JP2003072589A - Pillar structure of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pillar structure having a sufficient reinforcing function against a bending moment given from frontal or upper part of a vehicle body and equipped with a sufficient impact absorbing ability against an interior impact without installing a pad or the like. SOLUTION: The pillar structure includes a side rail 3 and front pillar 4 which admit insertion to their inside of a cylindrical pillar reinforcement 21 produced by hydrofoam molding in such a way as ranging from the side rail 3 to the vicinity of the window shoulder part of the front pillar 4. That part of the section shape of the pillar reinforcement 21 located on the side with the outer panels 9 and 16 is shaped approximately tracing the inner surfaces of the outer panels 9 and 16 inside the side rail 3 and front pillar 4 while that part on the side with the inner panels 8 and 15 is shaped as a rising surface 21a straight approximately. The pillar reinforcement 21 is engaged with the engagement parts 8c, 8d, 15c, 15d of the inner panels 8 and 15, and a certain space is formed between the inner panels 8 and 15 and the rising surface 21a, and the inner panels 8 and 15 are formed thin.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pillar structure for a vehicle, which can accurately meet the multifaceted strength requirements required by various impacts and loads.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a front pillar and a side rail are formed above a window shoulder of a front pillar and on a side rail in order to suppress a cabin deformation due to a frontal collision, particularly an offset collision, or a roof crash. In a space formed by joining both sides of a gutter-shaped inner panel and a gutter-shaped outer panel, a plate-shaped reinforcement is interposed, and the both are further wrapped.

However, if the front pillars and side rails are wrapped in this way, the total number of inner panels and outer panels increases, and it becomes difficult to join them by spot welding in manufacturing. Therefore, the inner panels and outer panels are difficult to join. A notch is provided at the joint (flange). Then, the notch portion may be deformed due to stress concentration due to collision or the like.

Therefore, in order to solve such a problem,
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-10533 discloses a structure in which a pillar reinforcement formed by hydroforming is provided inside a front pillar.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the pillar reinforce is a shape that follows the pillar shape (in particular, the inner panel), and is bent from the front of the vehicle body or the upper side of the vehicle body that the front pillar receives. There is a problem in that a load cannot be applied in the shearing direction to the moment and a sufficient reinforcing function cannot be exerted.

[0006] Further, since the hydro-formed pillar reinforce, which is superior in strength to the press formed, is attached to the inner panel of the front pillar, the strength (plate) of the inner panel of the front pillar is also increased. Since the thickness and the like) are considered to be similar to those of the conventional structure, there is also a problem that energy cannot be absorbed with respect to a load applied from the trim due to an indoor impact (impact from the indoor side). To absorb this energy, it is conceivable to provide a pad made of sheet metal between the inner panel and the trim, but with a pad made of sheet metal, a bolt for attaching this pad is required, so the deformation stroke of the pad There is a problem that it cannot be secured in a large amount, which also leads to an increase in cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can exert a sufficient reinforcing function against a bending moment from the front of the vehicle body or the upper side of the vehicle body which the vehicle body receives from the front pillar to the side rails. Also,
An object of the present invention is to provide a pillar structure for a vehicle, which has a sufficient shock absorbing capacity for an indoor shock without providing a pad or the like.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the pillar structure for a vehicle according to claim 1 of the present invention is such that the front pillar extends from the vicinity of the window shoulder portion of the front pillar to the side rail on the side end of the roof panel. And a pillar structure of a vehicle in which a pillar reinforcement formed by hydroforming is arranged in a space formed by joining both sides of a gutter-shaped inner panel and a gutter-shaped outer panel forming the side rails. The pillar reinforce is characterized by having a substantially linear upright surface connecting the vicinity of the joints on both sides of the inner panel and the outer panel.

That is, in the pillar structure for a vehicle according to the above-mentioned claim 1, the bending moment from the front of the vehicle body or the upper side of the vehicle body which the front pillar receives due to a collision from the front, particularly an offset collision, or a roof crash, Since the upright surface of the pillar reinforce can receive a load in the shearing direction in a direction along the substantially straight upright surface, a sufficient reinforcing function can be exerted.

A pillar structure for a vehicle according to claim 2 of the present invention is the pillar structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein
The pillar reinforcement is characterized in that at least one of the front pillar and the side rail on the outer panel side is formed along the shape of the outer panel. For this reason, on the outer panel of at least one of the front pillars and side rails,
Sufficient surface rigidity can be exhibited against a load from the outside.

Further, a pillar structure for a vehicle according to claim 3 of the present invention is the pillar structure for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the inner panel of each of the front pillar and the side rail is provided. The plate thickness is characterized by being formed thinner than the plate thickness of the pillar reinforce. As a result, the surface rigidity of the inner panel can be reduced against indoor impact, and a crash stroke is secured by providing a space between the inner panel and the pillar reinforcement, so that the trim deforms and the inner panel is damaged. Even when the inner panel receives a relatively large load such as a shock, the shock can be reliably absorbed. Further, as a result, the metal pad or the like can be eliminated, the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts, and the problem that the crash stroke is not obstructed by the mounting bolt of the metal pad does not occur.

A vehicle pillar structure according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle pillar structure according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein each of the front pillar and the side rail is provided. At least one of the inner panels has a locking portion that locks both sides of the upright surface of the pillar reinforce.
By forming the locking portion on the inner panel in this manner, the pipe-shaped pillar reinforcement can be reliably locked inside the front pillar and the side rail, and the stability when mounting the pillar reinforcement is improved.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view for explaining an outline of a body shell, and FIG. 2 shows a II-II cross section of FIG. 1 in a state where respective parts are attached. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of FIG.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a cross-section of III in a state where each component is attached, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view when FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram when FIG. 3 receives an indoor impact.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle body shell, and the side surface of the body shell 1 includes a side rail 3 for fixing a roof panel 2, a front pillar 4 in front of the vehicle body, and a center pillar 5 in the center of the vehicle body. A rear pillar 6 at the rear of the vehicle body extends downward and is connected to a side sill 7 at the lower portion of the vehicle body.

The side rail 3 is, as shown in FIG. 2, a gutter-shaped inner panel 8 having flanges 8a and 8b on both sides.
And a gutter-shaped outer panel 9 provided with flanges 9a and 9b on both sides, and the respective flange portions, that is, the flange 8a and the flange 9a, and the flange 8b and the flange 9b are joined by spot welding to form a hollow. .
The side end of the roof panel 2 is welded to the outer side of the flange 9a of the outer panel 9.

Further, in the side rail 3, when the parts are attached to the body shell 1, as shown in FIG. 2, the joint portion between the flange 8b and the flange 9b facing downward is covered with the garnish 10. There is. Furthermore,
A roof weather strip 12 is provided via a roof molding 11 on a side wall of the outer panel 9 which faces the outer side downward, and a side door window 13 is brought into contact with the roof weather strip 12. Further, on the vehicle interior side, the side rail 3 is covered by the side end portion of the roof trim 14 with a predetermined space between the side rail 3 and the side rail 3.

On the other hand, in the front pillar 4, the upper portion beside the front window 17 is provided with a gutter-shaped inner panel 15 having flanges 15a and 15b on both sides and flanges 16a and 16b on both sides, as shown in FIG. Gutter-shaped outer panel 16 and the respective flange portions, that is, the flange 15a, the flange 16a, and the flange 15b.
And the flange 16b are joined by spot welding to form a hollow.

Further, in the front pillar 4, when the parts are attached to the body shell 1, as shown in FIG. 3, a flange 15b facing the side and a flange 16 are provided.
The joint with b is covered with a garnish 18.
Further, an end portion of a front window 17 is bonded to a side wall portion located on the front side of the outer panel 16 and an outer portion of the flange 16a via a molding front 19. Further, a roof weather strip 12 is provided on a lateral side surface of the outer panel 16 facing the outer side through a roof molding 11 continuous from the side rail 3 side. The roof weather strip 12 is provided with a side door window. 13 is abutted. Further, on the vehicle interior side, the upper portion of the front pillar 4 is covered with a pillar trim 20 so as to have a predetermined space with the front pillar 4.

The side rails 3 and the front pillars 4 having the above-described structure have the space shown in FIG.
As shown by the broken line, a cylindrical pillar reinforcement 21 formed by a known hydroform molding is inserted from the side rail 3 to the vicinity of the window shoulder portion of the front pillar 4.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pillar reinforce 21 has a cross-sectional shape in which the inner side of the outer panel 9 or 16 is located inside the side rail 3 and the front pillar 4 on the outer panel 9 or 16 side. On the other hand, the portions on the inner panel 8 and 15 sides are formed into a substantially linear upright surface 21a.

The vicinity of the base end portion of the flange 8a of the inner panel 8 of the side rail 3 and the vicinity of the base end portion of the flange 8b are formed in a step shape, and the upright surface 21a of the pillar reinforce 21 is formed.
Locking portions 8c and 8d for locking both ends of the are formed.
The pillar reinforcement 21 is locked to the locking portions 8c and 8d of the inner panel 8 and joined by laser welding or CS welding at points Wp1 and Wp2, respectively. Thus, the upright surface 21a of the pillar reinforce 21 is
Is formed on a substantially straight standing surface that connects the vicinity of the connection flanges on both sides of the inner panel 8 and the outer panel 9. That is, a load in the shearing direction due to a bending moment from the front side or the upper side of the vehicle body due to a collision or the like is applied in a substantially straight line direction connecting the vicinity of the connecting flanges on both sides of the inner panel 8 and the outer panel 9, but the standing surface 21a of the pillar reinforce 21 is formed. Are formed as shear planes in a direction substantially along this load. The pillar reinforce 21 is welded to the inner panel 8 in a process before the inner panel 8 and the outer panel 9 are welded.

In addition, the upright surface 2 is attached to the pillar reinforce 21.
Due to the formation of 1a, a space of a predetermined size is formed between the inner panel 8 and the upright surface 21a, and the upright surface 21a is against the load that the front pillar 4 receives at the time of a collision or the like. Since it functions as a shearing surface and can receive the load most in the portion forming the front pillar 4, the thickness of the inner panel 8 is set to the pillar reinforcement 21.
The inner panel 8 has a function as a member for absorbing an indoor impact by making the inner panel 8 thinner than the plate thickness.

Similarly, in the vicinity of the base end portion of the flange 15a of the inner panel 15 of the front pillar 4 and the flange 15b.
A pillar reinforce 2 is formed near the base end of the
Locking portions 15c, 15 for locking both ends of the upright surface 21a of No. 1
d is formed. And Pillar Lin Force 21
Are locked to the locking portions 15c and 15d of the inner panel 15, and are joined by laser welding or CS welding at points Wp3 and Wp4, respectively. Thus, the upright surface 21a of the pillar reinforce 21 is formed as a substantially straight upright surface that connects the vicinity of the connection flanges on both sides of the inner panel 15 and the outer panel 16. That is, a load in the shearing direction due to a bending moment from the front side or the upper side of the vehicle body due to a collision or the like is applied in a substantially linear direction connecting the connection flanges on both sides of the inner panel 8 and the outer panel 9,
The upright surface 21a of the pillar reinforce 21 is formed as a shear surface in a direction substantially along the load. The pillar reinforce 21 is welded to the inner panel 15 in a process before the inner panel 15 and the outer panel 16 are welded.

In addition, the upright surface 2 is provided on the pillar reinforce 21.
By forming 1a, a space of a predetermined size is formed between the inner panel 15 and the upright surface 21a,
Further, the upright surface 21a functions as a shearing surface against the load that the front pillar 4 receives at the time of a collision, and can receive the load most at the portion forming the front pillar 4, so that the plate thickness of the inner panel 15 is reduced. The inner panel 15 is made thinner than the plate thickness of the reinforcement 21 so as to have a function as a member for absorbing an indoor impact.

By disposing the pillar reinforce 21 as described above, the following effects can be obtained. That is, the upright surface 21 a of the pillar reinforce 21 has the inner panel 8 or 15 and the outer panel 9 or 1.
Since it is formed on a substantially straight standing surface that connects the vicinity of the connection flanges on both sides of 6, a front collision, an offset collision, or
The standing surface 21a of the pillar reinforcement 21 is sheared in a direction along the substantially straight standing surface 21a against a bending moment applied to the side rails 3 and the front pillars 4 from the front side or the upper side of the vehicle body due to a roof crash or the like. Since it can receive a directional load, it can exert a sufficient reinforcing function.

The portions of the pillar reinforce 21 on the side of the outer panels 9 and 16 in the side rails 3 and the front pillars 4 are the outer panels 9 and 16 respectively.
Since the outer panels 9 and 16 are formed to have a shape substantially along the inner surface of the outer surface, the outer panels 9 and 16 can have sufficient surface rigidity against a load from the outside.

Further, the pillar reinforce 21 has side rails 3 and front pillars 4 on both sides of the standing surface 21a.
Since the inner panels 8 and 15 are welded to the stepped locking portions 8c, 8d, 15c, and 15d of the inner panels 8 and 15, the outer panels 9 and 16 do not have welding marks and the like, and the appearance of the vehicle is maintained, and the pipes It is possible to reliably and easily and stably fix the pillar-shaped pillar reinforcement 21 inside the side rail 3 and the front pillar 4.

A space of a predetermined size is formed between the inner panels 8 and 15 and the upright surface 21a of the pillar reinforce 21, and the upright surface 21a is the front pillar 4.
Acts as a shearing surface against the load received at the time of a collision, and can receive the load most in the portion forming the front pillar 4, so that the plate thickness of the inner panels 8 and 15 is smaller than that of the pillar reinforcement 21. By making it thin, it is possible for the side rails 3 and the front pillars 4 themselves to effectively absorb the indoor impact.

That is, in the side rail 3, as shown in FIG. 4, an indoor impact F1 that deforms the roof trim 14 is generated.
Is added, the inner panel 8 of the side rail 3 is
The plate thickness is also thin, and the upright surface 21 of the pillar reinforce 21 is
Since there is a sufficient space between the inner panel 8 and a, the inner panel 8 itself can be deformed and sufficient shock absorption can be performed. Since the impact can be absorbed by the deformation of the inner panel 8 itself as described above, the conventional metal pad or the like can be eliminated, the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts, and the metal pad The problem of obstruction of the crash stroke by the mounting bolt does not occur.

Further, in the front pillar 4, as shown in FIG. 5, when an indoor impact F2 that deforms the pillar trim 20 is applied, the inner panel 15 of the front pillar 4 is deformed.
Since the plate thickness is thin and there is a sufficient space between the upright surface 21a of the pillar reinforce 21 and the inner panel 1
5 itself can be deformed to absorb a sufficient shock. Since the impact can be absorbed by the deformation of the inner panel 15 itself, the conventional metal pad or the like can be eliminated, the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts, and the metal pad The problem of obstruction of the crash stroke by the mounting bolt does not occur.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to exert a sufficient reinforcing function against the bending moment from the front of the vehicle body or the upper side of the vehicle body which the vehicle body receives from the front pillar to the side rails. Further, it becomes possible to provide a sufficient shock absorbing capacity for a room shock without providing a pad or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view illustrating an outline of a body shell

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a II-II cross section of FIG. 1 in a state where each component is attached.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a cross section taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1 in a state where each component is attached.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram when FIG. 2 receives an indoor impact.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view when FIG. 3 receives an indoor impact.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 body shell 2 roof panel 3 side rails 4 front pillars 8 inner panel 8c Locking part 8d locking part 9 Outer panel 13 Side door window 15 Inner panel 15c Locking part 15d locking part 16 outer panel 17 front wind 21 Pillar Lin Force 21a Standing surface

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A gutter-shaped inner panel and a gutter-shaped outer panel, which form the front pillar and the side rail, are joined from both sides of a gutter-shaped outer panel to a side rail on the side end of the roof panel from the vicinity of the window shoulder of the front pillar. A pillar structure of a vehicle in which a pillar reinforcement formed by hydroforming is disposed in a space that is formed, and the pillar reinforcement is a substantially straight line that connects the vicinity of the joints on both sides of the inner panel and the outer panel. A pillar structure for a vehicle, which has a raised surface. 2. The pillar reinforcement according to claim 1, wherein a shape of at least one of the front pillar and the side rail on the outer panel side is formed along the shape of the outer panel. Vehicle pillar structure. 3. The plate thickness of at least one of the inner panel of each of the front pillar and the side rail is formed to be thinner than the plate thickness of the pillar reinforcement. The vehicle pillar structure described. 4. The front pillar and / or at least one of the inner panels of the side rails each have a locking portion that locks both sides of the upright surface of the pillar reinforcement. The pillar structure for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3.