JP2008296847A - Front fender mounting bracket and vehicle front part structure equipped therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a front fender mounting bracket for securing the approaching stroke of a colliding body by accurately folding leg parts to maximize the absorption of impact energy in a limited space. <P>SOLUTION: The bracket comprises a top wall part 41 on which flange parts of a front fender are mounted, the pair of leg parts 42, 43 extending from both edges thereof, and flange parts 44, 45 protruded from the lower ends of the leg parts and fixed to a vehicle body. The leg parts have upper portions 42U, 43U, lower portions 42D, 43D, and bent line portions 48 provided between each upper portion and each lower portion. The leg parts are V-bent in mutually opposite directions with the bent line portions protruded to the outside. Herein, A1+B1+C1=D1+E1+F1 is established, where A1 is the length of the upper portion 42U of one leg part 42, B1 is the length of the upper portion 43U of the other leg part 43, C1 is a length between both edges of the top wall part, D1 is the length of the lower portion 42D of one leg part 42, E1 is the length of the lower portion 43D of the other leg part 43, F1 is a distance between the lower ends of both leg parts. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a bracket for attaching a front fender of an automobile to a vehicle body, and in particular, even when the bracket installation space between the front fender and the front fender apron is narrow, the collision object collides with the parting part above the front fender apron. The present invention relates to a front fender mounting bracket and a vehicle front structure including the front fender mounting bracket, which can ensure an approach stroke of a colliding body at the time.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a front fender is attached to a vehicle body via an impact absorbing member in order to reduce an impact on the colliding body when the colliding body collides from above with a parting part between a front fender and a hood of an automobile. This impact absorbing member is configured as a bracket having an inverted hat cross section, and absorbs impact energy when the bracket itself is deformed.

Patent Documents 1 to 5 disclose structures in which a front fender is attached to a vehicle body via a bracket that absorbs impact energy. The shock absorbing brackets disclosed in these patent documents include a top wall portion to which a flange portion of a front fender is attached, a pair of leg portions extending downward from both edges of the top wall portion, and a lower end of each leg portion. And a flange portion that protrudes horizontally in a direction away from each other and is fixed to the vehicle body. And when a collision body contact | abuts from the upper part of a parting part, a leg part buckles with the load and it is made to absorb impact energy by a deformation | transformation.
JP 2001-287669 A JP 2001-334958 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-178953 Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-014763 JP 2005-289173 A

  In recent vehicles, the bracket installation space defined between the front fender and the apron upper member has become narrow due to constraints in design, structure, etc., and the brackets arranged in this narrow bracket installation space have pedestrian protection performance. It is required to demonstrate. However, the brackets of Patent Documents 1 to 5 are not configured on the assumption that they are arranged in a narrow space.

  The present invention was created in view of the above points, and the front fender is capable of ensuring the entry stroke of the collision body for securely folding the legs and absorbing the impact energy to the maximum in a limited space. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mounting bracket and a vehicle front structure including the mounting bracket.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first configuration of the present invention is a bracket for attaching a front fender to a vehicle body, and includes a top wall portion to which a flange portion of the front fender is attached, and both of the top wall portions. A pair of legs extending downward from the edge, and a flange that protrudes horizontally from the lower end of each leg and is fixed to the vehicle body, each leg having an upper part, a lower part, and an upper part and a lower part. A bent line portion provided between the two leg portions, and is bent so that the bent line portion protrudes outward. The length of the upper portion of one leg portion is defined as A1, and the length of the upper portion of the other leg portion is defined as A1. B1, the length between both edges of the top wall portion is C1, the lower length of one leg is D1, the lower length of the other leg is E1, and the distance between the lower ends of both legs is When F1, A1 + B1 + C1 = D1 + E1 + F1 To.

  A second configuration of the present invention is a bracket for attaching a front fender to a vehicle body, and includes a top wall portion to which a flange portion of the front fender is attached, and a pair of members extending downward from both edges of the top wall portion. A leg portion and a flange portion that protrudes horizontally from the lower end of each leg portion and is fixed to the vehicle body, and each leg portion includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a broken line portion provided between the upper portion and the lower portion. The one leg is bent to the other leg side, the other leg is bent to the outside, and the bent line part protrudes, the length of the upper part of one leg is A2, and the other leg is The length of the upper part of the leg part is B2, the length between the edges of the top wall part is C2, the lower part of one leg part is D2, and the lower part of the other leg part is E2. And when the distance between the lower ends of the lower portions of both legs is F2, A2 = D2 and B2 + C2 = Characterized in that set to be 2 + F2.

  In the front fender mounting bracket according to the present invention, preferably, the leg portion has a hole formed in a region extending from the upper portion to the lower portion, or a bead at the upper and lower edge portions.

  The third configuration of the present invention is characterized in that the front fender is attached to the front fender mounting bracket fixed to the vehicle body.

  According to the present invention, even when the bracket installation space defined between the flange portion of the front fender and the apron upper member is narrow, the bracket is reliably bent, so that the entry stroke of the collision object is ensured. Can do. Therefore, impact energy is absorbed by the buckling deformation of the bracket, and pedestrian protection performance is ensured.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle front structure 10 to which a bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. In the figure, Fr represents the front of the vehicle, Up represents the upper side of the vehicle, and Out represents the direction outside the vehicle width.

First, the basic configuration of the vehicle front structure 10 will be described.
A front fender 20 is disposed on the front side surface of the vehicle body, and an engine room R is defined between the left and right front fenders. The left and right front fenders 20 are attached to the apron upper member 30 of the left and right front fender apron, which is a skeleton member at the front of the vehicle body, via a first bracket 40 and a second bracket 50. In addition, 60 in FIG. 1 is a suspension tower.

  The front fender 20 is formed at the upper end portion of the fender panel portion 21 that forms the design surface of the vehicle body outer surface region excluding the front wheel region, and faces the outer edge in the vehicle width direction of the hood in the vehicle width direction. And a flange portion 23 that protrudes from the lower end of the vertical wall portion 22 toward the engine room.

  An apron upper member 30 that is a constituent member of the front fender apron is provided below the flange portion 23 of the front fender 20. The apron upper member 30 is disposed with its longitudinal direction along the vehicle longitudinal direction. Although not shown in the drawings, the apron upper member 30 includes, for example, an upper panel having a hat-shaped cross section and a lower panel having an L-shaped cross section, and a closed cross section is defined by joining the flange portions of both panels. The first bracket 40 and the second bracket 50 are spot-welded and fixed to the upper surface 31 of the apron upper member 30.

  By fixing the flange portion 23 of the front fender 20 to the first bracket 40 fixed to the wide rear region 31A of the apron upper member upper surface 31 and the second bracket 50 fixed to the narrow front region 31B. The front fender 20 is attached to the vehicle body. The rear end portion of the flange portion 23 is fixed to the first bracket 40, and the front end portion is fixed to the second bracket 50 by bolts 70 and nuts screwed thereto.

Next, the bracket according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
2 is a perspective view showing the first bracket 40 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 3A is a front view, FIG. 3B is a plan view, and FIG. 3C is a side view. Reference numeral 31 in FIG. 3A denotes an upper surface of the apron upper member 30.
The first bracket 40 includes a first top wall portion 41 to which the flange portion 23 of the front fender 20 is attached, and a pair of first leg portions 42 and 43 extending downward from both edges of the first top wall portion 41. And first flange portions 44 and 45 that protrude horizontally from the lower ends of the first leg portions 42 and 43 and are fixed to the apron upper member 30. The first top wall portion 41, the first leg portions 42 and 43, and the first flange portions 44 and 45 are integrally configured, for example, by bending a narrow long panel.

  The first top wall portion 41 is formed in a rectangular panel shape, and a bolt insertion hole 46 for attaching a flange portion is provided at the center thereof.

Each of the first leg portions 42, 43 includes a first upper portion 42U, 43U and a first lower portion 42D, 43D, and a first broken line portion 47 between the first upper portion 42U, 43U and the first lower portion 42D, 43D. , 48 are provided. The first upper portions 42U and 43U and the first lower portions 42D and 43D are each formed in a rectangular panel shape and configured integrally. It is desirable that the first broken line portions 47 and 48 are provided approximately in the middle of the first leg portions 42 and 43 in the height direction.
Furthermore, in the 1st bracket 40, each 1st leg parts 42 and 43 are bent in the shape of a dogleg on the opposite direction side so that the 1st broken line parts 47 and 48 may protrude outside.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the first bracket 40 according to the present embodiment has a first upper portion 42U of one first leg portion 42 having a length A1 and a first upper portion of the other first leg portion 43. The length of 43U is B1, the length between both edges of the first top wall portion 41 is C1, the length of the first lower portion 42D of one first leg portion 42 is D1, and the length of the other first leg portion 43 is If the length of one lower portion 43D is E1, and the distance between the lower ends of both legs is F1, the dimensions are set to be A1 + B1 + C1 = D1 + E1 + F1. In this dimension setting, A1 + B1 + C1 is the upper half of the first bracket 40, that is, the line length of the upper part of the first bent line portions 47 and 48, and D1 + E1 + F1 is the line length of the lower half of the first bracket 40. This is based on the fact that the line lengths of the upper half and the lower half coincide with each other as an essential condition that the entire first bracket 40 is completely folded.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the first bracket 40 configured in this manner is attached to the upper surface of the apron upper member 30 with its orientation set so that the first leg portions 42 and 43 are aligned in the vehicle longitudinal direction. .

4A and 4B are perspective views showing the second bracket 50 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5A is a front view, FIG. 5B is a plan view, and FIG. 5C is a side view. Reference numeral 31 in FIG. 5A denotes an upper surface of the apron upper member 30.
The second bracket 50 includes a second top wall portion 51 to which the flange portion 23 of the front fender 20 is attached, and a pair of second leg portions 52 and 53 extending downward from both edges of the second top wall portion 51. And second flange portions 54, 55 that protrude horizontally from the lower ends of the second leg portions 52, 53 and are fixed to the apron upper member 30. The second top wall portion 51, the second leg portions 52 and 53, and the second flange portions 54 and 55 are integrally configured by bending a narrow panel having a long width, for example.

  The 2nd top wall part 51 is formed in a rectangular panel shape, and the bolt insertion hole 56 for a flange part attachment is provided in the center.

Each of the second leg portions 52, 53 includes a second upper portion 52U, 53U and a second lower portion 52D, 53D, and a second broken line portion 57 between the second upper portion 52U, 53U and the second lower portion 52D, 53D. , 58. The second upper parts 52U, 53U and the second lower parts 52D, 53D are each formed in a rectangular panel shape and are configured integrally.
Furthermore, one second leg portion 52 is bent in a dogleg shape so that the second fold line portion 57 protrudes toward the other second leg portion 53 side, and the other second leg portion 53 is one second leg portion. The leg 52 is bent in a U shape in the same direction as the bending direction.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the second bracket according to the present embodiment has a length of the second upper portion 52U of one second leg portion 52 as A2, and a second upper portion 53U of the other second leg portion 53. Is the length B2, the length between the two edges of the second top wall 51 is C2, the length of the second lower portion 52D of one second leg 52 is D2, and the second of the second leg 53 is the second. When the length of the lower portion 53D is E2, and the distance between the lower ends of the second lower portions of both legs is F2, the dimensions are set such that A2 = D2 and B2 + C2 = E2 + F2. This dimension setting is based on the condition that the second upper portion 52U and the second lower portion 52D of one of the second leg portions 52 bent inward match the line length as a condition for the second bracket 50 to be completely folded. In the remaining part excluding the second upper part 52U and the second lower part 52D of the two leg parts 52, the upper half line length (= B2 + C2) is the lower half line length (= E2 + F2) with the second broken line 58 as a boundary. Based on matching.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the second bracket 50 configured in this way is attached to the vehicle body with its orientation set so that the second leg portions 52 and 53 are aligned in the vehicle front-rear direction.

  In such a vehicle front part structure 10, when an object (impact) collides with the parting part between the front fender 20 and the hood from above, the load is transmitted to the first and second brackets 40 and 50. 40 and 50 are deformed. Specifically, an object enters from the parting portion toward each of the first and second brackets 40, 50, and the load of the object acts on each of the first and second brackets 40, 50 during this entry process. Due to this load, in the first bracket 40, the first leg portions 42, 43 are bent outward in opposite directions with respect to the first fold line portions 47, 48, and the first leg portions 42, 43 are folded to form the first The top wall 41 is shifted downward. On the other hand, in the 2nd bracket 50, each 2nd leg part 52 and 53 bends in the same direction on the 2nd broken line part 57 and 58, and each 2nd leg part 52 and 53 is folded and the 2nd top wall part 51 is folded. Shifts downward.

  Thus, in the vehicle front structure 10 according to the present embodiment, even if the bracket installation space defined between the flange portion 23 of the front fender 20 and the apron upper member 30 is narrow, the first bracket Since the leg portions of the 40 and the second bracket 50 are bent reliably, the entry stroke of the object can be secured and the impact energy can be absorbed.

[Modification of the first bracket]
In the first bracket 40 shown in FIG. 2, in order to reliably plastically bend each first leg portion 42, 43, the first upper portion 42 U, 43 U and the first lower portion 42 D, 43 D of the first leg portion 42, 43 It is desirable to make the angles θ1 and θ2 (see FIG. 3) sandwiched between them as small as possible. However, if the angles θ1 and θ2 are small, the distance between the lower ends of the first leg portions becomes large. Therefore, it is desirable to employ the following configuration in order to bend the first leg portions 42 and 43 with certainty.

6A is a front view of the first bracket 40A according to the first modification, FIG. 6B is a plan view, and FIG. 6C is a side view. The first bracket 40A is characterized in that the first leg portions 42 and 43 have holes 80 formed in regions extending from the first upper portions 42U and 43U to the first lower portions 42D and 43D. According to this configuration, the first bent line portions 47 and 48 are weakened, so that the first leg portions 42 and 43 are reliably bent.
7A is a front view of the first bracket 40B according to the second modification, FIG. 7B is a plan view, FIG. 7C is a side view, and the first bracket 40B is the first bracket 40B. The bead 90 is provided in each edge part of 1st upper part 42U, 43U and 1st lower part 42D, 43D of the leg parts 42 and 43, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. According to such a configuration, the rigidity of the first broken line portions 47 and 48 is low, and the rigidity other than the first bent line portion region is high, and each of the first leg portions 42 and 43 is the first broken line portions 47 and 48. It bends reliably at the border.

  The present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the bead 90 and / or the weak hole 80 may be provided in the second legs 52 and 53 of the second bracket 50. The numerical values of A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1, D2, E1, E2, F1, and F2 in the above description are not limited to the dimensions in the drawing.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle front structure to which a bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a perspective view of the 1st bracket concerning the embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a front view of the 1st bracket which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (B) is a top view, (C) is a side view. It is a perspective view of the 2nd bracket concerning the embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a front view of the 2nd bracket which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (B) is a top view, (C) is a side view. (A) is a front view of the 1st modification of the 1st bracket which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (B) is a top view, (C) is a side view. (A) is a front view of the 2nd modification of the 1st bracket which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (B) is a top view, (C) is a side view.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle front part structure 20 Front fender 21 Fender panel part 22 Vertical wall part 23 Flange part 30 Apron upper member 31 Upper surface 31A Rear part 31B Front part 40 1st bracket 41 1st top part 42,43 1st leg part 42U, 43U 1st upper part 42D, 43D 1st lower part 44,45 1st flange part 46,56 Bolt insertion hole 47,48 1st broken line part 50 2nd bracket 51 2nd top wall part 52,53 2nd leg part 52U, 53U Second upper part 52D, 53D Second lower part 54, 55 Second flange part 57, 58 Second broken line part 70 Bolt 80 Hole 90 Bead θ1, θ2
R engine room

Claims (5)

A bracket for attaching the front fender to the vehicle body,
A top wall portion to which the flange portion of the front fender is attached, a pair of leg portions extending downward from both edges of the top wall portion, and a flange portion that protrudes horizontally from the lower end of each leg portion and is fixed to the vehicle body And comprising
Each leg portion includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a broken line portion provided between the upper portion and the lower portion, and is bent so as to protrude the broken line portion to the outside.
The length A1 of the upper part of one leg part, the length B1 of the upper part of the other leg part, the length C1 between both edges of the top wall part, the length D1 of the lower part of one leg part, A front fender mounting bracket, wherein a length E1 of the lower part of the other leg and a distance F1 between the lower ends of both legs are A1 + B1 + C1 = D1 + E1 + F1. A bracket for attaching the front fender to the vehicle body,
A top wall portion to which the flange portion of the front fender is attached, a pair of leg portions extending downward from both edges of the top wall portion, and a flange portion that protrudes horizontally from the lower end of each leg portion and is fixed to the vehicle body And comprising
Each leg includes an upper part, a lower part, and a broken line part provided between the upper part and the lower part,
One leg is bent to the other leg side, the other leg is to the outside, and the bent part protrudes, respectively.
The length A2 of the upper part of one leg part, the length B2 of the upper part of the other leg part, the length C2 between both edges of the top wall part, the length D2 of the lower part of one leg part, A front fender mounting bracket, wherein a length E2 of the lower part of the other leg and a distance F2 between the lower ends of the lower parts of both legs are A2 = D2 and B2 + C2 = E2 + F2.   The front fender mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the leg portion has a hole formed in a region extending from the upper portion to the lower portion.   The front fender mounting bracket according to claim 2, wherein each of the upper part and the lower part has a bead at an edge.   A vehicle front structure, wherein a front fender is attached to the front fender mounting bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 4 fixed to a vehicle body.

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