JP2003246280A - Reinforcing structure of front fender of engine room - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the absorbing effect of impact energy due to the deformation of an apron member by preventing a fender apron panel from being laterally tilted down at the input time of an impact force from forward of the vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: A reinforcing structure of the front fender of an engine room comprises the apron side member 2 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at a lower position and having a flange 2a formed at an upper end, the fender front panel 3 of a sectional substantially crank shape extended vertically at the upper position, the engine room 1 formed at the side face by a strut tower 4, the upper end 12a of a reinforcing member 12 connected to the outside vertical surface 3a in the widthwise direction of the panel 3, so that the lower end 12b of the member 12 sandwiched between the flange 2a of the member 2 and the panel 3, and superposed parts of the flange 2a and the member 12 and the panel 3 are connected to one another. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reinforcing structure for a front fender apron part of an engine room provided in a front part of an automobile body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a side surface of an engine room provided in a front portion of a vehicle body of an automobile is formed by an apron side member 51, a fender apron panel 52, a strut tower 53, and the like. The interior of the engine room is partitioned from the vehicle interior by a dash panel 54, and a brake booster 55 is provided near the strut tower 53 on the front side of the dash panel 54. The apron side member 51 is arranged along the vehicle front-rear direction at a lower position on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Further, the fender apron panel 52 is formed in a substantially crank shape in cross section, and is arranged at an upper position on the outer side in the vehicle width direction along the vertical direction, and the lower portion thereof is an apron side member 51 and a fender apron reinforcement 5.
It is joined to 6. Furthermore, the strut tower 53
Accommodates the components of the front suspension, and its upper opening has a fender apron panel 52.
Further, the suspension upper bracket 58 joined to the cowl side panel 57 is closed.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional fender apron structure for an engine room, when an impact force is applied to the front portion of the vehicle body from the front of the vehicle, the vertical surface 52a of the fender apron panel 52 or the like impacts. It will fall inside the engine room due to force, and it will fold over the surrounding parts, and the amount of deformation due to impact will decrease. Therefore, the impact energy absorption is reduced due to the deformation of the apron side member 51 and the like, and
Parts such as the brake booster 55 installed in front of the dash panel 54 are pressed by the vertical surface 52a of the fender apron panel 52 that has fallen inward due to impact force, the deformation of the dash panel 54, etc. increases, and the vehicle moves rearward. There was a fear.

On the other hand, a bracket for supporting the ABS actuator or the battery device is installed in the engine room. The brackets are installed for the purpose of supporting the ABS actuator and the battery device, respectively, and in front of the vehicle body at the time of impact. It is not designed as a structure that takes into consideration the deformation mode of the part, energy absorption, etc. Moreover, since the ABS actuator bracket and the battery bracket are separately installed in different shapes, there is a problem that the number of parts and the cost are increased. Since such a bracket is not used as a reinforcing member for the strut tower 53, it was necessary to design the strut tower 53 having high strength.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to prevent the fender apron panel from falling sideways when an impact force is input from the front of the vehicle and to deform the apron side member. An object of the present invention is to provide a reinforcing structure for a front fender apron part of an engine room capable of improving an impact energy absorbing effect.

[0006]

In order to solve the problems of the above-mentioned prior art, in the present invention, an apron side member extending in the vehicle front-rear direction at a vehicle lower position and having a flange portion formed at the upper end, A fender apron panel having a substantially crank-shaped cross section that extends in the vertical direction at a position above the vehicle, and a strut tower that houses the components of the front suspension formed on the fender apron panel form the side surface of the engine room, and the fender apron panel is formed. The upper end portion of the reinforcing member is joined to the outer vertical surface in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle, and the lower end portion of the reinforcing member is sandwiched between the flange portion of the apron side member and the fender apron panel. Of the flange portion, the reinforcing member and the fender apron panel They are joined each other.

Further, in the present invention, the apron side member in the range of the overlapping portion where the flange portion of the apron side member, the reinforcing member and the fender apron panel are joined is positioned before and after the range of the overlapping portion. A recess is provided to reduce the strength of the apron side member. Furthermore, in the present invention, the apron side member is formed in a hat-shaped cross-section having an opening outside in the vehicle width direction within the range of the overlapping portion, and at the corners forming the upper surface and the side surface of the apron side member. Is provided in a direction orthogonal to the vehicle front-rear direction.

In the present invention, horizontal planes on which vehicle parts are mounted are formed in the upper and lower intermediate portions of the reinforcing member. Further, in the present invention, the rear portion side of the reinforcing member is joined to the strut tower.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will now be described in detail based on the illustrated embodiments.

1 to 3 show an embodiment of a reinforcing structure for a front fender apron portion of an engine room according to the present invention. An engine room 1 for accommodating an engine body, accessories, etc. is provided in the front part of the vehicle body of the vehicle in the figure. And an apron side member 2 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a fender apron panel 3 having a substantially crank-shaped cross section that extends vertically at a position above the apron side member in the vehicle.
And a strut tower 4 that houses the components of the front suspension formed on the fender apron panel 3. Also, engine room 1
The interior is partitioned from the passenger compartment by a dash panel 5 installed along the up-down direction and the vehicle width direction, and a brake booster 6 as a booster 6 is provided near the strut tower 4 on the front side of the dash panel 5. Is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apron side member 2 is formed in a hat-shaped cross section having an opening on the outer side in the vehicle width direction in a vehicle front-rear direction portion including the range of a later-described overlapping portion. The upper end is a flange portion 2a which is joined to the fender apron panel 3 before and after the overlapping portion, and the lower end is a flange portion 2b which is joined to the fender apron reinforcement 7 and the like. Further, in the range of the overlapping portion of the apron side member 2 which will be described later, the corners forming the upper surface 2c and the side surface 2d have lower strength than the apron side members 2 positioned before and after the range of the overlapping portion. A plurality of (three in the present embodiment) recesses 8 are arranged at intervals in the vehicle front-rear direction. These recesses 8 are formed along a direction orthogonal to the vehicle front-rear direction, and increase the strength against an external force in the vertical direction, but deformation of the apron side member 2 due to an impact force from the front of the vehicle causes the presence of a reinforcing member described later. It is provided in order not to be disturbed by. Note that FIG.
In the figure, 9 is an extension panel of the apron side member.

In the front position of the strut tower 4, the fender apron panel 3 has vertical planes 3a and 3b located on the outer and inner sides in the vehicle width direction, and a substantially horizontal plane 3c formed between these vertical planes 3a and 3b. The lower end of the inner vertical surface 3b is joined to the upper end of the fender apron reinforcement 7 by spot welding W1. The vehicle rear side of the fender apron panel 3 constitutes a peripheral side surface of the strut tower 4, and the upper opening of the strut tower 4 is connected to the fender apron panel 3 and the cowl side panel 10 by spot welding W1 respectively. It is closed by a bracket 11.

On the front side of the strut tower 4 and above the fender apron panel 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a reinforcing member 12 having a substantially crank-shaped cross section corresponding to the fender apron panel 3 is attached. There is. The reinforcing member 12 is provided to prevent the vertical surface 3 a of the fender apron panel 3 from falling inside the engine room 1 when an impact force is applied to the front portion of the vehicle body from the front of the vehicle. Therefore, the upper end 12a of the reinforcing member 12
Is joined to the outer vertical surface 3a of the fender apron panel 3 by spot welding W1, and the reinforcing member 12
The lower end portion 12b of the apron side member 2 is sandwiched between the flange portion 2a of the apron side member 2 and the inner vertical surface 3b of the fender apron panel 3.
The flange portion 2a, the lower end portion 12b of the reinforcing member 12, and the overlapping portion of the inner vertical surface 3b of the fender apron panel 3 are joined to each other by spot welding W1.
Attach the lower end 12b of the reinforcing member 12 to the apron side member 2
The reason for avoiding joining to the upper surface 2c and the side surface 2d of
This is because when the impact force is input from the front of the vehicle, the apron side member 2 is easily deformed and the impact energy absorbing effect is improved.

As shown in FIG. 2, a horizontal plane portion 14 on which a heavy vehicle component 13 such as an ABS actuator or a battery is mounted is provided in the upper and lower intermediate portions of the reinforcing member 12.
Are formed. Moreover, in the middle portion of the reinforcing member 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a concave bead portion 15 for enhancing the strength in the vertical direction is provided from the horizontal surface portion 14 to the vertical surface portion. On the other hand, the front side of the reinforcing member 12 is provided with a front flange 12c that is bent downward and is not joined to other members. The front flange 12c enhances the strength against input from the lateral side of the vehicle. The fender apron panel 3 forming the upper part of the side wall of the engine room 1 at the time of impact is prevented from falling sideways and the torsional rigidity is improved. Further, the rear side of the reinforcing member 12 has a rear flange 1 which is bent obliquely upward.
2d is provided. The rear flange 12d is joined to the fender apron panel 3 forming the side wall of the strut tower 4 by fillet welding W2, and is configured to improve the strength of the strut tower 4 that supports input from the tire. There is.

The reinforcing structure of the front fender apron portion of the embodiment of the present invention uses a reinforcing member 12 having a substantially crank-shaped cross section corresponding to the fender apron panel 3, and the upper end 12a of the reinforcing member 12 is located outside the fender apron panel 3. The lower end portion 12 of the reinforcing member 12 is joined to the vertical surface 3a.
b is sandwiched between the flange portion 2a of the apron side member 2 and the inner vertical surface 3b of the fender apron panel 3, and the flange portions 2a of the apron side member 2 are
The lower end 12b of the reinforcing member 12 and the overlapping portion of the inner vertical surface 3b of the fender apron panel 3 are joined to each other by spot welding W1, and the rear flange 12d of the reinforcing member 12 is welded to the side wall of the strut tower 4 by fillet welding W1.
It can be obtained by joining at 2 (see FIGS. 1 to 3).

Engine room 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention
In the reinforcing structure of the front fender apron part, the upper end portion 12a of the reinforcing member 12 is joined to the outer vertical surface 3a of the fender apron panel 3, and the lower end portion 12b of the reinforcing member 12 is connected to the flange portion 2a of the apron side member 2 and the fender apron. The flange portion 2a of the apron side member 2, the lower end portion 12b of the reinforcing member 12, and the fender apron panel 3 are sandwiched between the panel 3 and the inner vertical surface 3b.
Since the overlapping portions of the inner vertical surface 3b of the apron are joined to each other by spot welding W1, even if an impact force is input from the front of the vehicle, the effect of absorbing impact energy due to the deformation of the apron side member 2 is not reduced, and the reinforcing member is The outer vertical surface 3a of the fender apron panel 3 can be prevented from falling to the inner side of the engine room 1 by 12, and the deformation amount of the apron side member 2 can be maintained, and the dash panel 5 can be efficiently absorbed by the impact energy.
It is possible to suppress the rearward movement of the vehicle. Moreover, the apron side member 2 of the present embodiment is formed in a hat shape in cross section having an opening on the outside in the vehicle width direction, and a plurality of recesses 8 are formed in the range of the overlapping portion so that the upper surface 2c and the side surface 2d of the apron side member 2 are formed. When the impact force from the front of the vehicle is applied to the front part of the vehicle body, since the strength of the overlapping portion is provided at the corners to be formed and the recesses 8 make the strength of the overlapping portion lower than that of the apron side member 2 positioned in the front and rear of the overlapping portion. In the above, it is possible to reliably prevent the impact energy absorption due to the deformation of the apron side member 2 from being hindered by the presence of the reinforcing member 12.

Further, the reinforcing member 12 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
Includes a front flange 12c bent downward and a rear flange 12d bent obliquely upward, and the rear flange 12d is joined to the fender apron panel 3 on the side wall of the strut tower 4 by fillet welding W2. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the fender apron panel 3 from falling sideways at the time of impact, and it is possible to improve the torsional rigidity of the reinforcing member 12 and the strength of the strut tower 4. In addition to that, since the reinforcing member 12 includes the horizontal surface portion 14 on which the heavy vehicle component 13 can be mounted and supported,
It is not necessary to separately provide a bracket dedicated to the BS actuator and a bracket dedicated to the battery, and the number of parts and the cost can be reduced.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention. is there. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, recesses 16 are provided in the corners forming the top and side surfaces of the apron side member 2 that do not overlap with the fender apron panel 3, and the recesses 16 increase the vertical strength of the apron side member 2. The strength in the vehicle front-rear direction can be reduced, the deformation amount of the apron side member 2 due to the impact force from the front of the vehicle can be increased, and the impact energy can be further absorbed.

[0019]

As described above, the reinforcing structure of the front fender apron portion of the engine room according to the present invention has an apron side member that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction at a lower position of the vehicle and has a flange portion formed at the upper end, and the vehicle. A side surface of the engine room is formed by a fender apron panel having a substantially crank-shaped cross section that extends in the vertical direction at an upper position, and a strut tower that houses the constituent members of the front suspension formed on the fender apron panel, and the side surface of the fender apron panel is formed. The upper end portion of the reinforcing member is joined to the outer vertical surface in the vehicle width direction, and the lower end portion of the reinforcing member is sandwiched between the flange portion of the apron side member and the fender apron panel, and the apron side member is attached. Flange portion, the reinforcing member, and the fender apron panel Since the joining together overlapping portions,
Even when an impact force is input from the front of the vehicle, the fender apron panel can be prevented from falling sideways, and the impact energy can be effectively absorbed without the deformation of the apron side member being hindered by the reinforcing member.

Further, in the reinforcing structure of the present invention, the flange portion of the apron side member, the reinforcing member and the apron side member within the overlapping portion of the fender apron panel joined to the apron side member are provided before and after the overlapping portion. Providing a recess that is lower in strength than the apron side member located prevents the impact energy from being absorbed by the deformation of the apron side member due to the presence of the reinforcing member when an impact force from the front of the vehicle is applied to the front part of the vehicle body. Can be reliably prevented.

Further, in the reinforcing structure of the present invention, the apron side member is formed in a hat-shaped cross section having an opening outside in the vehicle width direction within the overlapping portion, and the apron side member has an upper surface and a side surface. If the concave portion is provided in the corner portion forming the ridge in the direction orthogonal to the vehicle front-rear direction, it is possible to prevent the deformation of the apron side member from being hindered by the reinforcing member.

Further, in the reinforcing structure of the present invention, by forming a horizontal plane on which vehicle parts are mounted on the upper and lower intermediate portions of the reinforcing member, heavy parts such as ABS actuators and batteries can be mounted and used as a bracket. And the cost can be reduced. Further, in the reinforcing structure of the present invention, the strength of the strut tower can be improved by joining the rear side of the reinforcing member to the strut tower.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a reinforcing structure of a front fender apron portion of an engine room according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a structure of a front fender apron portion of a conventional engine room.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 engine room 2 apron side members 2a, 2b Flange part 3 Fender apron panel 3a Outside vertical surface 3b Inner vertical surface 4 strut tower 5 dash panel 6 brake booster 8 recess 11 Suspension upper bracket 12 Reinforcement member 12a upper end 12b lower end 12c Front flange 12d Rear flange 13 Vehicle parts 14 Horizontal surface 15 bead W1 spot welding W2 fillet welding

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An apron side member that extends in a vehicle front-rear direction at a vehicle lower position and has a flange portion formed at an upper end, a fender apron panel having a substantially crank-shaped cross section that extends vertically at a vehicle upper position, and the fender apron. A side surface of the engine room is formed by a strut tower for housing the constituent members of the front suspension formed on the panel, and the upper end portion of the reinforcing member is joined to the outer vertical surface of the fender apron panel in the vehicle width direction, and The lower end of the reinforcing member is sandwiched between the flange portion of the apron side member and the fender apron panel, and the flange portion of the apron side member, the reinforcing member, and the overlapping portion of the fender apron panel are joined together. Characteristic engine room front fender apron section Reinforcement structure. 2. The apron side member within the overlapping portion where the flange portion of the apron side member, the reinforcing member and the fender apron panel are joined,
The reinforcing structure for the front fender apron part of the engine room according to claim 1, wherein recesses are provided that have lower strength than apron side members located before and after the range of the overlapping part. 3. The apron side member is formed in a hat-shaped cross-section having an opening outside in the vehicle width direction within the overlapping portion, and the apron side member has corners forming an upper surface and a side surface of the apron side member. The reinforcing structure for a front fender apron portion of an engine room according to claim 2, wherein the recess is provided in a direction orthogonal to the vehicle front-rear direction. 4. The front fender apron part for an engine room according to claim 1, wherein a horizontal plane on which vehicle parts are mounted is formed in an upper and lower intermediate portion of the reinforcing member. Reinforcement structure. 5. The rear side of the reinforcing member is joined to the strut tower.
The reinforcing structure of the front fender apron part of the engine room according to any one of 4 above.