion off the front side frame in the vehicle frontal collision. Accordingly, the sub frame and the lower arm are separated off the front side frame by the separation mechanism.

Claims (20)

1. A lower vehicle-body structure of a vehicle, comprising:

a pair of front side frames extending in a longitudinal direction at both sides of a front portion of a vehicle body;

a sub frame arranged between the front side frames and supporting a suspension member;

a pair of arm members constituting part of the suspension member;

a front connecting member swingably supporting a front portion of each arm member at the sub frame;

a rear connecting member swingably supporting a rear portion of each arm member at the sub frame and each front side frame, the rear connecting member comprising a support portion to support each arm member, a first connection portion to connect a connected portion of the sub frame and the support portion, and a second connection portion to connect a connected portion of each front side frame and the support portion; and

a separation mechanism to separate the second connection portion of the rear connecting member from each front side frame by an impact load from a vehicle front in a vehicle frontal collision.

2. The lower vehicle-body structure of a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the second connection portion of said rear connecting member is fastened to the connected portion of each front side frame via a fastening member, and said separation mechanism comprises a separation promotion portion to promote a downward separation of the fastening member from the connected portion of each front side frame by the impact load from the vehicle front in the vehicle frontal collision.

3. The lower vehicle-body structure of a vehicle of claim 2 , wherein said separation promotion portion of the separation mechanism comprises a slot-shaped opening portion which is formed at the connected portion of each front side frame to assist the downward separation of said fastening member from the connected portion of each front side frame.

4. The lower vehicle-body structure of a vehicle of claim 3 , wherein said separation mechanism constitutes a first separation mechanism, and a second separation mechanism is further provided, the second separation mechanism being configured to separate a third connection portion which supports a rear end portion of said sub frame and the vehicle body from the vehicle body by an impact load from the vehicle front in the vehicle frontal collision.

5. The lower vehicle-body structure of a vehicle of claim 4 , wherein said second separation mechanism comprises a deformation promotion portion provided between the connected portion of said sub frame and said third connection portion.

6. The lower vehicle-body structure of a vehicle of claim 5 , wherein said deformation promotion portion is a bead.

7. The lower vehicle-body structure of a vehicle of claim 2 , wherein said separation mechanism constitutes a first separation mechanism, and a second separation mechanism is further provided, the second separation mechanism being configured to separate a third connection portion which supports a rear end portion of said sub frame and the vehicle body from the vehicle body by an impact load from the vehicle front in the vehicle frontal collision.

8. The lower vehicle-body structure of a vehicle of claim 7 , wherein said second separation mechanism comprises a deformation promotion portion provided between the connected portion of said sub frame and said third connection portion.

9. The lower vehicle-body structure of a vehicle of claim 8 , wherein said deformation promotion portion is a bead.

10. The lower vehicle-body structure of a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said sub frame comprises a suspension cross member extending in a vehicle width direction and supporting said pair of arm members and a pair of longitudinal members extending in the longitudinal direction below said pair of front side frames and attached to a front portion of the suspension cross member.

11. The lower vehicle-body structure of a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a resilient member resiliently supporting each arm member is provided at the support portion of said rear connecting member.

12. The lower vehicle-body structure of a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said separation mechanism constitutes a first separation mechanism, and a second separation mechanism is further provided, the second separation mechanism being configured to separate a third connection portion which supports a rear end portion of said sub frame and the vehicle body from the vehicle body by an impact load from the vehicle front in the vehicle frontal collision.

13. The lower vehicle-body structure of a vehicle of claim 12 , wherein said second separation mechanism comprises a deformation promotion portion provided between the connected portion of said sub frame and said third connection portion.

14. The lower vehicle-body structure of a vehicle of claim 13 , wherein said deformation promotion portion is a bead.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2011
From: YAMADA, KEN; YAMAUCHI, KAZUKI; TAKESHITA, HIROAKI; FUKUSHIMA, MASANOBU
To: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026463/0166 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2010-146123 · Jun 28, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110316295A1 · Dec 29, 2011