JP2003104240A - Fender structure of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate changing an absorption amount of collision energy along the longitudinal direction of car body. SOLUTION: A lower side of a vertical wall part 14B of a fender 14 is provided with plural bracket 34 along the longitudinal direction of car body at predetermined intervals. A resin collar 38 is inserted into a holding part 36 formed at upper part of a vertical wall 34A of the bracket 34, and a bolt 40 is inserted into the resin collar 38. The bolt 40 passes through a mounting hole 42 formed at the vertical wall part 14B of the fender 14. A slit 48 is formed at the vertical wall part 34A of the bracket 34, and headed from the holding part 36 to downward. The width of the slit 48 becomes gradually narrower from an upper side to a lower side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle fender structure, and more particularly to a vehicle fender structure in which a fender is attached to a structural member of a vehicle such as an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an example of a vehicle fender structure in which a fender is attached to a structural member of a vehicle such as an automobile is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-108841.

As shown in FIG. 7, in this conventional technique,
A fender 1 including a vertical wall portion 100A of the front fender 100 and an outer wall portion 100C extending continuously from the upper end (parting line) 100B of the vertical wall portion 100A to the outside of the vehicle body.
00 and a hood 102 that is also provided so as to cover the engine room, and a fragile portion 104 formed below the vertical wall portion 100A of the fender 100 and the vicinity of the parting line (side edge portion) of the hood 102. When a load is applied to 102A from substantially above, the load is applied to the fender 10
0, which moves the fender 100 downward to displace the fender 100 downward.

[0004]

However, in this vehicle fender structure, the fragile portion 104 formed under the vertical wall portion 100A of the fender 100 is deformed to absorb the collision energy. However, the fragile portion 104 is a bent portion extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. As a result, the fender 1
At 00, it is difficult to change the amount of collision energy absorbed along the vehicle longitudinal direction.

In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a vehicle fender structure capable of easily changing the amount of collision energy absorbed along the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0006]

A vehicle fender structure according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1 is fixed to an apron upper member, and vertically supports a vertical wall portion of the fender located above the apron upper member. An extended bracket, and a support member for supporting the vertical wall portion of the fender,
A holding means that is disposed on the upper part of the bracket, holds the support member, and releases the holding of the support member when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied from substantially above, and the holding means of the bracket. A fragile portion that is formed below and that is deformed by the movement of the support member after the holding of the support member is released.

Therefore, when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied from substantially above to the support member arranged above the bracket and supporting the vertical wall portion of the apron upper member, the load from the support member is received. The holding means releases the holding of the support member and absorbs a predetermined amount of energy. After that, the fragile portion is deformed by the downward movement of the support member, and the collision energy is again absorbed. As a result, by adjusting the energy absorption characteristics of the respective holding means arranged along the vehicle front-rear direction and the energy absorption characteristics of the fragile portion, it is possible to easily and freely absorb the amount of collision energy along the vehicle front-rear direction. It can be changed and the collision energy can be effectively absorbed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle fender structure according to the first aspect, the holding means is a holding portion formed on the bracket, and the holding portion is engaged with the holding portion. It is characterized by comprising a resin-made collar through which is inserted.

Therefore, in addition to the contents of the first aspect, when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the resin collar via the support member, the resin collar is broken and comes off from the holding portion. Therefore, the amount of collision energy absorbed can be easily and freely changed by adjusting the strength of the collar or the engagement strength between the collar and the holding portion.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle fender structure according to the first aspect, the holding means is a holding portion formed on the bracket, and the bracket is made of resin. And

Therefore, in addition to the contents of the first aspect, when a load greater than a predetermined value is applied to the holding portion formed on the resin bracket through the supporting member, the holding portion is deformed and the supporting member is formed. Comes off the holding part. Therefore, the amount of collision energy absorbed can be easily and freely changed by adjusting the strength of the resin bracket or the strength of engagement between the support member and the holding portion.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle fender structure according to the second or third aspect, the fragile portion is a slit that gradually narrows downward from the holding portion. It is characterized by being.

Therefore, in addition to the contents of claims 2 and 3, when a load of a predetermined value or more acts on the support member,
The support member moves from the holding portion into the slit and gradually moves downward in the slit having a narrow width. At this time, the periphery of the slit is deformed and gradually absorbs the collision energy. Therefore, the amount of collision energy absorbed can be easily and freely changed by adjusting the strength around the slit.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment of a vehicle fender structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the figure, an arrow FR indicates a vehicle front direction, an arrow UP indicates a vehicle upward direction, and an arrow IN indicates a vehicle width inner direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, a boundary 1 between the hood panel 12 of the vehicle body 10 and the fender 14 is defined.
6 is at the vehicle width direction both ends of the front bonnet 18,
It extends along the vehicle front-rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, a hood inner panel 20 is disposed on the lower surface side of a hood panel (also referred to as a hood outer panel) 12, and is formed so as to project outward of the hood inner panel 20 in the vehicle width direction. Outer flange 20
An outer edge 12A of the hood panel 12 in the vehicle width direction is fixed to A by hemming.

Almost below the parting lines 12B and 14A, which are the boundaries between the hood panel 12 and the fender 14,
An apron upper member 24, which is a structural member of the vehicle, is arranged along the vehicle front-rear direction. Apron upper member lower 2
8 and.

The apron upper member upper 26 has a U-shaped cross section as viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction, and the apron upper member lower 28 has a cross-sectional shape viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction. It is L-shaped. Apron upper member outer side wall portion 26 of the upper 26
At the lower end of A, a flange 26B is provided outward in the vehicle width direction.
The flange 26B is welded to the vehicle width direction outer side edge portion 28B of the upper wall portion 28A of the apron upper member lower 28.

Further, a vertical wall portion 28C is formed at an inner edge portion of the upper wall 28A of the apron upper member lower 28 in the vehicle width direction, and the vertical wall portion 28C is formed toward the lower side of the vehicle. An inner side surface 28D has a lower end edge portion 26 of a vehicle width direction inner side wall portion 26C of the apron upper member upper 26.
D is welded.

Therefore, in the apron upper member 24, the apron upper member upper 26 and the apron upper member lower 28 form a closed cross section 29 extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, a vertical wall portion 14B is formed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the fender 14 toward the vehicle lower side, and below the vertical wall portion 14B of the fender 14,
A plurality of metal brackets 34 extending in the vertical direction are arranged at predetermined intervals along the vehicle front-rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bracket 34 has an L-shape when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction, and a round hole-shaped holding portion 36 as a holding means is provided above the vertical wall portion 34A. It penetrates in the vehicle width direction. In this holding portion 36,
A cylindrical resin collar 38 as a holding means is inserted, and a bolt 40 as a support member is inserted into the collar 38 from the inside in the vehicle width direction. This bolt 40
Is a mounting hole 4 formed in the vertical wall portion 14B of the fender 14.
2, the bolt 46 is screwed into the screw portion 40A of the bolt 40 from the outside in the vehicle width direction of the vertical wall portion 14B of the fender 14 via the washer 44. Further, the vertical wall portion 34A of the bracket 34 is formed with a slit 48 as a fragile portion downward from the holding portion 36,
The width W of the slit 48 is gradually narrowed from the upper side to the lower side.

Therefore, when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the bolt 40 from substantially above and a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the lower portion 38A of the collar 38, as shown in FIG. Is broken, the bolt 40 is disengaged from the holding portion 36, and the support of the vertical wall portion 14B of the fender 14 is released, and at this time, the collision energy is absorbed. Further, the bolt 40 gradually moves downward in the slit 48 having a narrow width, and at this time, the slit 4
The periphery of 8 is deformed and gradually absorbs the collision energy.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lower portion of the vertical wall portion 34A of the bracket 34 is bent inward in the vehicle width direction and is attached to the mounting portion 34.
B, and a through hole 50 is bored at a substantially central portion of the mounting portion 34B of the bracket 34.

As shown in FIG. 1, a bolt 52 is inserted from above into a through hole 50 formed in the mounting portion 34B of the bracket 34. The bolt 52 is located above the apron upper member upper 26. Through a through hole 54 formed in the wall portion 26E, it is fastened to a weld nut 54 provided on the lower surface of the upper wall portion 26E.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bracket 3
4, the hole diameter R1 of the holding portion 36 and the shaft diameter R2 of the collar 38 are set to values that set a predetermined energy absorption force at a predetermined position of the fender 14 along the vehicle front-rear direction. For example, R1 and R2 are set to be larger toward the rear of the vehicle, and the energy absorption amount is increased in the rear part of the vehicle where the collision body is highly likely to be an adult pedestrian, and the collision body is likely to be a child pedestrian. The amount of energy absorption is reduced at the high vehicle front.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, when a collision body S such as the head of a pedestrian contacts the vicinity of the parting line 14 of the fender 14 and a load F acts on the fender 14 from substantially above. The load from the fender 14 acts on the collar 38 via the bolt 40. As a result, when the load F is equal to or more than the predetermined position, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower portion 38A of the collar 38 is broken, the bolt 40 is disengaged from the holding portion 36, and the vertical wall portion 14B of the fender 14 is supported. When released, it absorbs a predetermined amount of collision energy.

Then, the bolt 40 gradually moves downward in the slit 48 having a narrow width. At this time, the periphery of the slit 48 is deformed and gradually absorbs the collision energy.

As a result, the hole diameter R1 of the holding portion 36, the shaft diameter R2 of the collar 38, and the change rate of the width W of the slit 48 in each bracket 34 arranged at predetermined intervals along the vehicle front-rear direction are adjusted. By doing so, the absorption amount of the collision energy can be easily and freely changed along the vehicle front-rear direction, and the collision energy can be effectively absorbed.

In this embodiment, the amount of collision energy absorbed can be easily and freely adjusted by changing the resin material of the collar 38 or the thickness M (see FIG. 2) and adjusting the strength of the collar 38. Can be changed.

In the present embodiment, the amount of collision energy absorbed can be easily and freely changed by changing the plate thickness N of the bracket 34 and adjusting the strength around the slit 48.

Further, in this embodiment, the hole diameter R1 of the holding portion 36 and the shaft diameter R2 of the collar 38 in the bracket 34 are used.
However, it is set larger as the vehicle goes rearward, the energy absorption amount is increased in the rear part of the vehicle where the collision object is highly likely to be an adult pedestrian, and the collision vehicle is highly likely to be a child pedestrian in the vehicle front part. The energy absorption amount is reduced. That is, the timing and amount of impact energy absorption are appropriately controlled. As a result, even when the collision body S is an adult pedestrian or a child pedestrian, the impact acting on the collision body S can be effectively reduced.

Next, a second embodiment of the vehicle fender structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The same members as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the bracket 34 is made of resin, and the collar 38 in the first embodiment is not used. Therefore, the holding unit 3
The bolt 40 is directly inserted into the vehicle 6 from the inside in the vehicle width direction.

Therefore, when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the bolt 40 from substantially above, the bolt 40 holds the holding portion 36.
The vertical wall portion 14B of the fender 14 is released from the support, and at this time, the collision energy is absorbed. Further, the bolt 40 gradually moves downward in the slit 48 having a narrow width, and at this time, the slit 4
The periphery of 8 is deformed and gradually absorbs the collision energy.

The plate thickness N and the resin material of the bracket 34 are set to values and materials for setting a predetermined energy absorption force at a predetermined portion of the fender 14 along the vehicle front-rear direction. For example, the plate thickness N of the bracket 34 is set to be thicker as the bracket 34 on the rear side of the vehicle increases the energy absorption amount in the rear part of the vehicle where the collision object is highly likely to be an adult pedestrian, and the collision object is a child pedestrian. The energy absorption amount is reduced in the front portion of the vehicle where the probability that

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment,
When the load F acts on the fender 14 from substantially above,
The load from the fender 14 directly acts on the holding portion 36 via the bolt 40. As a result, when the load is equal to or more than the predetermined position, the bolt 40 comes off the holding portion 36 and the fender 1
The vertical wall portion 14B of No. 4 is released from the support and absorbs a predetermined amount of energy.

After that, the bolt 40 gradually moves downward in the slit 48 having a narrow width. At this time, the periphery of the slit 48 is deformed and gradually absorbs the collision energy.

As a result, the hole diameter R3 of the holding portion 36, the shaft diameter R4 of the bolt 40, and the rate of change of the width W of the slit 48 in each bracket 34 arranged at predetermined intervals along the vehicle front-rear direction are adjusted. By doing so, the amount of collision energy absorbed can be easily and freely changed along the vehicle front-rear direction, and the collision energy can be effectively absorbed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the amount of collision energy absorbed can be easily and freely changed by changing the resin material of the bracket 34 or the thickness N and adjusting the strength around the slit 48. .

Further, in the present embodiment, the plate thickness N of the bracket 34 is set to be thicker as the bracket 34 toward the rear of the vehicle, and the energy absorption amount is increased in the rear portion of the vehicle where the collision body is highly likely to be an adult pedestrian. The energy absorption amount is reduced in the front part of the vehicle where the collision object is highly likely to be a child pedestrian. That is, the timing and amount of impact energy absorption are appropriately controlled. As a result, even when the collision object S is an adult pedestrian or a child pedestrian, the collision object S
It is possible to effectively reduce the impact acting on.

In the above, the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments within the scope of the present invention. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that For example, although the slit 48 is formed in the bracket 34 in each of the above-described embodiments, another weak portion such as a thin portion may be formed instead of the slit 48.

The distance L between the adjacent brackets 34 is L.
(See FIG. 3) is gradually set smaller toward the rear of the vehicle to increase the energy absorption amount in the rear part of the vehicle where the collision object is highly likely to be an adult pedestrian, and the collision object is a child pedestrian. The energy absorption amount may be reduced in the front portion of the vehicle with a high probability.

[0048]

According to the fender structure for a vehicle in the first aspect of the present invention, a bracket which is fixed to the apron upper member and extends in the vertical direction to support the vertical wall portion of the fender located above the apron upper member. And a supporting member for supporting the vertical wall portion of the fender, and the supporting member disposed above the bracket for holding the supporting member and releasing the holding of the supporting member when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied from substantially above. Since the holding means and the fragile portion formed below the holding means in the bracket and deformed by the movement of the support member after the holding of the support member is released, the amount of collision energy absorbed along the vehicle front-rear direction. Can be easily and freely changed, and has an excellent effect that collision energy can be effectively absorbed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle fender structure according to the first aspect, the holding means is engaged with the holding portion formed on the bracket, and the supporting member is inserted. Since it comprises a resin collar, in addition to the effect described in claim 1, by adjusting the strength of the collar or the engagement strength between the collar and the holding portion, the amount of collision energy absorbed can be changed easily and freely. It has an excellent effect of being able to.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle fender structure according to the first aspect, the holding means is a holding portion formed on the bracket, and the bracket is made of resin. In addition to the above effect, by adjusting the strength of the resin bracket or the engagement strength between the support member and the holding portion, it is possible to easily and freely change the absorbed amount of collision energy.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle fender structure according to the second or third aspect, the fragile portion is a slit that gradually narrows downward from the holding portion. In addition to the effect according to any one of claims 2 and 3, by adjusting the strength around the slit, there is an excellent effect that the absorption amount of the collision energy can be easily and freely changed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 1-1 of FIG.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the fender structure for a vehicle according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the diagonally front inside of the vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fender structure for a vehicle according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the diagonally front inside of the vehicle.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of the vehicle fender structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a vehicle to which the fender structure for a vehicle according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is applied, viewed from diagonally front.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a fender structure for a vehicle according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the diagonally front inside of the vehicle.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing a fender structure of a vehicle according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 hood panel 14 Fender 24 Apron Upper Member 34 bracket 36 holding part (holding means) 38 colors (holding means) 40 bolts (support member) 48 slits (fragile part)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A bracket, which is fixed to an apron upper member and extends vertically to support a vertical wall portion of a fender located above the apron upper member, and a support member which supports the vertical wall portion of the fender. And a holding means disposed on the upper part of the bracket for holding the supporting member and releasing the holding of the supporting member when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied from substantially above; A fender structure for a vehicle, comprising: a fragile portion that is formed below the means and that is deformed by the movement of the support member after the holding of the support member is released. 2. The holding means comprises a holding portion formed on the bracket, and a resin collar engaged with the holding portion and having the support member inserted therethrough. The fender structure for a vehicle according to 1. 3. The fender structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the holding means is a holding portion formed on the bracket, and the bracket is made of resin. 4. The fender structure for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the fragile portion is a slit that gradually narrows downward from the holding portion.