JP2009101956A - Cowl structure of automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely absorb impact energy when an obliquely downward impact load is applied to a cowl panel, while sufficiently securing support rigidity of windshield, in a cowl structure of an automobile. <P>SOLUTION: In this cowl structure, a reinforcing panel 23 for connecting a part located on a rear side of a vehicle of a windshield supporting part 5a of the cowl panel 5 and a vehicle body panel 10 located on the lower side is provided. In the cowl panel 5, a plurality of bent parts 26c are formed in a part between the windshield supporting part 5a and a reinforcing panel connecting part 5b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cowl structure for an automobile.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a cowl structure of an automobile provided with a cowl panel that extends forward and upward from a dash panel that partitions an engine room and a vehicle compartment and supports a front window. As one of such structures, a so-called open cowl structure having an opening above is known. According to this, for example, when an obstacle that collides with the front part of the automobile hits the front window from the upper front side, an impact load obliquely downward acts on the cowl panel, the impact energy can be reliably absorbed.

  However, since the open cowl structure has an open cross section, the support rigidity of the front window is lowered.

In order to solve this problem, the one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided with a reinforcing member that connects the front window support portion and the lower end portion of the cowl panel. Thus, since the reinforcing member is provided in the vicinity of the front window support portion of the cowl panel, the support rigidity of the front window can be sufficiently ensured.
JP 2006-206004 A

  However, since the closed cross section is formed between the cowl panel and the reinforcing member in the vicinity of the front window support portion of the cowl panel in the one of Patent Document 1, as described above, the cowl panel is inclined obliquely downward. When an impact load is applied, the impact energy, particularly the initial energy, may not be sufficiently absorbed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to apply a diagonally downward impact load to the cowl panel while sufficiently securing the support rigidity of the front window in the cowl structure of an automobile. In this case, the shock energy is surely absorbed.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automobile including a cowl panel that extends from the upper end portion of a dash panel that partitions an engine room and a vehicle compartment forward and upward to support the front window and the front end portion is not supported by the vehicle body. The cowl structure further includes a reinforcing panel that connects a portion of the cowl panel that is located on the rear side of the front window support portion and a vehicle body panel that is located below the portion, and the cowl panel includes a front window. A plurality of bent portions are formed in a portion between the support portion and the reinforcing panel connection portion.

  As a result, a reinforcing panel is further provided to connect the portion of the cowl panel located at the rear of the front window support portion and the vehicle body panel located below the front window support portion, so that sufficient support rigidity of the front window is ensured. Can do.

  In addition, since a plurality of bent portions are formed in a portion between the front window support portion and the reinforcing panel connection portion in the cowl panel, for example, when an obstacle colliding with the front portion of the automobile hits the front window from the front upper side, When a diagonally downward impact load is applied to the cowl panel, the bent portion is deformed, and the impact energy can be reliably absorbed.

  According to a second aspect, in the first aspect, the reinforcing panel is provided in a portion of the cowl panel other than both ends in the vehicle width direction.

  Thereby, since the reinforcement panel is provided in parts other than the vehicle width direction both ends of a cowl panel, it can suppress that the rigidity of the vehicle width direction both ends of a cowl panel becomes high too much.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a connection opening for introducing outside air to which an outside air introduction portion of an air conditioner is connected is formed on the vehicle body panel positioned behind the reinforcing panel. The reinforcing panel has an opening for introducing outside air.

  Thereby, since the opening part for external air introduction is formed in the reinforcement panel, the opening part for external air introduction | transduction can be provided, suppressing that the support rigidity of a front window becomes low.

  In a fourth aspect based on the third aspect, the front end of the cowl panel is formed with an extension extending forward from the portion corresponding to the connection opening, and the cowl panel Of these, a second reinforcing panel is further provided that connects a portion between the front window support portion and the reinforcing panel connecting portion and the rear end portion of the extending portion and forms a closed cross section with the cowl panel. The opening is formed in a portion corresponding to the connection opening in the upper end of the reinforcing panel.

  Thereby, the 2nd reinforcement panel which connects the part between a front window support part and a reinforcement panel connection part among cowl panels, and the rear-end part of the extension part extended from the front-end part of a cowl panel to a vehicle front. Furthermore, the rigidity of the extension part of the cowl panel can be reinforced.

  In addition, since the opening for introducing the outside air is formed at the upper end of the reinforcing panel in the vicinity of the closed section formed by the second reinforcing panel and the cowl panel, such a closed section is formed. Nevertheless, it is possible to suppress the support rigidity of the front window from becoming too high.

  Furthermore, since the opening is formed at the upper end of the reinforcing panel, the opening is formed in a portion of the reinforcing panel corresponding to the connection opening for introducing outside air to which the outside air introduction of the air conditioner is connected. Nevertheless, water can be prevented from flowing into the air conditioner from the opening through the connection opening.

  In a fifth aspect based on the fourth aspect, the extension portion is formed with a protrusion extending upward from a front end portion and engraved with a vehicle body number, and the second reinforcing panel is It extends from the extension part connection part to the vicinity of the front end along the lower surface of the extension part.

  Thereby, since the 2nd reinforcement panel is extended from the extension part connection part to the front-end vicinity along the lower surface of the extension part, the protrusion part is provided in the front-end part of the extension part of the cowl panel. The rigidity can be reliably reinforced.

  A sixth invention is characterized in that, in the fourth or fifth invention, a bent portion is formed in a portion between the cowl panel connecting portion and the extending portion connecting portion in the second reinforcing panel. To do.

  Thereby, since the bending part is formed in the part between the cowl panel connection part and the extension part connection part in the second reinforcing panel, for example, an obstacle colliding with the front part of the automobile hits the front window from the upper front side. As a result, when an impact load obliquely downward is applied to the cowl panel, the bent portion, and thus the closed cross-section portion constituted by the second reinforcing panel and the cowl panel is deformed. For this reason, although such a closed cross section is formed, the impact energy can be reliably absorbed.

  According to the present invention, since the reinforcing panel for connecting the portion of the cowl panel located at the rear of the front window support portion to the vehicle body panel located below the reinforcement panel is further provided, the support rigidity of the front window is sufficiently increased. In addition, since a plurality of bent portions are formed in the cowl panel between the front window support portion and the reinforcing panel connection portion, for example, an obstacle colliding with the front portion of the automobile By hitting the front window, when an oblique downward impact load is applied to the cowl panel, the bent portion is deformed to reliably absorb the impact energy.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

-Car front structure-
First, the front structure of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an engine room 1 that can be opened and closed by a hood hood (not shown) is provided at the front of the automobile, and an engine E is disposed in the engine room 1 and the vehicle in the engine room 1 A vehicle compartment 2 (see FIG. 5 and the like) is provided behind (hereinafter simply referred to as “back”) with a dash panel 3 interposed therebetween.

  The left and right side edges of the dash panel 3 are joined to hinge pillars 50 and 50 having closed cross sections that extend in the vertical direction and support the front end portions of the left and right front side doors. Front pillars 51 and 51 extend from the upper ends of the left and right hinge pillars 50 and 50 in a largely inclined manner on the rear side, and side sills 52 and 52 extend rearward from the lower ends thereof.

  Side aprons 53 and 53 are provided in front of the upper ends of the left and right hinge pillars 50 and 50, respectively. The side apron 53 has an apron reinforcement 54 that extends from a position slightly lower than the upper end of the hinge pillar 50 to the front of the vehicle (hereinafter simply referred to as the front).

  The left and right front side frames 55 and 55 extend forward from the dash lower 8 of the dash panel 3 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction than the left and right hinge pillars 50 and 50 and below the apron reinforcements 54 and 54, respectively. Yes.

  A dash cross member 56 that connects the connecting portions of the left and right front side frames 55, 55 to the dash lower 8 in the engine room 1 is provided. The dash cross member 56 has a hat-like cross section extending in the vehicle width direction, and upper and lower flange portions are respectively joined to the dash lower 8 and left and right end portions are joined to the front side frames 55 and 55. A closed cross section is formed with the dash panel 3.

  Suspension towers 57, 57 are provided in front of the left and right side portions of the dash panel 3, on the outer side in the vehicle width direction than the front side frame 55 and on the inner side in the vehicle width direction than the apron reinforcement 54, respectively.

-Car cowl structure-
Next, the cowl structure of the automobile according to this embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 8, a dash panel 3 that partitions the engine room 1 and the vehicle compartment 2 is provided on the front body of the automobile, and a front windshield 4 is provided at the upper end of the dash panel 3. A cowl panel 5 that supports the lower end portion is installed so as to extend in the vehicle width direction between the left and right hinge pillars 50 and 50 (see FIG. 1). Above the cowl panel 5, a synthetic resin cowl grille 6 having an outside air intake is installed, and below the cowl panel 5, a cowl cross member 7 extending in the vehicle width direction is detachably disposed. Has been.

  The dash panel 3 includes a dash lower 8 that is arranged to stand upward from a front end of a floor panel (not shown) and extend in the vehicle width direction, and a first extending upward from an upper end of the dash lower 8. A dash upper 9 and a second dash upper 10 extending forward from the front surface of the first dash upper 9 are provided.

  The first dash upper 9 includes a lower flange 12 joined to an upper flange 11 provided at an upper end portion of the dash lower 8, and a vertical wall portion 13 extending rearward and upward from the rear end portion of the lower flange 12. (Corresponding to “a vehicle body panel located behind the reinforcing panel” in claim 3) and an upper flange 14 extending rearward from the upper end portion of the vertical wall portion 13, and the vertical wall portion 13 in the vehicle width direction. A blower unit 15 (corresponding to an outside air introduction part) of an air conditioner is connected to the substantially central part, and a connection opening 16 for introducing outside air for introducing outside air into the blower unit 15 is formed (FIG. 6). FIG. 7).

  The second dash upper 10 has a rear flange 17 joined to the front surface of the vertical wall portion 13 of the first dash upper 9 and a horizontal wall portion 18 extending forward from the lower end portion of the rear flange 17. A notch 19 is formed at the center of the rear flange 17 and the lateral wall 18 in the vehicle width direction, that is, at a position corresponding to the connection opening 16 of the first dash upper 9 (see FIG. 7). The outside air inlet for introducing outside air into the blower unit 15 is formed so as to straddle the vertical wall portion 13 of the first dash upper 9 and the horizontal wall portion 18 of the second dash upper 10. FIG. 7 shows a state where the blower unit 15 and the connecting member 20 shown in FIG. 6 are removed.

  Moreover, between the connection opening part 16 of the 1st dash upper 9, and the notch part 19 of the 2nd dash upper 10, the connection member 20 which connects these bottom face parts is provided (refer FIG. 6). . The connecting member 20 includes a bottom wall portion 20a that covers a space between the connection opening 16 of the first dash upper 9 and the cutout portion 19 of the second dash upper 10, and a front side portion and left and right side portions thereof. The upper flange 21 is provided, and the upper portion of the upper flange 21 is installed in a state of protruding upward from the lateral wall portion 18 of the second dash upper 10. The horizontal wall portion 18 of the second dash upper 9 is formed so that the left and right portions in the vehicle width direction are outwardly lowered, so that the vehicle width direction central portion 18a corresponding to the notch portion 19 is higher than the other portions. (Refer to FIG. 4).

  The cowl panel 5 extends forward and upward from the upper end of the first dash upper 9, and its front end is not supported by the vehicle body (see FIG. 5). The cowl panel 5 includes a rear flange 24 joined to the upper flange 14 of the first dash upper 9, an upper wall portion 25 extending obliquely from the front end portion of the rear flange 24 toward the front upper side, and the upper wall portion 25. And a bulging portion 26 that bulges upward from the front end portion. The bulging portion 26 extends forward and upward from the front end portion of the upper wall portion 25 and supports the bulging portion 26 by being bonded to the lower end portion of the front windshield 4 with an adhesive 27, and the front window support portion. It extends forward and downward from 5a. And the front-end part of the bulging part 26 is not supported by the vehicle body.

  The upper wall portion 25 of the cowl panel 5 extends downward from a front end portion thereof, that is, a portion positioned rearward of the front window support portion 5a, and a lower end thereof is a second dash upper 10 (which is positioned below the second dash upper 10). Reinforcing panel 23 joined to the front end of the “vehicle body panel” is installed. That is, the reinforcing panel 23 connects the front end portion of the upper wall portion 25 and the front end portion of the second dash upper 10.

  The reinforcement panel 23 is provided in parts other than the both ends of the cowl panel 5 in the vehicle width direction (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The reinforcing panel 23 includes an upper flange 33 joined to the lower surface of the cowl panel 5, a front wall portion 34 extending downward from the rear end portion of the upper flange 33, and a lower portion provided at the lower end portion of the front wall portion 34. And a flange 35 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The lower flange 35 is joined to the front end portion of the second dash upper 10, and the rear end portion of the cowl cross member 7 is attached to and detached from the upper surface of the joint portion between the front end portion of the second dash upper 10 and the lower flange 35. It is configured to be attached as possible. The reinforcing panel 23 forms a closed cross section between the first dash upper 9, the second dash upper 10, and the upper wall portion 25 of the cowl panel 5 of the dash panel 3. On the other hand, the portion of the cowl panel 5 positioned in front of the reinforcing panel connecting portion 5b, that is, the bulging portion 26 is one. The bulging portion 26 is bent in a vertical direction, specifically in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the upper wall portion 25 extends, in a portion between the front window support portion 5a and the reinforcing panel connection portion 5b. A plurality of extending bent portions 26c are formed.

  A plurality of openings 36 to 40 for introducing outside air for introducing outside air into the blower unit 15 are formed in the front wall portion 34 of the reinforcing panel 23 (see FIG. 3). Specifically, a pair of left and right openings 36 and 37 extending over substantially the entire vertical direction of the front wall 34 is provided on the right side of the reinforcing panel 23 (see FIG. 5), and the first dash upper. 9 is a central opening 38 formed by cutting out the upper end portion of the front wall 34 in the vehicle width direction central portion located in front of the connection opening 16 formed in FIG. (Refer to FIG. 6). A horizontally long opening 39, 40 having a predetermined width extending in the vehicle width direction is formed below the right end of the central opening 38 and on the left side of the reinforcing panel 23 (see FIG. 3).

  At the front end portion of the bulging portion 26 of the cowl panel 5, a portion located above the central opening portion 38 formed in the reinforcing panel 23 (vehicle width direction central portion), that is, a connection opening portion of the first dash upper 9. An extension 28 is formed extending forward and downward from a position corresponding to 16 to a predetermined width, and a protrusion 29 extending obliquely upward from the front end thereof is formed. The vehicle body number is engraved on (see FIG. 6). Below the extended portion 28, a rear end portion and a rear end portion of the bulging portion 26, that is, a portion of the cowl panel 5 between the front window support portion 5a and the reinforcing panel connection portion 5b are connected. A reinforcement 30 (corresponding to the second reinforcing panel of claim 4) that forms a closed cross-section with the bulging portion 26 is disposed so as to extend in the vehicle front-rear direction. The left end extends from the extension connecting portion 30a to the vicinity of the front end along the lower surface of the extension 28 (see FIGS. 6 and 8). A support bracket portion 31 that extends downward on the front side is integrally formed at the right end portion of the reinforcement 30, and a wiper device (not shown) is supported by the support bracket portion 31. In the reinforcement 30, a plurality of bent portions 30 c that are bent in the vertical direction and extend in the vehicle width direction are formed at a portion between the extending portion connecting portion 30 a and the cowl panel connecting portion 30 b.

-Movement of cowl structure-
Hereinafter, an example of the movement of the cowl structure when a load is applied to the cowl panel 5 will be described with reference to FIG. For example, when an obstacle that has collided with the front of the automobile hits the front windshield 4 from above the front side (see the arrow in FIG. 9) and an impact load that is obliquely downward acts on the cowl panel 5, the first dash on the dash panel 3 Although the closed cross-sectional portion formed by the upper 9, the second dash upper 10, the reinforcing panel 23, and the upper wall portion 25 of the cowl panel 5 is hardly deformed, the bulging located in front of the reinforcing panel 23 in the cowl panel 5 The part 26 falls forward while the bent part 26c is deformed (see the two-dot chain line). In addition, although the reinforcement 30 located in front of the reinforcing panel 23 is not shown, the bent portion 30c is deformed, and thereby the closed cross-section portion formed by the cowl panel 5 and the reinforcement 30 is deformed. . From these things, the impact energy is absorbed.

-Effect-
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the reinforcing panel 23 that connects the portion of the cowl panel 5 that is located behind the front window support 5a and the second dash upper 10 of the dash panel 3 that is located below the portion. Furthermore, the support rigidity of the front windshield 4 can be sufficiently secured.

  Further, since a plurality of bent portions 26c are formed in a portion of the cowl panel 5 between the front window support portion 5a and the reinforcing panel connection portion 5b, for example, an obstacle that collides with the front portion of the automobile is seen from the front window upper side. By hitting the shield 4, when an oblique downward impact load is applied to the cowl panel 5, the bent portion 26 c is deformed and the impact energy can be reliably absorbed.

  Moreover, since the reinforcing panel 23 is provided in parts other than both ends of the cowl panel 5 in the vehicle width direction, it is possible to suppress the rigidity of both ends of the cowl panel 5 in the vehicle width direction from becoming too high. Furthermore, the weight of the vehicle body can be reduced.

  Further, since the central opening 38 for introducing the outside air is formed in the reinforcing panel 23, the opening for introducing the outside air can be provided while suppressing the support rigidity of the front windshield 4 from being lowered.

  Further, a portion of the cowl panel 5 between the front window support portion 5a and the reinforcing panel connecting portion 5b is connected to a rear end portion of the extending portion 28 that extends forward from the front end portion of the cowl panel 5 to the vehicle. Since the reinforcement 30 is further provided, the rigidity of the extension part 28 of the cowl panel 5 can be reinforced.

  In addition, since the central opening 38 for introducing the outside air is formed at the upper end of the reinforcing panel 23 in the vicinity of the closed cross section formed by the cowl panel 5 and the reinforcement 30, such a closed cross section is provided. However, it is possible to suppress the support rigidity of the front windshield 4 from becoming too high.

  Further, since the central opening 38 is formed at the upper end of the reinforcing panel 23, the central opening 38 corresponds to the connection opening 16 for introducing outside air to which the blower unit 15 of the air conditioner is connected in the reinforcing panel 23. The water introduced from the cowl grille 6 into the cowl part constituted by the cowl panel 5 and the cowl cross member 7 is formed through the connection opening part 16 from the central opening part 38. Inflow into the air conditioner.

  Moreover, since the reinforcement 30 is extended from the extension part connection part 30a to the vicinity of the front end along the lower surface of the extension part 28, the protrusion 29 is further provided in the front end part. The rigidity of the extension part 28 can be reliably reinforced.

  Further, since the bent portion 30c is formed in a portion between the extension portion connecting portion 30a and the cowl panel connecting portion 30b in the reinforcement 30, for example, an obstacle colliding with the front portion of the automobile is By hitting the windshield 4, when an oblique downward impact load is applied to the cowl panel 5, the bent portion 30 c, that is, the closed cross-section portion constituted by the cowl panel 5 and the reinforcement 30 is deformed. For this reason, although the closed cross section is formed, the impact energy can be reliably absorbed.

(Other embodiments)
In the said embodiment, although the reinforcement panel 23 is provided in parts other than the vehicle width direction both ends of the cowl panel 5, you may provide over not only this but the whole vehicle width direction. However, the former is desirable in order to prevent the rigidity at both ends in the vehicle width direction of the cowl panel 5 from becoming too high.

  In the above-described embodiment, the left end portion of the reinforcement 30 is extended from the extension portion connection portion 30a to the vicinity of the front end thereof along the lower surface of the extension portion 28, but may not be extended. However, the former is desirable to reinforce the rigidity of the extension 28 of the cowl panel 5. Moreover, although only the left end portion of the reinforcement 30 extends to the vicinity of the front end of the extending portion 28, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the extension 30 may extend to the vicinity of the front end of the extending portion 28 over the entire vehicle width direction. Good.

  In the above embodiment, the bent portion 30 c is formed in the reinforcement 30, but it may not be formed. However, the former is desirable for reliably absorbing impact energy.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof.

  As described above, the above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects and should not be interpreted in a limited manner. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and is not limited by the specification. Further, all modifications and changes belonging to the equivalent scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention.

  As described above, the automotive cowl structure according to the present invention can reliably absorb the impact energy when a diagonally downward impact load is applied to the cowl panel while sufficiently securing the support rigidity of the front window. Applicable to etc.

1 is a perspective view showing a front structure of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the front vehicle body structure of a motor vehicle. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the front vehicle body structure of a motor vehicle. It is a front view which shows the front vehicle body structure of a motor vehicle. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 6, showing a state where a connecting member and a blower unit are removed. It is a bottom view which shows the structure of a cowl panel. FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 illustrating an example of movement of the cowl structure when a load is applied to the cowl panel.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Engine room 2 Car compartment 3 Dash panel 4 Front windshield 5 Cowl panel 5a Front window support part 5b Reinforcement panel connection part 10 2nd dash upper (vehicle body panel located below it)
13 Vertical wall (vehicle body panel located behind the reinforcing panel)
15 Air conditioner blower unit (outside air introduction part)
16 Connection opening 23 Reinforcement panel 26 Swelling part 26c Bending part 28 Extension part 29 Projection part 30 Reinforcement (second reinforcement panel)
30a Extension part connection part 30b Cowl panel connection part 30c Bending part 38 Central opening part

Claims (6)

A car cowl structure including a cowl panel that extends forward and upward from a dash panel that partitions an engine room and a vehicle compartment to support the front window and the front end is not supported by the vehicle body,
A reinforcing panel that connects a portion of the cowl panel located on the rear side of the front window support portion and a vehicle body panel located below the front window supporting portion;
A cowl structure for an automobile, wherein the cowl panel is formed with a plurality of bent portions at a portion between a front window support portion and a reinforcing panel connection portion. The cowl structure of an automobile according to claim 1,
The cowl structure for an automobile, wherein the reinforcing panel is provided in a portion of the cowl panel other than both ends in the vehicle width direction. In the cowl structure of the automobile according to claim 1 or 2,
A connection opening for introducing outside air to which an outside air introduction part of the air conditioner is connected is formed in the vehicle body panel located behind the reinforcing panel in the vehicle,
An automotive cowl structure in which an opening for introducing outside air is formed in the reinforcing panel. The cowl structure of an automobile according to claim 3,
The front end portion of the cowl panel is formed with an extending portion that extends forward from the portion corresponding to the connection opening,
A second reinforcing panel that connects a portion between the front window support portion and the reinforcing panel connecting portion of the cowl panel and a rear end portion of the extending portion, and forms a closed cross section with the cowl panel. In addition,
The said cowl structure of the motor vehicle characterized by the said opening part being formed in the part corresponding to the said connection opening part among the upper end parts of the said reinforcement panel. The cowl structure for an automobile according to claim 4,
The extension portion is formed with a protrusion that extends upward from the front end portion and is engraved with a vehicle number,
The cowl structure for an automobile, wherein the second reinforcing panel extends from the extension portion connection portion to the vicinity of the front end along the lower surface of the extension portion. In the cowl structure of the automobile according to claim 4 or 5,
A cowl structure for an automobile, wherein the second reinforcing panel is formed with a bent portion at a portion between the cowl panel connecting portion and the extending portion connecting portion.

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