JP2006256534A - Structure of vehicle body - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure of a vehicle body capable of effectively absorbing the impact load in an offset collision. <P>SOLUTION: The structure of the vehicle body has a pair of side members 12 extending in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle 11 and arranged with a space from each other in the width direction of the vehicle, and a sub frame 16 which is supported by a front portion 13 of each side member to reinforce the front portion and supports an engine 23 of the vehicle 11. A cover member 26 to distribute the impact load on one side of the engine 23 with respect to its center P of gravity toward the other side with respect to the center P of gravity of the engine 23 when one side member 12 is subjected to an impact from a front side of the vehicle 11 is provided on a front side 24a of a housing 24 of the engine 23. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle body structure that can effectively absorb an impact load at the time of an offset collision of a vehicle.

  Conventionally, a pair of side members that extend along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body and are spaced from each other in the width direction of the vehicle, and a subframe that is supported by the front portion of each side member and reinforces each side member A vehicle body structure provided with is known. The subframe has a pair of side frame portions arranged along the side members, and a rear frame portion arranged along the vehicle width direction and connecting the side frame portions to each other at their rear end portions. In each side frame, a drive source of a vehicle such as an engine is supported across the side frames. Each side frame portion is compressed and deformed together with each side member when the vehicle receives an impact from the front. Thereby, when the vehicle collides head-on, the load due to the collision can be absorbed more reliably.

  However, at the time of so-called offset collision in which the vehicle collides at a position shifted to the right or left from the center in the width direction, the impact load is concentrated on one side frame portion, so the impact load is received on both side frame portions. Compared to the case, the one side frame portion easily moves toward the rear of the vehicle. When one side frame portion moves rearward, the impact load cannot be sufficiently absorbed and an impact is applied to the passenger compartment.

In view of this, a vehicle body structure that can suppress an impact on the passenger compartment at the time of an offset collision has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this vehicle body structure, a means for dispersing a part of the impact load acting on one side frame portion at the time of an offset collision to the other side frame portion and each side member is a connecting portion between each side frame portion and the rear frame portion. Are provided respectively. As a result, the backward force acting on the one side frame portion at the time of the offset collision of the vehicle is reduced, and thus it is possible to reliably suppress the one side frame portion from moving backward.
JP 2003-127893 (page 4-6, FIG. 4)

  However, in general, the engine supported by the sub-frame is arranged so that the front surface thereof is substantially along the vehicle width direction. Since the impact load acts at a position shifted in the vehicle width direction from the position corresponding to the center of gravity of the engine, the engine has a rotational moment that rotates the engine rearward around the support point for the other side frame. Arise. As the engine rotates, one side frame part of the subframe moves rearward, so that the impact load received by one side frame part cannot be properly distributed to the other side frame part. The load cannot be absorbed effectively.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle body structure that can effectively absorb an impact load at the time of an offset collision.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention reinforces a pair of side members extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and spaced from each other in the width direction of the vehicle, and the front portion of each side member. And a sub-frame that is attached to the front portion and supports a driving source of the vehicle, and when the one side member receives an impact from the front of the vehicle, the driving source has a vehicle width with respect to its center of gravity. Load distribution means for distributing an impact load acting on one side in the direction to the other side of the center of gravity of the drive source is provided in front of the drive source.

  In the above configuration, when one side member receives an impact from the front of the vehicle, an impact load acting on one side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the center of gravity of the drive source is distributed to the other side of the center of gravity of the drive source. Since the load distribution means is provided in front of the drive source, an impact load directed toward the rear of the vehicle acts on the drive source with respect to its center of gravity as when the vehicle has an offset collision from the front. Even in this case, since the impact load is distributed toward the other side of the center of gravity of the drive source, the force acting on the drive source as a rotational moment for rotating the drive source becomes smaller than in the conventional case. Thereby, it can suppress reliably that a drive source rotates with the impact load received at the time of the offset collision of a vehicle compared with the past.

  According to the present invention, since the rotation of the drive source due to receiving an impact load at the time of an offset collision of the vehicle is surely suppressed as compared with the conventional case, the subframe that supports the drive source is prevented from moving to the rear of the vehicle. Therefore, the impact load at the time of offset collision of the vehicle can be effectively absorbed.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle body structure 10 according to the present invention includes a pair of side members 12 that extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 11 and are spaced from each other in the width direction of the vehicle 11. The side members 12 are connected to each other by a front bumper B disposed along the vehicle width direction at the front end thereof. In the front portion 13 of each side member 12, when the vehicle 11 receives an impact from the front, a deformation portion (not shown) that can be compressed and deformed along the extending direction of each side member 12 to absorb the impact, respectively. Is provided. Outriggers 14 are provided at the rear ends 13b of the front portions 13 of the side members 12 so as to extend outward from the rear ends in the vehicle width direction. A side sill 15 extending in parallel with each side member 12 toward the rear is provided. Further, a subframe 16 for reinforcing the side members 12 is supported on the front portion 13 of each side member 12.

  As shown in FIG. 1, which is a view of the vehicle 11 as viewed from below, the subframe 16 includes a pair of side frame portions 17 arranged along the front-rear direction of the vehicle 11 and the front side ends of the side frame portions. A front frame portion 18 connected to each other at the portion 17a, a middle frame portion 19 connecting the side frame portions 17 to each other at an intermediate portion thereof, and a rear frame portion 20 connecting the side frame portions 17 to each other at a rear end portion 17b. Have

  In the illustrated example, each side frame portion 17 extends below the front portion 13 of each side member 12 from the front of the vehicle 11 toward the rear thereof along the front portion, and further via a bent portion 21. Extends inward in the vehicle width direction. Each side frame portion 17 can be bent and deformed outward of the vehicle at each bent portion 21 simultaneously with the deformation of each deformed portion of each side member 12 when the vehicle 11 receives an impact from the front. is there. In addition, in the illustrated example, each connecting portion between each rear end portion 17b and each rear frame portion 20 of each side frame portion 17 is connected when each side frame portion 17 receives an impact load from the front of the vehicle 11. In order to distribute the load acting on the portion to each outrigger 14 and each side sill 15, from each connecting portion outward in the vehicle width direction and obliquely rearward toward each rear end 13 b of each front portion 13 of each side member 12. Overhanging portions 22 are formed. The subframe 16 includes bolts (not shown) at the front ends 13a and rear ends 13b of the front portions 13 of the side members 12 at the front end portions 17a of the side frame portions 17 and the front end portions 22a of the overhang portions 22. And a fastening member such as a nut.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an engine 23 that is a drive source of the vehicle 11 is disposed on the subframe 16. Although not shown, the engine 23 includes a housing 24 that houses a well-known cylinder, piston, and the like. The engine 23 is placed on the middle frame portion 19 and the rear frame portion 20 via an engine placement member 25 provided at both end portions of the middle frame portion 19 of the subframe 16 and the central portion of the rear frame portion 20. Yes.

  Furthermore, in the vehicle body structure 10 according to the present invention, when one side member 12 receives an impact from the front of the vehicle 11, the impact load acting on one side of the engine 23 with respect to the center of gravity P is applied to the engine 23 with respect to the center of gravity P of the engine. Load distribution means 26 is provided for dispersing toward the other side. In the illustrated example, the load distribution means 26 is constituted by a plate-like cover member 26 provided on the front surface 24 a of the housing 24 of the engine 23.

  The cover member 26 covers the front surface 24a of the housing 24 close to the front surface 27, and both side surfaces 24b of the housing 24 of the engine 23 from both ends in the vehicle width direction of the cover portion toward the rear of the vehicle. It has a pair of fixing | fixed part 28 extended and fixed to this both sides | surfaces. In the illustrated example, the cover portion 27 has an arc shape along a circle C (indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 1) centered on the center of gravity P of the engine 23. The cover member 26 is fixed to the housing 24 by fixing each fixing portion 28 to both side surfaces 24b of the housing 24 by fastening members 29 such as bolts.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the vehicle 11 collides on the right side when viewed from the front (right side when viewed in FIG. 1), that is, when an offset collision occurs, the vehicle 11 receives from the front of the vehicle 11 via the front bumper B. Due to the impact load, as described above, the deformed portion of one side member 12 positioned on the right side when the vehicle 11 is viewed from the front is compressed and deformed, and simultaneously with the deformation of the deformed portion, along the one side member 12 One side frame portion 17 of the subframe 16 arranged in a bent manner is bent and deformed toward the outside of the vehicle at the bent portion 21. Thereby, the impact load at the time of the offset collision of the vehicle 11 can be absorbed by the deformation of each side member 12 and the sub frame 16. At this time, a part of the load acting on the connecting portion between the one side frame portion 17 and the rear frame portion 20 is transferred from the one side frame portion 17 to the other side frame portion 17 via the rear frame portion 20. It is transmitted. Further, a part of the load acting on the connecting portion between the one side frame portion 17 and the rear frame portion 20 is attached to the one side member 12 via an overhang portion 22 formed in the connecting portion. It is transmitted to the outrigger 14 and the side sill 15. As a result, it is possible to disperse the impact load that acts in a concentrated manner on the one side frame portion 17 at the time of the offset collision of the vehicle 11.

  Further, when the vehicle 11 has an offset collision, the one side frame portion 17 of the subframe 16 is bent and deformed, so that when the front frame portion 18 moves toward the rear of the vehicle, the engine in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the cover portion 27 is used. 23 abuts on a position shifted from the position corresponding to the center of gravity P to the side frame 17 side along the vehicle width direction. At this time, as described above, since the cover portion 27 has an arc shape centered on the center of gravity P of the engine 23, the impact load F acting on the cover portion 27 from the front frame portion 18 is Dispersed into a force f1 toward the center of gravity P, a force f2 along the tangential direction at the point of application of the impact load of the cover portion 27, and a force f3 toward the rear of the vehicle. Thus, from the front of the vehicle 11, as a rotational moment that rotates the engine 23 backward about the mounting point on the engine mounting member 25 on the other side frame 17 side at the time of the offset collision of the vehicle 11. The force acting on the engine 23 via the cover member 27 is reduced.

  Accordingly, the rotation of the engine 23 due to the impact load received during the offset collision of the vehicle 11 can be reliably suppressed as compared to the conventional case, and therefore the subframe 16 moves rearward of the vehicle as the engine 23 rotates rearward. Thus, the impact load at the time of the offset collision of the vehicle 11 can be effectively absorbed.

  In the present embodiment, the cover portion 27 of the cover member 26 for dispersing the impact load acting on one side with respect to the center of gravity P of the engine 23 toward the other side with respect to the center of gravity P of the engine 23 at the time of the offset collision of the vehicle 11, An example in which the center of gravity P of the engine 23 is centered is shown, but instead of this, as shown in FIG. 2, a plane that passes through the center of gravity P of the engine 23 and is perpendicular to the vertical direction of the vehicle 11. That is, the cover portion 27 can be configured by a plurality of vertical plates 29 arranged along a tangent to a circle C centering on the center of gravity P of the engine 23 in a horizontal plane when the vehicle 11 is viewed in plan.

  Thereby, at the time of the offset collision of the vehicle 11, the impact load received from the front of the vehicle 11 can be dispersed toward the center of gravity P of the engine 23 in the same manner as described above, so that the engine 23 is reliably rotated backward. Can be suppressed. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, even when a radiator 30 that exchanges heat with cooling water for cooling the engine is disposed in front of the engine 23 in the vicinity of the engine 23. By appropriately adjusting the angle of the flat plate 29 of the cover portion 27 according to the distance between the cover 30 and the radiator 30, the arrangement of the cover member 26 is not limited as compared with the case where the cover member 26 has an arc shape. The cover member 26 can be disposed at an appropriate position.

  In the present embodiment, the cover member 26 is formed separately from the housing 24 of the engine 23. Instead, for example, the cover member 26 faces the front surface 24a of the housing 24 of the engine 23 of the cover portion 27. The surface can be formed as a flat surface, and an arc surface centered on the center of gravity P of the engine 23 can be formed on the surface located on the vehicle front side.

  Furthermore, although the cover part 27 of the cover member 26 has shown the circular arc shape centering on the gravity center P of the engine 23, it replaces with this and the impact load which acts on one side regarding the gravity center P of the engine 23 is shown. If the dispersing action of dispersing the center of gravity P of the engine 23 to the other side is achieved, the curvature of the cover portion 27 can be appropriately changed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which the means 26 for generating a component force toward the center of gravity P of the engine 23 in the offset collision of the vehicle 11 is configured by the cover member 26 is shown. Instead, the front surface 24 a of the housing 24 of the engine 23 can be formed in an arc shape with the center of gravity P of the engine 23 as the center. In this case, since it is not necessary to newly provide a member for generating a component force toward the center of gravity of the engine 23, the number of parts is reduced, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which the means 26 for generating a component force toward the center of gravity P of the engine 23 in the offset collision of the vehicle 11 is configured by the cover member 26 is shown. Instead, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, an output from a motor (not shown) of the engine 23 such as a compressor used in an air conditioner (not shown) or a generator that generates electricity by driving the engine to charge a battery (not shown). The engine accessory 31 that is driven in response to this is arranged by arranging it in front of the engine 23 along a circle C (see FIG. 1) centered on the center of gravity P of the engine 23 when the vehicle 11 is viewed in plan. can do.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, an output gear 34 that rotates together with the pulley is provided at the center of an engine pulley 33 that is fixed to the output shaft 32 of the motor of the engine 23. The same number of auxiliary gears 35 as the machine 31 are arranged. Each accessory gear 35 meshes with the output gear 34, and rotates as the output gear rotates.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when each engine accessory 31 is placed vertically, the pulley 33 of the engine 23 and each pulley (not shown) provided in each engine accessory 31 are arranged at the twisted position. Therefore, it is difficult to transmit power from the pulley 33 of the motor of the engine 23 through the belt as in the conventional case. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of flexible shafts 36 can be used in place of the belt. Each flexible shaft 36 has one end 36a connected to each accessory gear 35 and the other end 36b connected to each pulley of each engine accessory 31. By rotating around its axis, the engine is rotated. The power of the 23 motors can be transmitted to each engine accessory 31.

  When each engine accessory 31 receives an impact load from the front of the vehicle 11 at the time of the offset collision as described above, each engine accessory 31 causes the vehicle 11 to move in front of the engine 23 as described above. Since it is arranged along a circle C centered on the center of gravity P of the engine 23 as viewed in a plan view, each engine accessory 31 has a center of gravity of the engine 23 as in the example shown in FIGS. A component force toward P is generated. As a result, it is possible to reduce the force acting as a rotational moment for rotating the engine backward from each engine accessory 31 to the engine 23.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a vehicle in which the engine 23 is used as a drive source has been described. Can be applied. In this case, for example, the above-described cover member can be provided on the front surface of the drive motor.

It is the top view which looked at the vehicle body structure concerning the present invention from the lower part of a vehicle. FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing an embodiment different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. It is a front view which shows roughly the drive source which concerns on another Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Car body structure 11 Vehicle 12 Side member 12a Front part 23 Drive source (engine)
16 Subframe P Center of gravity 26 Load distribution means (cover member)
27 Arc surface (cover)
31 Auxiliary machine (engine auxiliary machine)
17 Side frame 18 Front frame

Claims (4)

  A pair of side members extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the vehicle, and attached to the front portion to reinforce the front portion of each side member; A sub-frame that supports the drive source, and when one of the side members receives an impact from the front of the vehicle, an impact load acting on one side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the center of gravity of the drive source is applied to the drive source. A vehicle body structure characterized in that load distribution means for distributing to the other side of the center of gravity is provided in front of the drive source.   The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the load distribution means is a cover member, and the cover member has an arcuate surface centered on the center of gravity of the drive source.   The load distribution means is configured by arranging a plurality of auxiliary machines for the drive source along a circle centered on the center of gravity of the drive source when the vehicle is viewed in plan. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1.   The sub-frame includes a pair of side frame portions arranged along the side members, and a front frame portion that connects the side frame portions to each other at their front end portions. 4. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle body structure is disposed across a side frame portion, and the load distribution means distributes an impact load received by the drive source from the front frame portion. 5.

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