JP2002308145A - Panel connecting structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a panel connecting structure capable of preventing the change in the total panel thickness after connection even when changing the number of panels to be connected in a pillar for vehicle or the like. SOLUTION: In the vehicle pillar 10, the flat flange part 14 of an outer panel 11 is overlapped with a protruding stepped part 16 provided on the flange part 15 of an inner panel 12 and inserted to a cutout 18 in the edge 17 of a reinforced panel 13, and connected thereto in parts B by spot welding. The flat flange part 14 of the outer panel 11 is overlapped with the part having no protruding stepped part 16 in the flange part 15 of the inner panel 12, and connected thereto in parts A by spot welding.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connection structure in which the number of panels connected by means such as spot welding, adhesives, bolts, etc. varies, such as a pillar in a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a commercial vehicle, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a front pillar 2 of a cab 1 is spot-welded to a flange 4 of an outer panel 3 and a flange 6 of an inner panel 5. When the front pillar 2 needs to be reinforced according to the use of the vehicle, a reinforcing panel 7 is conventionally disposed between the panels 3 and 5 to form a closed section. The flange portions 8 of the reinforcing panel 7 are sandwiched between the portions 4, 6, so that the flange portions 4, 6, 8 are integrally connected by spot welding or the like. Reference numeral 9 denotes a windshield.

However, when comparing the case where the reinforcing panel 7 is arranged and the case where the reinforcing panel 7 is not arranged, if the outer dimensions of the front pillars 2 arranged on the left and right are constant, in the former case, Since the inner width W of the front pillar 2 is smaller than the latter case by twice the thickness d of the flange portion 8 of the reinforcing panel, the cabin width becomes narrower, and as a result, the cab 1 is installed completely inside the cab 1 in the vehicle width direction. Full length of instrument panel and front pillar trim, etc.
Also, it is necessary to change the mounting angle at the left and right ends of each of the outfitting parts, that is, at the portion in contact with the inner surface of the front pillar 2 from the latter case, and the welding assembly jig for the cab 1 is also the latter It has to be changed from the case, and there has been a problem that the manufacturing cost is significantly increased.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a panel connecting structure which can prevent a change in the number of panels to be connected in a pillar or the like of a vehicle so that the overall thickness of the panel after the connection does not change. It is intended to provide.

[0005]

For this reason, the panel connection structure according to the present invention has a first flange having a flat flange portion.
A second panel having a flange portion provided with a protruding step at intervals in the longitudinal direction;
The flange portion of the panel and the projecting step of the second panel are joined to form a gap between the flange portion of the second panel where the projecting step is not provided and the flange portion of the first panel. Have been.

That is, the flange of the first panel and the second
Since the protruding step of the panel is mutually connected to form a gap between the flange of the second panel where the protruding step is not formed and the flange of the first panel, the gap is formed in the gap. Even if the edge of the other panel is not inserted or is inserted, the overall thickness of the first panel and the second panel connected to each other does not change.
The external dimensions of both panels can be made constant.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. 1 to 3, a front pillar 10 in a cab of a commercial vehicle includes an outer panel 11, an inner panel 12, and a reinforcing panel 13 disposed between the panels 11, 12, and a flange portion 1 of the outer panel 11.
4 is flat, while the flange portion 15 of the inner panel 12 has a protruding step 16
Is provided, and the height of the protruding step 16 is the reinforcing panel 1.
3 is equal to the plate thickness.

A notch 1 is formed at an edge 17 of the reinforcing panel 13 at a portion corresponding to the projecting step 16 of the inner panel 12.
8 are formed, and the protruding step 16 of the inner panel 12 is formed.
Are overlapped with the flange portion 14 of the outer panel 11, the protruding step 16 of the inner panel 12 is located in the notch 18 of the reinforcing panel 13, and the flange portion 14 of the outer panel 11 and the flange portion of the inner panel 12 The edge 15 of the reinforcing panel 13 is inserted into a gap formed between the portion 15 and the portion where the projecting step 16 is not formed.

Further, the flange portion 1 of the outer panel 11
4, the edge 17 of the reinforcing panel 13 and the inner panel 12
In the flange portion 15, a portion A where the three portions are overlapped with a portion where the protruding step portion 16 is not formed is joined by spot welding or the like, and the outer panel 1 is joined.
1 and the projecting step 1 of the inner panel 12
6 are joined together by spot welding or the like, and the front pillar 10 forms a closed cross-sectional structure.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, in the front pillar 20 which is not particularly required to have strength,
The reinforcing panel 13 is removed from the front pillar 10,
A portion B where the flange portion 14 of the outer panel 11 and the projecting step 16 of the inner panel 12 are overlapped is connected by spot welding or the like, respectively. The space 21 is still formed between the portion 15 and the portion where the projecting step 16 is not formed.

That is, since the strength is particularly required, the front pillar 10 incorporating the reinforcing panel 13 is required.
And the cab using the front pillar 20 which does not require the strength and therefore does not incorporate the reinforcing panel 13,
The overall thickness of the flange portions at 0 and 20 is equal, and the outer dimensions and inner dimensions in the vehicle width direction of the left and right front pillars 10 and 20 are all the same. Full length of instrument panel and front pillar trim, and
Since the mounting angles at the left and right ends of each of these outfitting parts can be made equal, it is possible to make each outfitting part common to both types of cabs, and therefore, the same jig for welding and assembling both types of cabs As a result, the cab can be used at a low cost.

In the above embodiment, the flange portion of the outer panel is flat and the projecting step is formed on the flange portion of the inner panel. A projecting step can be formed on the flange portion of the outer panel, and a plurality of panels can be used as a reinforcing panel. Further, each of the above structures is a side floor of a cab of a commercial vehicle. It goes without saying that the present invention can be similarly applied to a front pillar, a center pillar, a rear pillar, a side sill, a roof side rail and the like in a passenger car as well as a frame and a roof side rail.

[0013]

According to the panel connecting structure of the present invention, the end of another panel is inserted into the gap between the flange of the second panel where the projecting step is not formed and the flange of the first panel. Even if the edge is not inserted or the edge is inserted, the overall thickness of the first panel and the second panel connected to each other does not change, and the external dimensions of both panels are kept constant. Therefore, when the structures of these two panels which are connected to each other are used, the other structures connected to the structure need not be changed, irrespective of the presence or absence of the other panel. As a result, the overall manufacturing cost can be easily reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 in another use state of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a commercial vehicle.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Front pillar 11 Outer panel 12 Inner panel 13 Reinforcement panel 14, 15 Flange part 16 Projection step part 17 Edge 18 Notch 20 Front pillar 21 Void

Claims (2)

[Claims] A first panel having a flat flange portion, and a second panel having a flange portion provided with a protruding step at intervals in a longitudinal direction, wherein the first panel has a flange. A panel in which a portion and a protruding step of the second panel are joined to form a gap between a flange portion of the second panel not having the protruding step and a flange of the first panel. Coupling structure. 2. The first panel according to claim 1, wherein a third panel is disposed between the first panel and the second panel, and an edge of the third panel is inserted into the gap to overlap the first panel. A panel coupling structure in which a flange portion of the panel, a flange portion of the second panel on which the protruding step is not formed, and an edge of the third panel are coupled.