JP2002145119A - Car body front part structure of automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reinforce the rigidity for the vibration inputted through a suspension tower of an apron upper member. SOLUTION: In a car body front part structure of an automobile provided with the suspension tower 2 provided on left and right side walls of an engine room, a suspension plate 20 blocking its upper end to support a suspension, and the apron upper member 1 provided in the longitudinal direction along an upper fringe of the side wall to connect a rear end with a front pillar 5 and having a closed cross section so as to connect a side fringe 22 on the outside of the car of the suspension plate 20 with a lower fringe of the apron upper member 1, the apron upper member 1 is provided with a partitioning wall 13 partitioning it into upper and lower parts to provide the apron upper member 1 with a two upper and lower layer closed cross section structure composed of a first closed cross section X1 on the upper side and a second closed cross section X2 on the lower side, a rear end part of the second closed cross section X2 is enlarged downward toward the rear, and a rear end part of the apron upper member 1 is formed into a vertically long shape and is connected to a front face of the front pillar 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a front structure of a vehicle body of an automobile, and more particularly to a structure of an apron upper member for supporting a suspension tower provided on right and left side walls of an engine room.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG.
The suspension tower 2 having a cylindrical shape is provided at an intermediate position between the front and rear of the vehicle, the upper end of the suspension tower 2 is closed by a suspension plate 20, and the upper end of a strud S of the suspension is supported by the suspension plate 20.
The suspension tower 2 has a lower end coupled to the front side member 4, and extends a lateral edge of the upper end of the suspension plate 20 on the outer side of the vehicle along the upper edge of the apron 3 in the front-rear direction, and includes an inner panel 1 a and an outer panel 1 d. It has a closed cross section, and its rear end is connected to the lower edge of the apron upper member 1A connected to the front pillar 5. FIG.
Numeral 7 denotes a cowl extending in the vehicle width direction between the left and right joints where the rear end of the apron upper member 1A and the front pillar 5 are joined.

[0003]

By the way, in a high vehicle such as a semi-bonnet type wagon having an engine room formed in the front of the vehicle room, the apron upper member 1A constituting the upper edge of the side wall of the engine room is vertically elongated. The height of the bonnet is increased by forming a closed cross-sectional shape to increase the height dimension. However, in the apron upper member 1A having a vertically long closed cross-sectional shape, the rigidity of the suspension straddle S acting via the suspension plate 20 coupled to the lower edge thereof, especially the vibration in the lateral direction, is not necessarily sufficient. The cross-sectional shape of 1A may be lost. The section collapse of the apron upper member 1A may affect the steering stability of the vehicle.

[0004] Conventionally, a performance rod R is provided between the left and right suspension plates 20 in the vehicle width direction to suppress the vibration of the suspension plates 20. However, the cost increases due to the provision of the performance rod R, and the performance rod R
Because the vehicle crosses the engine room in the vehicle width direction, there are difficulties in the arrangement relationship with parts installed in the engine room and the workability during service in the engine room.

[0005] Accordingly, the present invention enhances the rigidity of the apron upper member against vibration input from the suspension,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle body front structure that suppresses a section collapse of an apron upper member and improves a vehicle's steering stability.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a tubular suspension tower installed on the left and right side walls of an engine room, a suspension plate for closing the upper end of the suspension tower to support the upper end of the suspension, and the left and right side walls. An apron upper member having a closed cross section that is provided in the front-rear direction along an upper edge of the suspension plate and has a rear end coupled to a front pillar. In the vehicle body front structure joined along, the apron upper member is provided with a partition wall for vertically partitioning the apron upper member so that the apron upper member is separated from an upper first closed section and a lower second closed section. The upper end of the second closed cross section is formed so as to extend rearward and downward toward the rear. The rear end portion of Pamenba formed vertically elongated shape, couples the terminal after the apron upper member in front of the front pillar (claim 1). The apron upper member is composed of a closed section with two layers, upper and lower, and only the rear end is longer than the general part and is connected to the front pillar, so that the rigidity against horizontal vibrations acting from the suspension plate is enhanced. .

The apron upper member is formed between a vertical wall-shaped inner panel provided in the front-rear direction along the upper edge of the side wall, and a substantially U-shaped cross-section opening toward the inside of the vehicle and having an upper edge formed between the inner panel. The outer panel joined along the outer surface and the lower edge joined along the lower edge of the inner panel constitutes the second closed section, and the inner panel and the upper edge are arranged along the upper edge of the inner panel. The first closed cross section is constituted by a gusset that is coupled and a lower edge thereof is coupled along a side surface on the vehicle outer side of the outer panel and an upper surface portion of the outer panel that partitions between the gusset and the second closed cross section, It has a closed cross-sectional structure of upper and lower two layers composed of both first and second closed cross sections. The lower edge rear end of the inner panel and the lower edge rear end of the outer panel combined with the inner panel are formed in a slanting shape toward the rear obliquely downward to form a vertically elongated shape in which the rear end of the apron upper member is expanded downward. The rear end of the apron upper member is longitudinally connected to the front surface of the front pillar, and the lower edge of the apron upper member is connected to the outer side edge of the suspension plate (claim 2). An apron upper member having a closed cross section of upper and lower layers and having a rear end portion that is longer than the general portion is effectively realized.

A brace is provided between the inner side surface of the apron upper member and the suspension plate, and an outer edge of the brace is provided at an intermediate portion of the inner side surface of the apron upper member. The brace is integrally connected to the wall, and the inside edge of the brace is connected to the suspension plate. By coupling the suspension plate with the apron upper member and the suspension plate, each of which has a stiffness enhanced as a two-layer closed cross section, a structure having higher rigidity against lateral vibrations applied from the suspension plate can be realized.

[0009] Between the suspension plate and a cowl bottom wall extending above and below the rear end of the apron upper member and the front pillar, the left and right sides of the suspension plate extending in the vehicle width direction. , The bottom wall of the cowl,
A reinforcement is provided for connecting the suspension plate and the apron upper member to the inner side surface of the vehicle (claim 4). The horizontal and vertical vibration inputs applied to the suspension plate are transmitted to the cowl and the front pillar via the reinforcement, and the load on the apron upper member is reduced.

In the second closed cross section of the apron upper member, a bulkhead for dividing the second closed cross section back and forth is provided at a position corresponding to the reinforcement. By providing the bulkhead, the rigidity of the apron upper member against vibration input is further enhanced.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the side wall of an engine room to which the present invention is applied, viewed from the inside of the vehicle, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the side wall of the engine room, viewed from the outside of the vehicle, and FIG. FIG. 3 (B) shows III B-III of FIG. 3 (A).
FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view along the line B. The left and right side walls of the engine room have the same structure, and the following description will focus on one side wall.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A, the side wall of the engine room is formed of an apron 3 erected on an outer plate of a front side member 4 having a closed cross section extending in the vehicle front-rear direction.
The lower half of the apron 3 forms a wheel house 30 of a front tire (not shown) in an arch shape.

A cylindrical suspension tower 2 is provided upright at an intermediate position between the front and rear of the wheel house 30. The lower edge of the vertical wall 21 of the suspension tower 2 is connected to the front side member 4, and both front and rear edges of the vertical wall 21 are connected to the apron 3. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A and 3B,
A suspension plate 20 is provided at the upper end opening of the suspension tower 2 so as to close it. The suspension plate 20 is formed by welding the inner edge of the vehicle to the upper edge of the vertical wall 21 and the outer edge 22 of the outer side is welded to the lower edge of the apron upper member 1 extending in the front-rear direction along the upper edge of the engine room side wall. is there. And the suspension tower 2
Has a straddle S of a suspension that supports the front tires therein, and connects the upper end of the strud S to the suspension plate 20 to support the straddle S.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3A and 3B, the apron upper member 1 includes an inner panel 1a, an outer panel 1b provided outside the inner panel 1a, and a gusset 1c. I have. The inner panel 1a has a substantially inverted L-shape in cross section including a vertical wall-like side surface portion 10 extending in the front-rear direction and an upper surface portion 11 having an upper end bent toward the outside of the vehicle. It is formed in an inclined tapered shape. The lower edge of the inner panel 1a is connected substantially horizontally along the upper edge of the front half of the apron 3 and the outer edge 22 of the suspension plate 20, and the rear edge of the lower edge extending rearward from the suspension tower 2 is slanted rearward and downward. The apron 3 is formed so as to extend in an inclined shape and is joined along the upper edge of the rear half of the apron 3, and the rear end of the inner panel 1 a has a vertical width that is increased downward.

The outer panel 1b has a substantially U-shaped cross section which is open to the inside of the vehicle, having a vertical side surface portion 12 on the outside of the vehicle and an upper surface portion 13 and a lower surface portion 14 whose upper and lower ends are bent inward. In the outer panel 1b, the vertical width of the side surface portion 12 is about half of the vertical width of the inner panel 1a, and the front and rear lengths are shorter at the front end side than at the inner panel 1a. The upper panel 13 of the outer panel 1b has its left-right width adjusted to the inner panel 1.
The upper panel 11a has substantially the same width as the upper panel 11 and is slightly inclined downward as in the upper panel 11 of the inner panel 1a.

The outer panel 1b has a length extending from a position slightly forward of the suspension tower 2 to the rear end of the inner panel 1a, and has an upper edge flange formed at an edge of the upper surface portion 13 formed on the outer surface of the side wall 10 of the inner panel 1a. In addition to being welded to the intermediate position along the front-rear direction, the lower edge flange formed on the edge of the lower surface portion 14 of the outer panel 1b is welded to the lower edge of the inner panel 1a, and the outer panel 1b and the side surface 10 of the inner panel 1a are welded. The lower half forms a closed section X2. The rear end of the lower edge of the outer panel 1b extending rearward from the suspension tower 2 extends obliquely downward and rearward in a manner corresponding to the rear end of the lower edge of the inner panel 1a, and the rear end of the closed section X2 is rearward. The cross-sectional area gradually increases toward. The front end of the closed section X2 is closed by the front surface of the outer panel 1b.

Further, a gusset 1c is provided on the outer side of the inner panel 1a just above the outer panel 1b. The gusset 1c is a substantially flat plate body, and the upper edge thereof is welded along the upper edge flange of the upper surface 11 of the inner panel 1a, and the lower edge of the gusset 1c is formed along the outer edge of the side surface 12 of the outer panel 1b. Gusset 1c,
Upper half of inner panel 1a and outer panel 1b
Together with the upper surface portion 13 constitute a closed section X1.

Thus, the apron upper member 1
A portion extending from the front position to the rear end of the suspension tower 2 is a two-layered upper and lower closed cross-sectional structure including an upper first closed cross section X1 and a lower second closed cross section X2. The cross-sectional area is enlarged downward, and the rear end is welded to the front surface of the intermediate portion of the front pillar 5. The middle part of the front pillar 5 has a triangular fixed window opening 50.
And a projecting portion 51 projecting forward is formed. The apron upper member 1 couples the rear end of the first closed section X1 to the front surface of the overhang portion 51 of the front pillar 5,
The rear end of the second closed section X2 is joined from the front surface to the lower surface of the overhang portion 51 of the pillar 5.

A cowl 7 extends between the rear ends of the left and right apron upper members 1 and the front pillar 5 in the vehicle width direction (FIG. 1). The cowl 7 has a closed cross-sectional structure including a cowl upper 70, an upper end portion of a dash panel 71, and a cowl lower 72. The front end of the front pillar 5 is connected to the rear end of the cross-section X1 at the connection position. FIG.
M in (A) is a radiator support member.

When the vehicle is running, vibration acts on the lower end of the apron upper member 1 from the suspension straddle S via the suspension plate 20. In this case, the apron upper member 1 has a vertically long overall cross-sectional shape, but the upper part 13 of the outer panel 1b is used as a partition wall, and the apron upper member 1 is composed of a first closed section X1 and a second closed section X2. The rigid structure of the apron upper member 1 with respect to the above-described vibration, particularly the vibration in the left-right direction, is strengthened because of the closed cross-sectional structure of the upper and lower layers. Also, the apron upper member 1 has its rear end portion expanded downward to be vertically long,
Since the rear end is vertically connected to the front surface of the front pillar 5, the coupling strength between the apron upper member 1 and the front pillar 5 is enhanced, and the apron upper member 1 is firmly supported by the front pillar 5. In this way, the section collapse of the apron upper member 1 can be prevented, and the vibration of the suspension plate 20 can be effectively suppressed.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The basic structure is the same as the previous embodiment. In this embodiment, a brace 6 is provided between the inner surface of the apron upper member 1 and the upper surface of the suspension plate 20.
It is the one that I put on. The brace 6 includes a front wall portion 61 and a rear wall portion 62 each having a substantially right-angled triangular shape facing front and rear,
It is constituted by a press-formed product provided with a connecting portion 63 in the form of an inclined surface connecting the inclined sides of both 61 and 62. Brace 6
The vertical edges of the front wall portion 61 and the rear wall portion 62 and the connecting portion 63
The upper edge of the apron upper member 1 is welded to the inner side surface of the apron upper member 1.
Of the outer panel 1b is integrally welded to the inner panel 1a. The front wall 61 is welded to the front edge of the suspension tower 2, and the bottom edge of the rear wall 62 and the lower edge of the connecting portion 63 are welded to the upper surface of the suspension plate 20.

In this embodiment, the same operation and effect as those of the previous embodiment can be obtained, and the brace 6 is provided between the apron upper member 1 and the suspension plate 20.
In addition, since one end of the brace 6 is connected to the partition wall 13 in the apron upper member 1 in series, stress concentration on the lower edge of the apron upper member 1 due to vibration input from the suspension can be prevented. Since the apron upper member 1 and the suspension plate 20 support each other, the apron upper member 1
And the vibration of the suspension plate 20 can be effectively suppressed.

Still another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The basic structure is the same as that of the previous embodiment. In this embodiment, the suspension plate 20 at the upper end of the suspension tower 2, the cowl lower 72 serving as the bottom wall of the cowl 7 located above, and the inner surface of the apron upper member 1 are arranged. A reinforcement 8 to be connected is provided, and a bulkhead 9 for partitioning the front and rear portions in a second closed cross section X2 below the apron upper member 1 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the reinforcement 8 is formed of a vertical wall-shaped steel plate. The reinforcement 8 is erected between the rear end of the cowl lower 72 of the cowl 7 and the upper end of the rear wall surface of the suspension tower 2 along the vehicle width direction. And the lower edge of the side edge 10 of the inner panel 1a constituting the inner side surface of the second closed cross section X2 of the apron upper member 1 is welded to the lower edge of the inner panel 1a. The suspension plate 20 is overlap-welded to the joint between the rear edge flange and the upper edge of the vertical wall 21.

As shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 9, the bulkhead 9 is a steel plate, and stands upright in the second closed section X2 of the apron upper member 1 at a position corresponding to the reinforcement 8. Yes, the side edge flange on the inside of the vehicle is overlap-welded to the joint between the lower half of the side surface portion 10 of the inner panel 1a of the apron upper member 1 and the side edge flange on the outside of the reinforcement 8 and the upper edge flange and the vehicle The outer side flange and the lower edge flange are overlap-welded to the inner surface of the outer panel 1b of the apron upper member 1 to form a second flange.
Is installed so as to partition the inside of the closed cross-section X2 of FIG.

According to this embodiment, in addition to the same operation and effect as the previous embodiment, by providing the reinforcement 8, the suspension plate 20 is connected to the cowl 7 and the front pillar 5 via the reinforcement 8, Further, since the suspension plate 20 is connected to the apron upper member 1 and the portion reinforced by the bulkhead 9 via the reinforcement 8, the rigidity of the apron upper member 1 against vibration input from the suspension plate 20 is greatly enhanced. As a result, the section collapse is prevented, and the vibration of the suspension plate 20 can be effectively suppressed.

[0026]

According to the front structure of the vehicle body of the present invention, the apron upper member has a closed cross-sectional structure of upper and lower two layers, and the rear end of the apron upper member is vertically longer than the general portion, and is vertically connected to the front pillar. Since the connection with the front pillars is strengthened by connecting them vertically, the rigidity against the vibration input acting from the suspension plate can be strengthened, and the vibration of the suspension plate is also suppressed. Furthermore, a brace for bridging the apron upper member and the suspension plate, a reinforcement for connecting the apron upper member to the suspension plate and the cowl, and a bulkhead provided in a closed cross section of the apron upper member to provide an apron upper for vibration input. The rigidity of the member can be more effectively improved, and at the same time, the vibration of the suspension plate can be more effectively suppressed. Thereby, the steering stability of the vehicle can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inside of a vehicle body front structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle body front structure of the present invention on the outside of the vehicle.

3 (A) is a side view of the inside of the vehicle body front structure of the present invention, and FIG. 3 (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIIB-IIIB of FIG. 3 (A).

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the inside of the vehicle of another vehicle body front structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the inside of the vehicle body of still another vehicle body front structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 6;

8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the inside of a conventional vehicle body front structure.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apron upper member 1a Inner panel 1b Outer panel 1c Gusset 13 Partition wall (upper part of outer panel) 2 Suspension tower 20 Suspension plate 22 Outer side edge 6 Brace 7 Cowl 72 Bottom wall (Cowl lower) 8 Reinforcement 9 Bulkhead X1 First closed section X2 Second closed section

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A tubular suspension tower installed on left and right side walls of an engine room, a suspension plate for closing an upper end of the suspension tower to support an upper end of the suspension, and a front-rear direction along upper edges of the left and right side walls. An apron upper member having a closed cross section and a rear end connected to a front pillar, and a vehicle body front in which a side edge of an outer side of a periphery of the suspension plate is connected along a lower edge of the apron upper member. In the partial structure, the apron upper member is provided with a partition wall for vertically partitioning the apron upper member, and the apron upper member is a two-layer closed cross-sectional structure including an upper first closed cross section and a lower second closed cross section The rear end of the apron upper member is vertically elongated so that the rear end of the second closed section expands downward toward the rear. Body front structure of an automobile Jo to form, and wherein the bound terminal after the apron upper member in front of the front pillar. 2. An apron upper member having a vertical wall-shaped inner panel provided in the front-rear direction along an upper edge of the side wall, and an upper edge having an approximately U-shaped cross section opened toward the vehicle interior. And the outer panel having a lower edge coupled along a lower edge of the inner panel to form the second closed cross section. The inner panel and the upper edge are connected to the upper edge of the inner panel. The first closed cross section is constituted by a gusset that is joined along the outer panel and a lower edge thereof is joined along a side surface of the outer panel, and an upper surface portion of the outer panel that partitions between the gusset and the second closed cross section. The upper panel has a closed cross-sectional structure of upper and lower layers composed of first and second closed cross sections, and the rear end of the lower edge of the inner panel and the rear end of the lower edge of the outer panel joined thereto are slanted rearward. Downward slope The rear end of the apron upper member is formed in a vertically elongated shape that expands downward. The rear end of the apron upper member is vertically connected to the front surface of the front pillar, and the lower edge of the apron upper member and the suspension plate The vehicle body front structure according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle body front side structure is connected to a vehicle outside side edge portion. 3. A brace is provided between the inner side surface of the apron upper member and the suspension plate, and an outer edge of the brace is provided at an intermediate portion of the inner side surface of the apron upper member. The vehicle body front structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the brace is integrally connected to the partition wall and an inner edge of the brace is connected to a suspension plate. 4. The suspension plate and a cowl bottom wall extending above and in the vehicle width direction and having both left and right ends coupled to a rear end of the apron upper member and a coupling position with the front pillar. The vehicle body front structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a reinforcement for connecting a bottom wall of the cowl, the suspension plate, and an inner side surface of the apron upper member. 5. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein a bulkhead for partitioning the second closed section back and forth is provided at a position corresponding to the reinforcement in the second closed section of the apron upper member. Body front structure.