JP2003285766A - Front body structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve absorption of loads at a coupling part of a front side member and a dash panel, and transmission of loads to a vehicle body skeletal member. <P>SOLUTION: When a load acts on a front side member 10 from the front, a compression load acting on the front side member 10 is received by a base 18 having a plurality of reinforcement ribs 24 spaced in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle in a rear part 16 of the front side member 10. One part of the load is transmitted to a front pillar as the vehicle body skeletal member and a floor tunnel part via a widthwise outside connection part 20 and a widthwise inside connection part 22 arranged on both ends of the vehicle width direction of the rear part 16 of the front side member 10 and enlarged in a triangle shape, seen in a plan view rearwards of the vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a front body structure, and more particularly to a front body structure for automobiles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an example of a front body structure of an automobile is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-71945.

As shown in FIG. 9, in this front body structure, the front side member 1 is provided for the purpose of ensuring both the rigidity and strength of the rear half of the front side member and the expansion of the crush stroke of the front compartment.
The rear portion 100A of 00 is connected to the dash panel 106 via the lower member 102 and the upper member 104, which are member connecting members having a large closed cross-sectional area.

[0004]

However, in this front body structure, the front side member 1
The rear part 100A of 00 has a hollow structure, and the lower member 102 and the upper member 104 of the member connecting member have a hollow structure formed by casting from a light metal material. As a result, the front side member 10 may be damaged due to a vehicle front collision or the like.
When a load is applied to 0 from the front of the vehicle, local deformation is likely to occur in the rear portion 100A of the front side member 100, the lower member 102, and the upper member 104. Therefore, the front side member 100 and the dash panel 1
It is not possible to sufficiently absorb the load at the joint portion with 06 and transmit the load to the vehicle body frame member.

In view of the above facts, it is an object of the present invention to obtain a front body structure capable of improving load absorption at a connecting portion of a front side member and a dash panel and load transfer to a vehicle body frame member.

[0006]

According to the front body structure of the present invention as defined in claim 1, a plurality of front body members are provided at a rear portion of the front side member and connected to the dash panel at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Reinforcing ribs and the rear side of the front side member are disposed on both sides in the vehicle width direction,
The front side member and the dash panel are connected to each other, and the left and right connecting portions which are widened in a triangular shape in a plan view toward the rear of the vehicle and the left and right connecting portions are formed from the rear portion of the front side member. A plurality of connecting ribs extending obliquely toward the dash panel and arranged in parallel with each other.

Therefore, a compressive load acting on the front side member at the time of a frontal collision or the like is provided at the joint portion with the dash panel at the rear portion of the front side member with a plurality of reinforcing ribs arranged at intervals in the vehicle front-rear direction. Therefore, the rear portion of the front side member is reliably compressed and deformed. Further, the load can be transmitted to the vehicle body skeleton member via the left and right connecting portions which are disposed on both sides of the rear portion of the front side member in the vehicle width direction and which are widened rearward of the vehicle in a triangular shape in a plan view. Further, a plurality of connecting ribs that extend obliquely from the rear portion of the front side member toward the dash panel and are arranged in parallel to each other are formed in the left and right connecting portions. As a result, it is possible to improve the load absorption and the load transmission to the vehicle body frame member at the joint portion between the front side member and the dash panel.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the front body structure according to the first aspect, the left and right connecting portions are separate members from the rear portion of the front side member, and the rear portion of the front side member and the left and right portions. And the connecting portion of are made of an extruded material.

Therefore, in addition to the contents described in claim 1,
Since the connecting portion between the rear portion of the front side member and the dash panel is divided into three parts and each is made of an extruded material, it is possible to easily manufacture and improve the productivity.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the front body structure according to any one of the first and second aspects, the left and right connecting portions are connected to the front pillar and the floor tunnel portion. To do.

Therefore, in addition to the contents of claims 1 and 2, since the load can be efficiently transmitted to the front pillar and the floor tunnel portion by the left and right connecting portions, the load can be transmitted to the vehicle body frame member. Can be further improved.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a front body 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. 1, a pair of left and right front side members 10 of the present embodiment are arranged in the front and rear portions of the vehicle body in the vicinity of lower end portions in the vehicle width direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the front portion 12 of the front side member 10 is formed of a hollow square bar and has a rear wall portion 12A. Also, front side member 1
In the rear part of the left and right side wall parts 12B in the front part 12 of 0,
Each of the mounting screw holes 14 is formed.

On the other hand, the rear portion 1 of the front side member 10
The reference numeral 6 is divided into three parts, that is, a base portion 18, a vehicle width direction outer side connecting portion 20 and a vehicle width direction inner side connecting portion 22 arranged on the left and right of the base portion 18.

The base portion 18 is made of an extruded material such as aluminum and has a rectangular outer peripheral shape when viewed from the vehicle width direction. Further, a plurality of reinforcing ribs (walls) 24 are formed inside the base 18 at intervals in the vehicle front-rear direction. Therefore, a space 26 having a rectangular cross-sectional shape when viewed from the vehicle width direction is formed between the front wall portion 18A of the base portion 18, the reinforcing ribs 24, and the rear wall portion 18B.

The vehicle width direction outer side connecting portion 20 is made of an extruded material such as aluminum, and is widened in a triangular shape in a plan view toward the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle width direction inner side wall portion 20A of the vehicle width direction outer side connecting portion 20 is welded to the vehicle width direction outer side portion of the base portion 18 by arc welding or the like. Further, the vehicle width direction inner side wall portion 20A of the vehicle width direction outer connecting portion 20 is formed with a wavy convex portion 28 in a plan view, and each convex portion 28 is inserted into the space 26 of the base portion 18. .

A mounting flange 20B is formed at the front end portion of the vehicle width direction inner side wall portion 20A of the vehicle width direction outer connecting portion 20, and a mounting hole 30 is formed in this mounting flange 20B. On the other hand, the rear wall portion 2 of the vehicle width direction outer connecting portion 20
0C is welded to the vertical wall portion 32A of the dash panel 32 by arc welding or the like.

The vehicle width direction outer side wall portion 20D of the vehicle width direction outer side connecting portion 20 is obliquely extended toward the dash panel 32 in the vehicle rearward outside direction, and the vehicle width direction outer side connecting portion 2 is provided.
In the interior of 0, a plurality of connecting ribs 34 that extend parallel to the vehicle width direction outer side wall portion 20D and are arranged parallel to each other are formed.

The vehicle width direction inner connecting portion 22 is made of an extruded material such as aluminum, and is widened in a triangular shape toward the rear of the vehicle in a plan view. The vehicle width direction outer side wall portion 22A of the vehicle width direction inner side connecting portion 22 is welded to the vehicle width direction inner side portion of the base portion 18 by arc welding or the like. Further, the vehicle width direction outer side wall portion 22A of the vehicle width direction inner side connection portion 22 is formed with a wavy convex portion 38 in a plan view, and each convex portion 38 is inserted into the space 26 of the base portion 18. .

A mounting flange 22B is formed at the front end of the vehicle width direction outer side wall portion 22A of the vehicle width direction inner connecting portion 22, and a mounting hole 40 is formed in this mounting flange 22B. On the other hand, the rear wall portion 2 of the vehicle width direction inner connecting portion 22
2C is welded to the vertical wall portion 32A of the dash panel 32 by arc welding or the like.

The vehicle width direction inner side wall portion 22D of the vehicle width direction inner side connecting portion 22 is obliquely extended toward the dash panel 32 toward the vehicle rear side inner side, and the vehicle width direction inner side connecting portion 2 is formed.
A plurality of connecting ribs 44, which extend in parallel with the inner wall portion 22D in the vehicle width direction and are arranged in parallel with each other, are formed inside the vehicle.

Further, the mounting hole 3 of the vehicle width direction outer side connecting portion 20.
0, the mounting hole 40 of the vehicle width direction inner connecting portion 22, and the mounting screw hole 14 formed in the front portion 12 of the front side member 10.
The bolts 46 are respectively inserted in the
A front portion 12 and a rear portion 16 of the front side member 10 are connected by 6.

As shown in FIG. 4, the dash panel 32
Inside the vertical wall portion 32A, a plurality of ribs 50 extending in the vehicle width direction at predetermined intervals in the vehicle vertical direction are formed, and an inclined portion 32B that continues to the lower portion of the vertical wall portion 32A of the dash panel 32. Inside, there are a plurality of ribs 52 extending in the vehicle width direction.
Are formed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the dash panel 32.
Both ends 32D of the vehicle width direction are connected to a front pillar 56 as a vehicle body frame member made of an extruded material such as aluminum via a cowl side 54 made of an extruded material such as aluminum. The vehicle width direction outer side connecting portion 20 is connected to the front pillar 56 via the vehicle width direction both ends 32D of the dash panel 32 and the cowl side 54.

As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of ribs 62 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction are formed inside the floor panel 60. These ribs 62 are the upper wall portion 60A and the lower wall of the floor panel 60. It is inclined at a predetermined angle α with respect to the portion 60B. Further, a plurality of ribs 6 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction are provided inside the floor tunnel portion 64 serving as a vehicle body frame member.
6 is formed. The ribs 66 are arranged substantially horizontally on the side wall portion 64A of the floor tunnel portion 64, and are arranged substantially vertically on the upper wall portion 64B of the floor tunnel portion 64.

As shown in FIG. 3, the floor tunnel portion 6
The front end portion of No. 4 is widened to the outside in the vehicle width direction, and the vehicle width direction inside connection portion 22 is provided with the vertical wall portion 32A of the dash panel 32.
It is connected to the floor tunnel portion 64 via.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

In this embodiment, a load is applied to the front side member 10 from the front due to a vehicle front collision (arrow F in FIG. 3).
When a force acts on the front side member 10, a compressive load acting on the front side member 10 is received by the base portion 18 of the rear portion 16 of the front side member 10 having a plurality of reinforcing ribs 24 arranged at intervals in the vehicle front-rear direction. You can
In addition, a part F1 or F2 of the load F is disposed on both sides of the rear portion 16 of the front side member 10 in the vehicle width direction, and is widened in the vehicle width direction outer connecting portion 20 toward the vehicle rear side in a triangular shape in plan view. And the front pillar 56 and the floor tunnel portion 6 as a vehicle body frame member via the vehicle width direction inner side connecting portion 22.
4 can be efficiently transmitted. Further, the vehicle width direction outer connecting portion 2
0 and the vehicle width direction inner side connecting portion 22 are formed with a plurality of connecting ribs 34 and 44 extending obliquely from the rear portion 16 of the front side member 10 toward the dash panel 32 and arranged in parallel with each other.

As a result, the dash panel 3 by the load F
As shown in FIG. 7, the load distribution in the vertical wall portion 32 </ b> A of No. 2 is the load F of the portion S <b> 1 corresponding to the front pillar 56.
1 and the load F2 of the portion S2 corresponding to the floor tunnel portion 64 are high, and the load F3 of the portion S3 corresponding to between the front pillar 56 and the floor tunnel portion 64 is low.

Further, at the time of deformation, the vehicle-width-direction outer connecting portion 2
The convex portion 28 of 0 and the convex portion 38 of the vehicle width direction inner side connecting portion 22 enter into the space 26 of the base portion 18 from both sides in the vehicle width direction, and the base portion 18 is reliably compressed and deformed in the vehicle longitudinal direction. As a result,
The load characteristic in this embodiment is as shown in FIG.
The reaction force load G1 during the deformation can be maintained at a high value. Further, in the present embodiment, the distance between the reinforcing ribs 24, the wall thickness and the inclination angle of the connecting ribs 34, 44 (angle β in FIG. 3),
Appropriate load characteristics can be set by adjusting the spacing and wall thickness.

Therefore, in this embodiment, at the connecting portion between the front side member 10 and the dash panel 32,
The load absorption can be improved and the load transmission to the vehicle body frame member can be improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, the rear portion 16 of the front side member 10 is divided into the base portion 18, the vehicle width direction outer side connecting portion 20, and the vehicle width direction inner side connecting portion 22, each of which is made of an extruded material. Manufacturing is facilitated and productivity is improved.

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, in the above-described embodiment, the rear portion 16 of the front side member 10 is connected to the base portion 18, the vehicle width direction outer side connecting portion 2
However, the base portion 18 may be integrated with the front portion 12 of the front side member 10 in place of this.

[0036]

According to the front body structure of the present invention as set forth in claim 1, a plurality of reinforcing ribs arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction of the vehicle at a joint portion with a dash panel in a rear portion of the front side member, The left and right connecting portions, which are arranged on both sides in the vehicle width direction of the rear portion of the front side member, connect the front side member and the dash panel, and are widened in a triangular shape in a plan view toward the rear of the vehicle,
The front side member and the dash panel are connected to each other by having a plurality of connecting ribs which are formed in the left and right connecting portions and extend obliquely from the rear part of the front side member toward the dash panel and which are arranged in parallel with each other. It has an excellent effect that the load absorption in the portion and the load transmission to the vehicle body frame member can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the front body structure according to the first aspect, the left and right connecting portions are separate members from the rear portion of the front side member, and the rear portion of the front side member and the left and right connecting portions are connected to each other. However, since it is composed of an extruded material, it has an excellent effect that productivity can be improved in addition to the effect described in claim 1.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the front body structure according to any one of the first and second aspects, the left and right connecting portions are connected to the front pillar and the floor tunnel portion. It has an excellent effect that the load transmission to the can be further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen from an obliquely rearward inside of a vehicle.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the front body structure according to the embodiment of the present invention as seen from the vehicle diagonally inner rear side.

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view showing a front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.

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

FIG. 6 is a plan sectional view showing a deformed state of the front body structure according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a load distribution of the dash panel of the front body structure according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing load characteristics of the front body structure according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional front body structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 front side member 12 front side member front part 16 front side member rear part 18 front side member rear base part 20 front side member rear vehicle width direction outer connecting part 22 front side member rear part vehicle width direction inner connecting part Part 24 Reinforcing rib 32 Dash panel 34 Connecting rib 44 Connecting rib 56 Front pillar (car body frame member) 60 Floor panel 64 Floor tunnel part (car body frame member)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of reinforcing ribs, which are arranged at intervals in the vehicle front-rear direction, at a connecting portion with a dash panel in a rear portion of a front side member, and are arranged on both sides in a vehicle width direction of a rear portion of the front side member. The left and right connecting parts are provided to connect the front side member and the dash panel and are widened in a triangular shape in a plan view toward the rear of the vehicle, and the left and right connecting parts. A front body structure comprising: a plurality of connecting ribs extending obliquely from a rear portion toward the dash panel and arranged in parallel with each other. 2. The left and right connecting parts are separate members from the rear part of the front side member, and the rear part of the front side member and the left and right connecting parts are made of extruded material. The front body structure according to claim 1. 3. The front body structure according to claim 1, wherein the left and right connecting portions are connected to the front pillar and the floor tunnel portion.