JP2010095088A - Vehicle body structure and vehicle body construction - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle body structure capable of reducing a deformation quantity of a roof in a vehicle side collision. <P>SOLUTION: A connecting member 7 for connecting the roof 3 side and the center pillar 2 side is constituted so that a collision load in the vehicle side collision can be transmitted to the roof 3 side via an inflator 6 by connecting the roof 3 side and the center pillar 2 side via the inflator 6. The inflator 6 has the predetermined size, and is strongly constituted for supplying gas to an airbag. Thus, the strong inflator 6 is made to function as a part of a load transmitting member by transmitting the load via the inflator 6, and a receiving surface for transmitting the load of roof centering force 11 on the roof 3 side is expanded. Thus, stability of roof deformation is improved, and the deformation quantity of a roof 3 in the vehicle side collision is reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle body structure and a vehicle body structure in a roof of a vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a vehicle body structure in a roof of a vehicle, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-18805, a roof rear header is attached to a rear end portion of a roof panel constituting the roof and covers the roof rear header. A ceiling plate is attached to a roof panel, and an inflator is attached to a roof rear header between the ceiling plate and the roof panel.
JP 2008-18805 A

  In such a vehicle body structure, since the inflator is fixed to the roof rear header attached to the roof panel, the mass of the inflator is added to the roof panel. Accordingly, when a collision load directed inward in the vehicle width direction is input due to the collision of the other vehicle from the side, there is a possibility that deformation of the roof to the vehicle lower side becomes large. Therefore, it has been desired to reduce the amount of deformation of the roof. If various reinforcing members are provided to reduce the amount of deformation of the roof, the number of parts increases and the weight increases, and a space for mounting the reinforcing members is required, and the space in the vehicle is reduced. . Accordingly, there has been a demand for suppressing the increase in the number of parts and the weight, and suppressing the decrease in the vehicle interior space.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle body structure that can reduce the deformation amount of the roof at the time of a vehicle-side collision. It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle body structure that can suppress an increase in the number of parts and weight for reducing the amount of deformation of the roof, and can suppress a decrease in vehicle interior space.

  The vehicle body structure according to the present invention is disposed on the vehicle inner side of a joint portion between the roof and the pillar that extends in the horizontal direction on the upper side of the vehicle, pillars that extend in the vertical direction of the vehicle on both ends in the vehicle width direction, An inflator that supplies gas to the airbag and a connecting member that connects the roof side and the pillar side are provided, and the connecting member connects the roof side and the pillar via the inflator.

  In this vehicle body structure, since the connecting member that connects the roof side and the pillar side is connected via the inflator, the collision load at the time of the vehicle side collision can be transmitted to the roof side via the inflator. It has become. The inflator has a predetermined size and is firmly configured to supply gas to the airbag. Therefore, by transmitting the load via the inflator, the load receiving surface for the roof side can be enlarged, and a strong inflator can function as a part of the load transmitting member. As a result, the stability of the roof deformation can be improved, and the deformation amount of the roof at the time of a vehicle-side collision can be reduced.

  In the vehicle body structure according to the present invention, the roof that extends in the horizontal direction on the upper side of the vehicle, the pillar that extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle on both ends in the vehicle width direction, and the inner side of the coupling portion between the roof and the pillar are arranged on the vehicle side. An inflator that supplies gas to the airbag and a connecting member that connects the roof side and the pillar side are provided, and the connecting member and the inflator are integrated.

  In this vehicle body structure, by providing a connecting member that connects the roof side and the pillar side, the deformation mode of the roof can be stabilized and the deformation amount of the roof at the time of a vehicle-side collision can be reduced. Furthermore, since the connecting member is integrated with the inflator, the number of parts and the weight can be reduced as compared with the case where the connecting member and the inflator are separately attached. Further, since the inflator is disposed inside the vehicle at the joint portion between the roof and the pillar, when a connecting member for connecting the roof side and the pillar side is provided, in order to secure a space for attaching the connecting member, It is necessary to arrange the inflator at a position different from that of the connecting member, resulting in a reduction in the space in the vehicle. However, in the present invention, since the connection member and the inflator are integrated, it is not necessary to secure an arrangement space for the inflator to avoid the connection member, and a reduction in the space in the vehicle can be suppressed. As described above, an increase in the number of parts and weight for reducing the deformation amount of the roof can be suppressed, and a decrease in the space in the vehicle can be suppressed.

  The vehicle body structure according to the present invention further includes: a roof center reinforcement that extends in the vehicle width direction and forms a roof; and a roof side rail that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction at both ends of the roof in the vehicle width direction. The connection member is fixed to the roof side rail above the pillar and supports the inflator, and the connection for the roof center reinforcement that is fixed to the inflator and connected to the end of the roof center reinforcement in the vehicle width direction. It is preferable to have a member. With such a configuration, the connection member can transmit the impact load at the time of the vehicle side collision to the roof center reinforcement through the inflator and can be integrated with the inflator.

  The vehicle body structure according to the present invention has an airbag module in which brackets of other members are integrated.

  This vehicle body structure has an airbag module in which brackets of other members are integrated. Therefore, by integrating the bracket of another member into the firmly configured airbag module, when the bracket of the other member functions as a load transmission member, the receiving surface for load transmission is enlarged. In addition, a strong airbag module can function as a part of the load transmission member. Thereby, the deformation amount of the vehicle body can be reduced.

  With the vehicle body structure according to the present invention, the amount of deformation of the roof during a vehicle-side collision can be reduced. In addition, an increase in the number of parts and weight for reducing the deformation amount of the roof can be suppressed, and a decrease in the space in the vehicle can be suppressed.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a vehicle body structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification, the forward direction when the vehicle is moving forward is defined as “front”, and terms such as “front” and “rear” are used.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a view of the vehicle body structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention as seen from inside the passenger compartment space, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II shown in FIG. 1 and 2 show the structure of only one side of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction. In FIG. 1, the right side of the drawing is the front and the left side of the drawing is the rear.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle body structure 1 according to the present embodiment includes a center pillar 2, a roof 3, a roof side rail 4, an inflator 6, and a connecting member 7. . In the present embodiment, the vehicle body structure in the center pillar 2 will be described, but the present invention is not limited to the center pillar 2 and can be applied to all pillars such as a rear pillar and a front pillar.

  The center pillar 2 is a member that is disposed substantially at the center in the vehicle longitudinal direction on both sides in the vehicle width direction and extends in the vehicle vertical direction. The center pillar outer ring force 8 and the center pillar inner 9 are welded to face each other. The lower part is connected to a rocker (not shown) extending on the lower side of the vehicle.

  The roof 3 expands in the horizontal direction on the upper side of the vehicle and functions as a vehicle body ceiling. It is configured by welding to the lower surface of the panel 15. The roof center reinforcement 11 is formed in a substantially W-shaped cross section, and has two convex portions 11a and 11b projecting to the lower side of the vehicle, and a concave portion 11c recessed between the convex portion 11a and the convex portion 11b. And. The convex portions 11 a and 11 b of the roof center reinforcement 11 form a closed cross section with the roof center reinforcement upper 12.

  The roof side rail 4 is a member that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction on both sides of the roof 3 in the vehicle width direction and forms a closed cross section having a substantially trapezoidal cross section, and is located between the center pillar 2 and the roof 3. Are combined. The roof side rail 4 is configured by welding the roof side rail outer 14 and the roof side rail inner 13 face to face, and the weld end on the roof 3 side is connected at the welded portion of the roof 3 and the center pillar. Two side weld ends are connected to the center pillar 2. Further, a side outer panel 16 is disposed outside the vehicle on the roof side rail 4 so as to cover the center pillar outer force 8 of the center pillar 2 and the roof side rail 4.

  The inflator 6 is a columnar member that is disposed on the vehicle inner side of the roof side rail 4 where the roof 3 and the center pillar 2 are joined, that is, in the vehicle front-rear direction. The inflator 6 has a function of supplying gas to a curtain airbag (not shown) on the side of the passenger compartment space, and has a higher pressure inside, so that the inflator 6 is configured to be stronger than the surrounding steel plates. The inflator 6 is disposed at a position lower than the end of the roof center reinforcement 11 in the vehicle width direction. This inflator 6 constitutes a part of the airbag module.

  The connecting member 7 connects the roof center reinforcement 11 on the roof 3 side and the roof side rail 4 on the center pillar 2 side, and is configured integrally with the inflator 6, and is connected to the roof via the inflator 6. By connecting the 3 side and the center pillar 2 side, the collision load at the time of the vehicle side collision is transmitted to the roof 3 side, and the deformation mode is stabilized and the deformation amount of the roof 3 is reduced. The connecting member 7 is fixed to the roof side rail 4 above the upper end portion of the center pillar 2, is fixed to the inflator mounting bracket (inflator supporting member) 17 that supports the inflator 6 from below, the inflator 6, and the roof center reinforcement. 11 and a roof center reinforcement bracket (roof center reinforcement connection member) 18 connected to the end portion in the vehicle width direction.

  One inflator mounting bracket 17 is provided at a position above the both ends of the center pillar 2 in the vehicle front-rear direction in the roof side rail inner 13 of the roof side rail 4. The inflator mounting bracket 17 is formed by subjecting a steel plate to sheet metal processing. The support portion 17a is curved so as to come into surface contact with the peripheral surface of the inflator 6 from below, and the vehicle from the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the support portion 17a. A fixing portion 17b that protrudes outward in the width direction and expands downward so as to come into surface contact with the inner side surface of the roof side rail inner 13 of the roof side rail 4 and is fixed via a fixing bolt 19 is provided.

  The roof center reinforcement bracket 18 is provided in the inflator 6 at a substantially central position in the vehicle front-rear direction, that is, at a position corresponding to the center pillar 2 and the roof center reinforcement 11. The roof center reinforcement bracket 18 is in surface contact with the upper peripheral surface of the inflator 6 and is fixed by welding or bolting, and protrusions formed at both ends in the vehicle front-rear direction at the upper end of the main body 18a. The parts 18b and 18c and a protrusion 18d formed between the protrusion 18b and the protrusion 18c are configured.

  The protruding portion 18b protrudes inward in the vehicle width direction from the vehicle rear side end portion of the upper end portion of the main body portion 18a, and is configured between the convex portion 11a of the roof center reinforcement 11 and the roof center reinforcement upper 12. Is formed so as to enter from the end of the roof center reinforcement 11 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The protrusion 18c protrudes inward in the vehicle width direction from the front end of the upper end of the main body 18a, and is configured between the protrusion 11b of the roof center reinforcement 11 and the roof center reinforcement upper 12. In the closed cross section, the roof center reinforcement 11 is formed so as to enter from the outer end in the vehicle width direction. Accordingly, the projecting portions 18 b and 18 c can receive the fall of the roof center reinforcement 11 together with the roof center reinforcement upper 12.

  The protruding portion 18d protrudes inward in the vehicle width direction from the vehicle longitudinal direction center position of the main body portion 18a and is formed so as to face the bottom surface of the concave portion 11c of the roof center reinforcement 11. As a result, the projecting portion 18 d can receive the fall of the roof center reinforcement 11.

  Next, operations and effects of the vehicle body structure 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  First, when another vehicle collides with the side surface of the vehicle, a collision load directed inward in the vehicle width direction is input to the center pillar 2. When the collision load is input, the center pillar 2 is deformed inward in the vehicle width direction, and accordingly, the roof side rail 4 above the center pillar 2 is also moved inward in the vehicle width direction. As the roof side rail 4 moves, the connecting member 7 also moves. As a result, the roof center reinforcement 11 moves between the protrusions 18b and 18c of the roof center reinforcement bracket 18, the protrusion 18d, and the main body 18a. The outer ends in the vehicle width direction are engaged with each other, and a collision load is input to the roof center reinforcement 11 in the axial direction.

  In particular, in this vehicle body structure 1, since the connecting member 7 that connects the roof 3 side and the center pillar 2 side is connected via the inflator 6, the collision load at the time of the vehicle-side collision is detected via the inflator 6. It is configured to be able to transmit to the 3 side. The inflator 6 has a predetermined size and is firmly configured to supply gas to the airbag. Therefore, by transmitting the load via the inflator 6, the load transmission receiving surface with respect to the roof center reinforcement 11 on the roof 3 side can be enlarged, and the strong inflator 6 can function as a part of the load transmitting member. be able to. Thereby, the stability of the roof deformation can be improved, and the deformation amount of the roof 3 at the time of the vehicle side collision can be reduced. Further, when the roof center reinforcement 11 is detached from the roof center reinforcement bracket 18 at the time of a vehicle side collision, the inflator 6 itself can function as a fall prevention member.

  Moreover, in this vehicle body structure 1, since the connection member 7 is integrated with the inflator 6, the number of parts and the weight can be reduced as compared with the case where the connection member 7 and the inflator 6 are separately attached. Further, since the inflator 6 is arranged on the vehicle inner side of the connecting portion between the roof 3 and the center pillar 2, when the connecting member 7 for connecting the roof 3 side and the center pillar 2 side is provided, the connecting member is attached. In order to secure this space, it is necessary to arrange the inflator 6 at a position different from that of the connecting member, resulting in a decrease in the space in the vehicle. However, in this embodiment, since the connecting member 7 and the inflator 6 are integrated, it is not necessary to secure a space for disposing the inflator 6 for avoiding the connecting member 7, and a reduction in the space in the vehicle can be suppressed. . As described above, an increase in the number of parts and weight for reducing the deformation amount of the roof 3 can be suppressed, and a decrease in the space in the vehicle can be suppressed.

  Further, in the vehicle body structure 1 according to the present embodiment, the connection member 7 is fixed to the roof side rail 4 above the center pillar 2 and fixed to the inflator 6 and the inflator mounting bracket 17 that supports the inflator 6. And a roof centerline force bracket 18 for supporting the end of the force in the vehicle width direction. With such a configuration, the connection member 7 can transmit the impact load at the time of a vehicle side collision to the roof center reinforcement 11 via the inflator 6 and be integrated with the inflator 6. Is possible.

  In the vehicle body structure 1 according to the present embodiment, a bracket of another member such as the roof center reinforcement bracket 18 is integrated with an airbag module including the inflator 6 and the like. In such a vehicle body structure 1, the bracket of another member such as the roof center reinforcement bracket 18 is integrated with the firmly configured airbag module so that the bracket of the other member functions as a load transmission member. In doing so, the receiving surface for load transmission can be enlarged, and a strong airbag module can function as a part of the load transmission member. Thereby, the deformation amount of the vehicle body can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the space in the vehicle. The “bracket of another member” is different from the bracket for attaching the airbag module itself to the vehicle body. For example, in the present embodiment, a roof center reinforcement bracket 18 that functions as one that supports the roof 3 and transmits load is applicable.

  Here, for comparison, a conventional vehicle body structure will be described. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a conventional vehicle body structure 30 and corresponds to FIG. In FIG. 3, the position of the inflator 6 in the vehicle body structure 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is indicated by a one-dot chain line. As shown in FIG. 3, the connecting member in the conventional vehicle body structure 30 is composed of only a roof center reinforcement bracket 38 that is a separate body from the inflator 6. In addition to the main body portion 38a, the protruding portions 38b and 38c, and the protruding portion 38d, a fixing portion 38e fixed to the roof side rail inner 13 of the roof side rail 4 via a bolt is configured. Since the roof center reinforcement bracket 38 is directly fixed to the roof side rail inner 13 in this way, the position of the inflator 6 is moved to the vehicle lower side by a distance A in the drawing in order to avoid interference with the fixing portion 38e. Accordingly, it is necessary to move the inflator mounting bracket 17 to the lower side of the vehicle. As described above, in the conventional vehicle body structure, a bolt for fixing the roof center reinforcement 11 is required, and a fixing portion 38e for fixing to the roof side rail inner 13 needs to be formed. And the weight increases. Furthermore, since it is necessary to move the inflator 6 and the inflator mounting bracket 17 to the vehicle lower side, the space in the vehicle is also reduced.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a vehicle body structure according to the second embodiment will be described. The vehicle body structure 40 according to the second embodiment is mainly different from the vehicle body structure 1 according to the first embodiment in that the protrusions of the roof center reinforcement brackets are directly fixed to the inflator 6 as separate bodies. ing. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a vehicle body structure 40 according to the second embodiment, and corresponds to FIG.

  The connecting member of the vehicle body structure 40 is configured by fixing a pair of projecting members 42 and a projecting member 41 to the upper peripheral surface of the inflator 6 supported by the inflator mounting bracket 17. Specifically, the projecting member 42 is composed of a plate-like member, projects inward in the vehicle width direction from the upper peripheral surface of the inflator 6, and protrudes 11 a and 11 b of the roof center reinforcement 11 and the roof center reinforcement upper. The roof center reinforcement 11 is formed so as to enter from the end of the roof center reinforcement 11 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Further, the projecting member 41 is composed of a plate-like member and is formed so as to project inward in the vehicle width direction from the upper peripheral surface of the inflator 6 and to face the bottom surface of the recess 11 c of the roof center reinforcement 11.

  According to such a vehicle body structure 40, by fixing the protruding members 41 and 42 directly to the inflator 6, it is possible to further suppress an increase in weight and a decrease in the space in the vehicle.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.

  For example, the roof center reinforcement bracket of the connecting member is not limited to the configuration of the present embodiment, but the end on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of a single steel plate fixed to the inflator 6 by bolting or welding. It is good also as a structure which provides the protrusion parts 18b and 18c and the protrusion part 18d by giving a bending process and a cutting process to a part, and forming a nail | claw part.

It is the figure which looked at the vehicle body structure which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention from the vehicle interior space. It is sectional drawing along the II-II line | wire shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the conventional vehicle body structure, and is a figure corresponding to FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the vehicle body structure which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and is a figure corresponding to FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,40 ... Body structure, 2 ... Center pillar (pillar), 3 ... Roof, 4 ... Roof side rail, 6 ... Inflator, 7 ... Connection member, 11 ... Roof center reinforcement, 17 ... Inflator mounting bracket (inflator support member) ), 18 ... Bracket for roof center reinforcement (connecting member for roof center reinforcement).

Claims (4)

A roof spreading horizontally in the upper side of the vehicle,
Pillars extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle at both ends in the vehicle width direction;
An inflator that is disposed on the vehicle inner side of the coupling portion between the roof and the pillar and supplies gas to the airbag;
A connecting member for connecting the roof side and the pillar side,
The vehicle body structure, wherein the connection member connects the roof side and the pillar via the inflator. A roof spreading horizontally in the upper side of the vehicle,
Pillars extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle at both ends in the vehicle width direction;
An inflator that is disposed on the vehicle inner side of the coupling portion between the roof and the pillar and supplies gas to the airbag;
A connecting member for connecting the roof side and the pillar side,
A vehicle body structure wherein the connecting member and the inflator are integrated. A roof center reinforcement that extends in the vehicle width direction and constitutes the roof;
A roof side rail extending in the vehicle front-rear direction at both ends in the vehicle width direction of the roof, and
The connecting member is
An inflator support member fixed to the roof side rail above the pillar and supporting the inflator;
The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a roof center reinforcement connecting member fixed to the inflator and connected to an end of the roof center reinforcement in the vehicle width direction.   A vehicle body structure comprising an airbag module in which brackets of other members are integrated.

Images