JP2007307993A - Vehicle body coupling structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle body coupling structure capable of compatibly simplifying a coupling process of body panels with each other, and reducing the cost by reducing the number of components. <P>SOLUTION: An upper end 10A of a room partition panel 10 is folded backward of a vehicle, and a front end 12 of an upper back panel 12 is folded downward of and forward of the vehicle in a hook shape to form a double-face-mated closed sectional part 18 weldable by laser beam. A rear suspension tower 20 is arranged on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the closed sectional part 18. The rear suspension tower 20 and an end in the longitudinal direction of the closed sectional part 18 are connected and supported by a triangular connection supporting face 26 integrated with a horizontal part 22B of a strainer 22. Thus, the connection supporting face 26 plays a role as a bulkhead to suppress any sectional collapse. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle body coupling structure using laser welding.

  Patent Document 1 below discloses a vehicle body coupling structure in which left and right rear suspension towers are coupled by a closed cross-sectional portion extending in the vehicle width direction. Specifically, an upper back reinforcement is connected to the upper end portion side of the room partition panel by spot welding to form a closed cross-sectional portion extending in the vehicle width direction at this portion, and through the closed cross-sectional portion. The left and right rear suspension towers are combined.

  However, according to the above prior art, the upper end of the room partition panel and the upper back reinforcement are spot welded, and therefore it is necessary to provide a work hole for inserting a welding gun in the upper back reinforcement. . For this reason, since the process of providing a work hole increases, it leads to a cost increase, and when a work hole is formed in the closed cross-section part for ensuring rigidity, there is a disadvantage that the rigidity is lowered accordingly. In particular, when the work hole straddles the ridge line of the closed cross section, the amount of decrease in rigidity further increases.

  In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to use a bolt fastening structure instead of spot welding. However, in the case of the bolt fastening structure, the number of parts is increased and a weld nut is previously welded to the panel. Since the number of processes and bolting processes increase, the cost increases.

  In order to solve the above problems at the same time, there is a laser welding method that does not require a work hole. However, when the plate assembly of Patent Document 1 is adopted, the upper and lower laser welding surfaces of the closed cross section are in a substantially parallel positional relationship. For this reason, laser welding is performed by aligning one surface (aligning in one direction). However, laser welding is a welding method in which the laser welding surface is welded while being pressed with a roller. Therefore, if there is variation in the length between the upper side and the lower side of the closed cross-section part, the gap will be reduced when the gap is filled with the roller. There is a problem that the upper back reinforcement on the side escapes and cannot be welded.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, a channel portion having a closed cross-sectional structure extending in the vehicle width direction is provided by laser welding the upper end portion of the room partition panel and the front end portion of the upper back panel. A configuration in which a bulkhead is spot-welded in advance at a position is disclosed. According to this prior art, since the two-sided laser welding is performed, the problem that the welding partner escapes is solved.

However, according to this prior art, a bead extending in the vehicle front-rear direction is formed on the upper back panel, and a bulkhead, which is a separate part, is joined in advance to the front end of the upper back panel by spot welding so as to be continuous with the bead. Therefore, the number of parts increases and the number of assembly steps also increases, and the merit of adopting laser welding by two-sided alignment is reduced.
JP-A-8-276865 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-291717

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a vehicle body coupling structure that can achieve both simplification of the coupling process between body panels and cost reduction by reducing the number of parts.

  The vehicle body coupling structure according to the first aspect of the present invention is a vehicle body coupling structure in which an elongated closed cross section is formed by joining the end of the first body panel and the end of the second body panel. The first bonding surface and the bonding direction of the first bonding surface of the first body panel and the second body panel intersect with the bonding direction of the second bonding surface of the first body panel and the second body panel; The direction of the second joint surface is set, and the third body panel disposed on the end side in the longitudinal direction of the closed cross-section portion is extended to the closed cross-section portion side to the inner side surface of the closed cross-section portion. It is characterized in that an extending portion is provided which is joined and prevents the first body panel from being displaced inward of the closed cross section.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle body coupling structure according to the first aspect, wherein the upper end portion of the room partition panel that separates the cabin and the luggage room and the rear side of the upper end portion of the room partition panel are arranged substantially horizontally. A vehicle body coupling structure in which a closed cross-section extending along the vehicle width direction is formed at a position where the left and right rear suspension towers can be connected by bending and joining the front end of the upper back panel to be arranged. The joining direction of the first joining surface where the upper end portion of the room partition panel and the upper back panel are joined, and the joining of the second joining surface where the front end portion of the upper back panel and the room partition panel are joined The direction of the first joint surface and the second joint surface is set so that the directions intersect, and the rear suspension tower and the A strainer that connects the outer end of the vehicle partition panel in the vehicle width direction, a horizontal portion that is joined substantially horizontally to the upper surface of the rear suspension tower, and an upper end of the room partition panel that is bent from the horizontal portion to the vehicle upper side. It is characterized in that a connection support surface that is joined to the portion and supports the closed section is provided.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle body coupling structure according to the first or second aspect, the extending portion provided in the third body panel according to the first aspect or the strainer according to the second aspect is provided. The connecting support surface is characterized in that it is inclined so that the cross-sectional area when the closed cross-section portion is cut in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction thereof gradually changes.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the long closed cross-section is formed by joining the end of the first body panel and the end of the second body panel.

  Here, in the present invention, the joining direction of the first joining surface between the first body panel and the second body panel intersects with the joining direction of the second joining surface of the first body panel and the second body panel. Since the directions of the first bonding surface and the second bonding surface are set, it is not a single surface alignment in which the directions of both bonding surfaces are parallel, but a two-surface bonding structure in which the directions of both bonding surfaces intersect. For this reason, even if laser welding is performed in which welding is performed while pressurizing the joining surface with a roller, a member to be joined does not escape in the pressing direction. Therefore, since laser welding can be used regardless of spot welding or bolt joining, the work process is reduced.

  Further, a third body panel is disposed on the end side in the longitudinal direction of the closed cross section, and the third body panel is extended to the closed cross section and is joined to the inner surface of the closed cross section. Since the installation portion is provided, the first body panel is suppressed from being displaced inward of the closed cross section. That is, the extending portion provided in the third body panel functions as a bulkhead that is arranged as a separate conventional part. Therefore, the number of parts is reduced as compared with the conventional vehicle body coupling structure in which the bulkhead is provided as a separate part.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the upper end of the room partition panel that separates the cabin and the luggage room and the front end of the upper back panel that is disposed substantially horizontally on the vehicle rear side of the upper end of the room partition panel. By folding and joining the parts, a closed cross-sectional part extending along the vehicle width direction is formed at a position where the left and right rear suspension towers can be connected.

  Here, in the present invention, the joining direction of the first joining surface where the upper end portion of the room partition panel and the upper back panel are joined, and the second joining surface where the front end portion of the upper back panel and the room partition panel are joined. The direction of the first bonding surface and the second bonding surface is set so that the bonding directions of the first and second bonding surfaces intersect with each other. It becomes a joint structure of two intersecting surfaces. For this reason, even if laser welding is performed in which welding is performed while pressurizing the joining surface with a roller, a member to be joined does not escape in the pressing direction. Therefore, since laser welding can be used regardless of spot welding or bolt joining, the work process is reduced.

  In addition, a strainer that connects the rear suspension tower and the end of the room partition panel on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, a horizontal portion that is joined substantially horizontally to the upper surface of the rear suspension tower, and the horizontal portion is bent upward from the vehicle. Since the connection support surface that is joined to the upper end portion of the room partition panel and supports the closed cross-section portion is provided, the cross-sectional deformation of the closed cross-section portion is suppressed. That is, the connection support surface provided in the strainer functions as a bulkhead that is arranged as a separate conventional part. Therefore, the number of parts is reduced as compared with the conventional vehicle body coupling structure in which the bulkhead is provided as a separate part.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the extending area according to the first aspect or the connecting support surface according to the second aspect has a cross-sectional area when the closed cross-section is cut in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Is inclined so as to gradually change, so that the cross-sectional area of the closed cross section does not change suddenly.

  As described above, the vehicle body coupling structure according to the present invention described in claim 1 has an excellent effect that it is possible to achieve both simplification of the coupling process between body panels and cost reduction by reducing the number of parts. .

  The vehicle body coupling structure according to the second aspect of the present invention achieves both simplification of the coupling process between the body panels (room partition panel and upper back panel) and cost reduction by reducing the number of parts (bulkhead, etc.). It has an excellent effect of being able to.

  Since the vehicle body coupling structure according to the third aspect of the present invention avoids a sudden change in the cross-sectional area of the closed cross-sectional portion, it has an excellent effect that it is difficult to break against the input of a load.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a vehicle body coupling structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In these drawings, an arrow FR appropriately shown indicates the vehicle front side, an arrow UP indicates the vehicle upper side, and an arrow IN indicates the vehicle width direction inner side.

  FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a vehicle body coupling structure around a rear suspension tower to which the present invention is applied. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. As shown in these drawings, a room partition panel 10 serving as a first body panel for partitioning the cabin and the luggage room is disposed (standing) at a predetermined angle. The upper end portion 10A of the room partition panel 10 is bent at a predetermined angle toward the vehicle rear side with respect to the general portion 10B. The lower end portion 10D of the room partition panel 10 is coupled to a rear floor panel (not shown).

  On the other hand, on the vehicle rear side of the upper end portion 10A of the room partition panel 10, an upper back panel 12 as a second body panel is disposed substantially horizontally. The front end portion 12A of the upper back panel 12 is bent in a bowl shape toward the vehicle lower side and the vehicle front side. Specifically, a narrow-width bent portion 12B that is slightly bent toward the vehicle lower side is formed at the front end portion of the general portion 12F of the upper back panel 12, and further, from the front end portion of the bent portion 12B to the vehicle lower portion. A rear wall portion 12 </ b> C (see FIG. 2) that is bent by a predetermined angle toward the side is formed. The lower end portion of the rear wall portion 12C is further bent toward the vehicle front side to form a lower wall portion 12D (see FIG. 2), and the front end portion of the lower wall portion 12D is slightly bent toward the vehicle lower side to form a terminal portion. 12E.

  The tip portion of the upper end portion 10A of the room partition panel 10 is brought into contact with the bent portion 12B of the upper back panel 12, and the general portion 10B of the room partition panel 10 is brought into contact with the terminal portion 12E of the upper back panel 12. In this state, the former contact surface is used as the first joint surface 14 (see also FIG. 2), and the latter contact surface is used as the second joint surface 16 (see also FIG. 2) to be welded by laser welding. Thus, the room partition panel 10 and the upper back panel 12 are coupled. In FIG. 1, the laser welding line is indicated by a solid line P.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the bonding direction α of the first bonding surface 14 (the same as the inclination direction of the upper end portion 10A of the room partition panel 10) and the bonding direction β of the second bonding surface 16 (room) Is the same as the direction of inclination of the general portion 10B of the partition panel 10), and is not parallel to each other, and therefore, laser welding by two-face alignment is performed.

  With the above configuration, the upper end portion 10A and the upper portion of the general portion 10B of the room partition panel 10 and the front end portion 12A of the upper back panel 12 form a closed cross-sectional portion 18 extending along the vehicle width direction.

  On the other hand, referring back to FIG. 1, a pair of left and right rear suspension towers 20 are arranged on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the closed section 18. The upper surface portion 20A of the rear suspension tower 20 is disposed at a position higher than that of a normal rear suspension tower. In this embodiment, the upper surface portion 20A is disposed substantially in the vicinity of the intermediate portion in the height direction of the closed cross section 18. The rear suspension tower 20 and the end portion 10C of the room partition panel 10 in the vehicle width direction are not directly coupled but are connected via a strainer 22 as a third body panel.

  Specifically, the strainer 22 is positioned on an extension (substantially on the same plane) of the general portion 10B of the room partition panel 10, and the side surface of the vertical wall 20B of the rear suspension tower 20 and the inner surface of the rear wheel house inner 24. In addition, the main body portion 22A joined to the end portion 10C on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the room partition panel 10 and the position of the fold line between the general portion 10B and the upper end portion 10A of the room partition panel 10 are bent toward the vehicle rear side to be substantially horizontal. And a horizontal portion 22B that is spot-welded to the upper surface portion 20A of the rear suspension tower 20.

  A connecting support surface 26 is integrally formed at the end of the horizontal portion 22B of the strainer 22 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction as an extending portion that is triangular in a side view. The connection support surface 26 is bent so as to be inclined obliquely inward in a front view of the vehicle, and has three sides of a front oblique side 26C, a rear oblique side 26D, and a bottom side 26E. A terminal portion 26A that is further bent in the vehicle width direction is formed from the front oblique side 26C, and the terminal portion 26A is in contact with the back surface side of the end portion 10C on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the upper end portion 10A of the room partition panel 10. And are joined by laser welding. A terminal portion 26B that is bent toward the vehicle upper side is also formed on the rear oblique side 26D and the rear end side of the horizontal portion 22B, and the terminal portion 26B is adjacent to the outer side of the upper back panel 12 in the vehicle width direction. It is joined to another body panel 28 to be arranged.

  By adopting the above-described coupling structure, the connecting support surface 26 of the strainer 22 is disposed adjacent to (continuously) the ridgeline Q without breaking the ridgeline Q on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the closed cross section 18, and the room constituting the closed cross section 18 The partition panel 10 is configured to support an end portion 10C on the outer side in the vehicle width direction on the upper end portion 10A side. In addition, the strainer 22 and the closed cross-section portion 18 are connected via the connecting support surface 26 inclined obliquely upward and inside, so that the cross-sectional area of the closed cross-section portion 18 does not change suddenly at the joint surface with the strainer 22. It has a gradually changing structure that gradually decreases.

(Operation and effect of this embodiment)
Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

  In the present embodiment configured as described above, the upper end portion 10A of the room partition panel 10 is bent toward the vehicle rear side, and the front end portion 12A of the upper back panel 12 is bent toward the vehicle lower side and the vehicle front side via the bent portion 12B. Since the terminal portion 12E is brought into contact with the general portion 10B of the room partition panel 10, the joining direction α of the first joining surface 14 on the upper end side of the closed cross section 18 and the lower end portion of the closed cross section 18 are adopted. A joining structure in which two surfaces are joined is not parallel but intersects with the joining direction β of the second joining surface 16 on the side. Therefore, even if laser welding is performed in which welding is performed while pressurizing the joining surface with a roller, the upper back panel 12 serving as a joining partner does not escape in the pressurizing direction. Therefore, the conventional process of providing a work hole for spot welding is not required, and the weld nut welding process and the bolt fastening process are not required when bolts are joined. As a result, the work process required for joining the room partition panel 10 and the upper back panel 12 can be reduced. Further, there is no increase in the number of parts when bolted.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a horizontal portion that is joined substantially horizontally to the upper surface portion 20A of the rear suspension tower 20 to the strainer 22 that connects the rear suspension tower 20 and the end portion 10C of the room partition panel 10 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. 22B and a connecting support surface 26 that is bent from the horizontal portion 22B obliquely upward to the inside of the vehicle and joined to the outer end portion 10C in the vehicle width direction on the upper end portion 10A side of the room partition panel 10 to support the closed cross section 18. Since they are provided integrally, it is possible to suppress the cross-sectional deformation of the closed cross section 18 during laser welding or the like. That is, the connection support surface 26 provided on the strainer 22 functions as a bulkhead that is disposed as a separate conventional component. Therefore, the number of parts is reduced as compared with the conventional vehicle body coupling structure in which the bulkhead is provided as a separate part.

  In summary, according to the vehicle body coupling structure according to the present embodiment, the coupling process between the body panels (the room partition panel 10 and the upper back panel 12) can be simplified and the number of parts (bulkhead, etc.) can be reduced. Cost reduction can be achieved at the same time.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the connection support surface 26 is disposed not in the vertical plane but in a state inclined obliquely inward of the vehicle when viewed from the front of the vehicle and joined to the closed cross-section portion 18. The cross-sectional area when cut in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction does not change suddenly and gradually decreases. In other words, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to avoid a sudden change in the cross-sectional area of the closed cross-section portion 18. Therefore, there is an advantage that it is difficult to break against the input of the load.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the vehicle body coupling structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In addition, about the same component as 1st Embodiment mentioned above, the same number is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the vehicle body coupling structure according to the second embodiment, the general portion 30A of the room partition panel 30 as the first body panel is replaced with the upper back panel 32 as the second body panel. The upper end 30B of the room partition panel 30 is bent substantially horizontally toward the vehicle rear side. Correspondingly, the upper back panel 32 is also bent from the front end of the general portion 32A to the vehicle lower side without being bent, and then bent to the vehicle front side to form a terminal portion 32B at the tip. ing. A rear wall portion 32D (see FIG. 4) of the front end portion 32C is arranged in parallel with the general portion 30A of the room partition panel 30, and a lower wall portion 32E (see FIG. 4) of the front end portion 32C is a room partition panel. 30 is arranged in parallel with the upper end portion 30B. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of the closed cross-section portion 34 is a parallelogram.

  On the other hand, on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the horizontal portion 36A of the strainer 36 as the third body panel, a connecting support surface 38 as an extending portion that is rectangular in a side view extends in an obliquely upward inward direction of the vehicle. It is installed. And the terminal part 38A formed in the edge part of the vehicle width direction inside of this connection support surface 38 enters into the lower surface side of the upper end part 30B of the room partition panel 30, and is joined by laser welding.

  Even if such a plate assembly of the room partition panel 30 and the upper back panel 32 is adopted, the two surfaces are aligned and laser welding can be performed. Further, in this case, the connection support surface 38 is rectangular instead of triangular. However, in order to exhibit a function as a bulkhead that suppresses the collapse of the cross section of the closed cross section 34, the same as in the first embodiment described above. Action and effect can be obtained.

[Supplementary explanation of the above embodiment]
In the first and second embodiments described above, the present invention is applied to the vehicle body coupling structure around the pair of left and right rear suspension towers 20, but the present invention is not limited to this and is the same as the problem to be solved by the present invention. The present invention is applicable to any part having a problem.

1 is an overall perspective view showing an overall configuration of a vehicle body coupling structure according to a first embodiment as viewed from the front side of a vehicle. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view when a closed cross section is cut along line 2-2 in FIG. It is a whole perspective view which shows the whole structure of the vehicle body coupling structure which concerns on 2nd Embodiment seeing from the vehicle front side. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view when a closed cross section is cut along line 4-4 in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10 Room partition panel (first body panel)
10A Upper end 10C End in the vehicle width direction 12 Upper back panel (second body panel)
12A front end portion 14 first joint surface 16 second joint surface 18 closed section 20 rear suspension tower 20A top surface portion 22 strainer (third body panel)
22A Horizontal part 26 Connection support surface (extension part)
30 Room partition panel (first body panel)
30A Upper end 32 Upper back panel (second body panel)
32C Front end 34 Closed section 36 Strainer (3rd body panel)
38 Connection support surface (extension part)
α Joining direction of the first joining surface β Joining direction of the second joining surface

Claims (3)

A vehicle body coupling structure in which a long closed cross section is formed by joining an end of a first body panel and an end of a second body panel,
The first joint surface and the second joint so that the joint direction of the first joint surface between the first body panel and the second body panel intersects the joint direction of the second joint surface of the first body panel and the second body panel. The orientation of the face is set,
The third body panel disposed on the end side in the longitudinal direction of the closed cross section is extended to the closed cross section and joined to the inner surface of the closed cross section, and the first body panel is closed. Provided with an extension part that suppresses displacement to the inner side of the
A vehicle body coupling structure characterized by that. By bending and joining the upper end portion of the room partition panel that separates the cabin and the luggage room and the front end portion of the upper back panel disposed substantially horizontally on the vehicle rear side of the upper end portion of the room partition panel, A vehicle body coupling structure in which a closed cross-sectional portion extending along the vehicle width direction is formed at a position where the left and right rear suspension towers can be coupled,
The joining direction of the first joining surface where the upper end of the room partition panel and the upper back panel are joined, and the joining direction of the second joining surface where the front end of the upper back panel and the room partition panel are joined The direction of the first joint surface and the second joint surface is set so as to intersect,
A strainer that connects the rear suspension tower and the outer end of the room partition panel in the vehicle width direction, a horizontal portion that is joined substantially horizontally to the upper surface portion of the rear suspension tower, and a room bent from the horizontal portion to the vehicle upper side. Provided a connection support surface joined to the upper end of the partition panel to support the closed cross-section,
A vehicle body coupling structure characterized by that. The extension part provided in the 3rd body panel of Claim 1, or the connection support surface provided in the strainer of Claim 2 is when a closed cross-section part is cut | disconnected in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. Inclined so that the cross-sectional area gradually changes,
The vehicle body coupling structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

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