JP2004306676A - Vehicle roof structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent plastic deformation of a roof panel due to a difference in thermal expansion between the roof panel and a roof side rail. <P>SOLUTION: A connection flange 20A of a roof panel 20 is connected to a step portion 12C of an outer panel 12 which has a lower rigidity than an upper connection flange 10A of a roof side rail 10. Thus, if the roof panel 20 significantly expands outwardly in the vehicle width direction from the outer panel 12 due to difference of expansion coefficents, the step portion 12C and its vicinity of the outer panel 12 change their shapes in accordance with the expansion of the roof penal 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle body roof structure, and more particularly to a vehicle body roof structure for a vehicle such as an automobile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a vehicle body roof structure of a vehicle such as an automobile, a configuration in which an aluminum roof panel is joined to a roof side rail made of a steel plate is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-274428
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a vehicle body roof structure, the outer panel and the inner panel of the roof side rail are joined to each other by respective joining flanges, and the roof panel is joined to this joining flange. As a result, when the aluminum roof panel, which has a higher thermal expansion coefficient than the steel roof side rail, expands outward in the vehicle width, the roof panel has a higher rigidity than the roof side rail joint flange. And is suppressed by the joint. For this reason, the vicinity of the joint between the roof panel and the roof side rail is easily plastically deformed locally.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a vehicle body roof structure that can prevent plastic deformation of a roof panel caused by a difference in thermal expansion with a roof side rail.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is a vehicle body roof structure having a roof side rail in which an outer panel and an inner panel are joined to each other by respective joining flanges,
The roof panel is formed of a material having a different coefficient of thermal expansion from the roof side rail, and the roof panel is joined to the roof side rail at a portion having a lower rigidity than the joining flange.
[0007]
Therefore, when the roof panel expands or contracts in the vehicle width direction with respect to the roof side rail due to the difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion, the roof panel is joined to the roof side rail at a portion having lower rigidity than the joining flange. Therefore, the vicinity of the joint on the roof side rail side is also deformed in accordance with expansion or contraction of the roof panel. As a result, plastic deformation of the roof panel caused by a difference in thermal expansion with the roof side rail can be prevented.
[0008]
The invention according to claim 2 is a vehicle body roof structure having a roof side rail in which an outer panel and an inner panel are joined to each other by respective joining flanges,
The roof panel is formed of a material having a different coefficient of thermal expansion from that of the roof side rail, and an outer terminal in a vehicle width direction of a joint flange of the roof panel is joined to a joint flange of the roof side rail.
[0009]
Therefore, when the roof panel expands or contracts in the vehicle width direction with respect to the roof side rail due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficient, the vehicle width direction outer end portion of the roof panel connection flange is connected to the roof side rail connection flange. Because of the joint, the joint flange of the roof panel is deformed starting from the outer end portion in the vehicle width direction. As a result, plastic deformation of the roof panel caused by a difference in thermal expansion with the roof side rail can be prevented.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle body roof structure according to any one of the first and second aspects, the roof side rail is made of a steel plate, and the roof panel is made of aluminum. In addition to the contents described in any one of claims 1 and 2, a difference in thermal expansion between a roof side rail made of a steel plate and an aluminum roof panel having a linear expansion coefficient approximately twice that of a steel plate is absorbed. Thus, plastic deformation of the roof panel caused by a difference in thermal expansion with the roof side rail can be prevented.
[0011]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle body roof structure according to any one of the first to third aspects, a joint between the roof panel and the roof side rail is continuously welded.
[0012]
Therefore, in addition to the contents described in any one of claims 1 to 3, the joint between the roof panel and the roof side rail is continuously welded, so that the roof panel is prevented from being partially lifted at the joint. it can.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A first embodiment of a vehicle body roof structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0014]
In the drawings, the arrow FR indicates the vehicle forward direction, the arrow UP indicates the vehicle upward direction, and the arrow IN indicates the vehicle width inside direction.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the left and right roof side rails 10 (only the left side in FIG. 2) of the vehicle body are connected to a roof side rail outer panel 12 (hereinafter simply referred to as “outer body”) of the roof side rail 10. An outer panel 12) and a roof side rail inner panel 14 (hereinafter, simply referred to as an inner panel 14) which constitutes a body side portion of the roof side rail 10 are formed. The outer panel 12 and the inner panel 14 are made of a steel plate.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, the cross-sectional shape of the outer panel 12 as viewed from the front of the vehicle body is a hat shape with an opening directed toward the inside of the vehicle body, and upper and lower joining flanges 12A and 12B are provided at the opening ends. Each is formed.
[0017]
On the other hand, the cross-sectional shape of the inner panel 14 as viewed from the front of the vehicle body is a hat shape with an opening facing the outside of the vehicle body, and an upper joint flange 14A and a lower joint flange 14B are formed at the opening ends. I have.
[0018]
The upper joint flange 12A and the lower joint flange 12B of the outer panel 12 are respectively joined to the upper joint flange 14A and the lower joint flange 14B of the inner panel 14 by spot welding or the like, and the upper joint flange 10A of the roof side rail 10 is provided. And the lower joining flange 10B. The roof side rail 10 has a closed cross-sectional structure extending in the vehicle front-rear direction.
[0019]
Near the upper joint flange 12A of the outer panel 12, there is formed a stepped portion 12C bulging upward from the vehicle body, and the stepped portion 12C is a portion having lower rigidity than the upper joint flange 10A of the roof side rail 10. .
[0020]
The roof panel 20 laid on the left and right roof side rails 10 of the vehicle body is made of aluminum, and a joining flange 20A is formed at the outer end of the roof panel 20 in the vehicle width direction along the vehicle front-rear direction. . The joining flange 20A of the roof panel 20 is joined to the upper surface of the step 12C of the outer panel 12 from above the vehicle body by laser welding or the like (joining point P).
[0021]
Note that a vertical wall portion 20C is formed at a boundary between the joint flange 20A of the roof panel 20 and the general surface 20B.
[0022]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
[0023]
In the present embodiment, when the temperature of the vehicle body rises due to a drying oven for painting, an outside air temperature, or the like, the general surface 20B of the roof panel 20 thermally expands in a vehicle width outward direction (the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 1). . The outer panel 12 also thermally expands in the vehicle width direction (the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1).
[0024]
At this time, in the present embodiment, the coefficient of thermal expansion of aluminum forming the roof panel 20 is different from the coefficient of thermal expansion of the steel sheet forming the outer panel 12, and the coefficient of linear expansion of aluminum is about twice the coefficient of linear expansion of the steel sheet. Has become.
[0025]
As a result, the expansion of the roof panel 20 in the vehicle width outside direction (direction of arrow A in FIG. 1) on the general surface 20B cannot be absorbed by the expansion of the outer panel 12 in the vehicle width direction (direction of arrow B of FIG. 1). However, in the present embodiment, the joining flange 20A is joined to the step portion 12C of the outer panel 12, which is a portion having lower rigidity than the upper joining flange 10A of the roof side rail 10. Therefore, when the roof panel 20 greatly expands in the vehicle width direction with respect to the outer panel 12 due to the difference in the thermal expansion coefficient, the roof panel 20 expands, and the step portion 12C of the outer panel 12 and The vicinity thereof is deformed as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
[0026]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, since the thermal expansion of the roof panel 20 can be absorbed by the deformation of the step portion 12C of the outer panel 12 and the vicinity thereof, the plastic deformation of the roof panel 20 caused by the difference in thermal expansion with the roof side rail 10 can be prevented. Can be prevented.
[0027]
In the present embodiment, the joining flange 20A of the roof panel 20 is joined to the upper surface of the step 12C of the outer panel 12, but the joining portion of the joining flange 20A of the roof panel 20 is limited to the step 12C of the outer panel 12. Instead, any other portion of the roof side rail 10 may be used as long as the portion has lower rigidity than the upper joint flange 10A or the lower joint flange 10B of the roof side rail 10.
[0028]
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a configuration in which the joining flange 20A of the roof panel 20 is joined to the upper surface of a step portion 12D formed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the upper joining flange 12A of the outer panel 12 toward the upper side of the vehicle body. good.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 4, the joining flange 20 </ b> A of the roof panel 20 is joined to the upper surface of a stepped portion 14 </ b> C formed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the upper joining flange 14 </ b> A of the inner panel 14. Is also good.
[0030]
Further, in the present embodiment, the joining flange 20A of the roof panel 20 is joined to the upper surface of the step portion 12C of the outer panel 12 from above the vehicle body by laser welding or the like. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. A work hole 30 for welding may be formed in the inner panel 14, and the joining flange 20A of the roof panel 20 may be joined to the upper surface of the step portion 12C of the outer panel 12 from above and below the vehicle body by spot welding or the like.
[0031]
Next, a second embodiment of the vehicle body roof structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0032]
The same members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the vehicle width direction outer end 20 </ b> D of the joint flange 20 </ b> A of the roof panel 20 is attached to the upper surface of the upper joint flange 12 </ b> A of the outer panel 12 from the vehicle body upper side by laser welding in the vehicle longitudinal direction. (Welded portion S).
[0034]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
[0035]
In the present embodiment, when the temperature of the vehicle body rises due to the outside air temperature or the like, the general surface 20B of the roof panel 20 thermally expands toward the outside of the vehicle width (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 6). The outer panel 12 also thermally expands in the vehicle width direction (the direction of arrow B in FIG. 6).
[0036]
At this time, in the present embodiment, the coefficient of thermal expansion of aluminum forming the roof panel 20 is different from the coefficient of thermal expansion of the steel sheet forming the outer panel 12, and the coefficient of linear expansion of aluminum is about twice the coefficient of linear expansion of the steel sheet. Has become.
[0037]
As a result, the expansion of the roof panel 20 in the vehicle width outward direction (direction of arrow A in FIG. 6) on the general surface 20B cannot be absorbed by the expansion of the outer panel 12 in the vehicle width direction (direction of arrow B of FIG. 6). However, in the present embodiment, the vehicle width direction outer end 20 </ b> D of the joint flange 20 </ b> A of the roof panel 20 is joined to the upper surface of the upper joint flange 12 </ b> A of the outer panel 12. Therefore, when the roof panel 20 expands largely in the vehicle width direction with respect to the outer panel 12 due to a difference in thermal expansion coefficient, the joining flange 20A of the roof panel 20 is expanded with the expansion of the roof panel 20. Is deformed from the outer terminal 20D in the vehicle width direction as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
[0038]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, since the thermal expansion of the roof panel 20 can be absorbed by the deformation of the joint flange 20A of the roof panel 20 and the vicinity thereof, the plastic deformation of the roof panel 20 caused by the difference in thermal expansion with the roof side rail 10 can be achieved. Can be prevented.
[0039]
Further, in the present embodiment, when the temperature of the vehicle body increases due to the outside air temperature or the like, the joint flange 20A of the roof panel 20 expands in the vehicle front-rear direction (the direction of arrow C in FIG. 6). The outer panel 12 also expands in the vehicle front-rear direction (the direction of arrow C in FIG. 6).
[0040]
At this time, the coefficient of thermal expansion of aluminum forming the roof panel 20 is different from the coefficient of thermal expansion of the steel sheet forming the outer panel 12, and the coefficient of linear expansion of aluminum is about twice the coefficient of linear expansion of the steel sheet.
[0041]
As a result, when the joining flange 20A of the roof panel 20 and the upper joining flange 12A of the outer panel 12 are joined at predetermined intervals in the vehicle longitudinal direction by rivets or the like, the joining flange 20A of the roof panel 20 and the outer panel 12 are joined together. Due to the difference in linear expansion coefficient between the upper joint flange 12A and the upper joint flange 12A, the joint flange 20A of the roof panel 20 partially rises between joints.
[0042]
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the joining flange 20A of the roof panel 20 is continuously welded (welded portion S) to the upper surface of the upper joining flange 12A of the outer panel 12 along the vehicle longitudinal direction by laser welding. It is possible to prevent a partial rise of the joining flange 20 </ b> A at a joining portion caused by a difference in linear expansion coefficient between the outer panel 12 and the outer panel 20.
[0043]
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the vehicle width direction outer end portion 20D of the joint flange 20A of the roof panel 20 is continuously welded to the upper surface of the upper joint flange 12A of the outer panel 12 by laser welding along the vehicle longitudinal direction (weld portion S). ), It is possible to cut off the water entry path by the bonding itself. As a result, the sealer can be eliminated.
[0044]
In the present embodiment, the outer end portion 20D in the vehicle width direction of the joining flange 20A of the roof panel 20 is continuously welded to the upper surface of the upper joining flange 12A of the outer panel 12 along the vehicle longitudinal direction by laser welding. Instead of laser welding, another joining method such as laser brazing, bonding, or the like, attaches the vehicle width direction outer end portion 20D of the joining flange 20A of the roof panel 20 to the upper surface of the upper joining flange 12A of the outer panel 12 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. May be continuously welded along.
[0045]
In the above, the present invention has been described in detail with respect to a specific embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. Some will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, in the above embodiment, the roof side rail 10 is made of steel and the roof panel 20 is made of aluminum. However, the materials of the roof side rail 10 and the roof panel 20 are not limited to these, and other materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion may be used. May form the roof side rail 10 and the roof panel 20.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention according to claim 1 is a vehicle body roof structure having a roof side rail in which an outer panel and an inner panel are joined to each other by respective joining flanges, wherein the roof panel is made of a material having a different coefficient of thermal expansion from the roof side rail. The roof panel is joined to the roof side rail at a lower rigidity than the joint flange, so it has an excellent effect of preventing plastic deformation of the roof panel caused by the difference in thermal expansion with the roof side rail. Have.
[0047]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle body roof structure having a roof side rail in which an outer panel and an inner panel are joined to each other by respective joining flanges, wherein the roof panel is formed of a material having a different coefficient of thermal expansion from the roof side rail. In addition, since the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the joining flange of the roof panel is joined to the joining flange of the roof side rail, plastic deformation of the roof panel caused by a difference in thermal expansion between the roof side rail and the roof side rail can be prevented. Has the effect.
[0048]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle body roof structure according to any one of the first and second aspects, the roof side rail is made of a steel plate and the roof panel is made of aluminum. It has an excellent effect that plastic deformation of the roof panel caused by a difference in expansion can be prevented.
[0049]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle body roof structure according to any one of the first to third aspects, the joint between the roof panel and the roof side rail is continuously welded. In addition to the contents described in the paragraph, there is an excellent effect that partial lifting of the roof panel at the joint portion can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cross-section of a part of a vehicle body roof structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from the front outside.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a cross section of a part of the vehicle body roof structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from the front inside the vehicle.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a cross-section of a part of a vehicle body roof structure according to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from the front outer side;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a cross-section of a part of a vehicle body roof structure according to another modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention when viewed from a diagonally front outer side of the vehicle.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a cross-section of a part of a vehicle body roof structure according to another modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from a diagonally front outer side of the vehicle.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a cross-section of a part of a vehicle body roof structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from the front outside;
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Roof side rail 10A Upper joint flange 10B of roof side rail Lower joint flange 12 of roof side rail 12 Roof side rail outer panel 12C Step of roof side rail outer panel (low rigidity part)
Step of 12D roof side rail outer panel (low rigidity part)
14 Roof side rail inner panel 14C Roof side rail inner panel step (low rigidity part)
20 Roof Panel 20A Roof Panel Joint Flange 20B Roof Panel General Surface 20D Roof Panel Joint Flange Outside End Part of Roof Panel

Claims (4)

A vehicle body roof structure having a roof side rail in which an outer panel and an inner panel are joined to each other by respective joining flanges,
A vehicle body roof structure, wherein a roof panel is formed of a material having a different coefficient of thermal expansion from that of the roof side rail, and the roof panel is joined to the roof side rail at a portion having lower rigidity than the joining flange. A vehicle body roof structure having a roof side rail in which an outer panel and an inner panel are joined to each other by respective joining flanges,
A vehicle body wherein a roof panel is formed of a material having a different coefficient of thermal expansion from that of the roof side rail, and a vehicle width direction outer end portion of a joint flange of the roof panel is joined to a joint flange of the roof side rail. Roof structure. The vehicle body roof structure according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the roof side rail is made of a steel plate, and the roof panel is made of aluminum. The vehicle body roof structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a joint between the roof panel and the roof side rail is continuously welded.

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