Vehicle rear body structure and method for manufacturing thereof

#The present invention relates to a vehicle rear body structure.

#Conventionally, the rear body structure of a vehicle includes a series of structures, located at the rear of the fuel tank, which are intended to absorb impact energy by deforming in response to an impact at the rear of the vehicle, and thus protect the fuel tank in the case of such an impact. These structures include a rear bumper beam and crash boxes, located between the rear ends of the rear rails of the rear body structure and the bumper beam.

#The rear rails are located in front of the crash boxes. They conventionally have a resistance that is greater than that of the bumper beam and of the crash boxes and are intended for transferring the impact forces to the structural elements of the vehicle body. A front portion of the rear rails extends alongside the fuel tank of the vehicle, which is usually located at the rear end of the vehicle, in front of the wheel casings.

#Other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood from reading of the following description, given with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective bottom view of a portion of a vehicle rear body structure according to a particular embodiment;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a vehicle rear body structure according to a particular embodiment; and

#In the following description, the terms inner, outer, front, rear, transversal, longitudinal, vertical, horizontal, top and bottom are construed with reference to the usual orientation of the illustrated elements, parts or structures when assembled on a vehicle structure, the vehicle lying on a horizontal plane.

#A vehicle rear body structure 2 according to an embodiment is illustrated on FIG. 1. The vehicle front body structure 2 may be a rear body structure of any kind of four wheel vehicle, in particular a front body structure of a unitized body.

#The vehicle front body structure 2 comprises a frame assembly 4. The frame assembly 4 comprises two rear rails 10, 12 and a rear bumper beam 21.