JP2010111149A - Structure for connecting side part of vehicle body - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure for connecting a side part of a vehicle body capable of restraining local deformation of a pillar outer reinforcement in side collision. <P>SOLUTION: Hole parts 26 are formed on lower parts of a front wall part 14C and a back wall part 14D of a center pillar outer reinforcement 14, and opening parts 28 are formed on an upper surface part 20B of a rocker outer reinforcement 20. Semicircular ring type connecting members 30 are respectively inserted into the hole parts 26 of the front wall part 14C and the back wall part 14D, both end parts of the connecting member 30 are inserted into the two opening parts 28 of the rocker outer reinforcement 20, and the both end parts of the connecting member 30 are welded on edge parts of the opening parts 28 from the lower surface side of an upper surface part 20B of the rocker outer reinforcement 20 by arc welding, etc. The vicinity of a central part of the connecting member 30 is welded on edge parts of the hole parts 26 of the front wall part 14C and the back wall part 14D by arc welding, etc. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle body side portion coupling structure in which a lower portion of a pillar extending along a vehicle vertical direction is joined to a rocker extending along a vehicle front-rear direction.

Patent Document 1 below discloses a structure in which a lower end of a center pillar stiffener is formed into a skirt-spread shape by drawing and a portion of the skirt-spread shape is coupled to a side sill at the bottom of the vehicle.
JP 2007-196748 A

  However, in the case of the above prior art, when a high strength material is used for the center pillar stiffener for weight reduction, it is difficult to form by drawing, and if the shape can be formed by bending from the moldability, the ridge line of the center pillar stiffener is Straight shape. For this reason, a load is transmitted to the narrow side sill local part of the vehicle front-back direction at the time of a side collision, a side sill causes local deformation | transformation, and the deformation | transformation and penetration | invasion amount of a center pillar may become large.

  An object of the present invention is to obtain a vehicle body side part coupling structure that can suppress local deformation of pillar outer reinforcement at the time of a side collision in consideration of the above facts.

  The vehicle body side part coupling structure according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a pillar inner portion that extends along the vehicle vertical direction and that is disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction and a pillar outer reinforcement that is disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Forming a closed cross section with a pillar that forms a cross-section, a rocker inner that extends along the vehicle longitudinal direction and is disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and a rocker outer reinforcement that is disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. A rocker joined to the lower portion by welding, and inserted into holes formed in the front wall portion and the rear wall portion of the pillar outer reinforcement, and both longitudinal end portions are welded to the rocker outer reinforcement, and And a connecting member welded to the edge of the hole.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle body side portion coupling structure according to the first aspect, the ridge line on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the front wall portion and the rear wall portion is substantially linear.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle body side part coupling structure according to the second aspect, the connecting member is a semicircular or U-shaped ring.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle body side portion coupling structure according to any one of the first to third aspects, the upper surface portion of the rocker outer reinforcement has an opening, and both longitudinal ends of the connecting member are provided. The portion is penetrated through the opening with a welding allowance, and is welded to the edge of the opening from the lower surface side of the rocker outer reinforcement.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the pillar extends along the vehicle vertical direction, and is closed by the pillar inner disposed inside the vehicle width direction and the pillar outer reinforcement disposed outside the vehicle width direction. A cross section is formed. In addition, a rocker extends along the vehicle longitudinal direction at the lower part of the vehicle, and a closed cross section is formed by a rocker inner disposed inside the vehicle width direction and a rocker outer reinforcement disposed outside the vehicle width direction. The lower part of this is joined to the rocker by welding. The connecting member is inserted into holes formed in the front wall portion and the rear wall portion of the pillar outer reinforcement, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member are welded to the rocker outer reinforcement, and the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member is a hole. Welded to the edge of the part. In this configuration, the connecting member serves as a load transmission path at the time of a side collision, and the load transmitted from the center pillar outer reinforcement to the rocker outer reinforcement is dispersed in the vehicle front-rear direction by the connecting member. Thereby, it is possible to suppress a load from being locally input to the rocker outer reinforcement, and to suppress local deformation of the rocker outer reinforcement.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the ridge line on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the front wall portion and the rear wall portion of the pillar outer reinforcement is formed in a substantially linear shape, and is formed by bending using a high-strength material, for example. Even in the pillar outer reinforcement in which the ridge line on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is substantially linear, local deformation of the pillar outer reinforcement can be suppressed.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the connecting member can be assembled in a state where the pillar outer reinforcement and the rocker outer reinforcement are set in a jig by forming the connecting member in a semicircular or U-shaped ring shape. Therefore, a dedicated jig is not required.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the upper surface portion of the rocker outer reinforcement is provided with an opening, and both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member are penetrated by the opening in a state where a welding allowance is provided. It is welded from the lower surface side of the rocker outer reinforcement to the edge of the opening. As a result, the connecting member can be welded from the lower surface side of the opening of the rocker outer reinforcement with the outer member attached to the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the pillar and the rocker. The workability is good.

  As described above, the vehicle body side portion coupling structure according to the present invention described in claim 1 has an excellent effect that local deformation of the rocker outer reinforcement can be suppressed.

  The vehicle body side part coupling structure according to the second aspect of the present invention has an excellent effect that local deformation of the pillar outer reinforcement can be suppressed even when the pillar outer reinforcement is formed using, for example, a high-strength material. .

  The vehicle body side portion coupling structure according to the third aspect of the present invention has an excellent effect that the connecting member can be assembled in a state where the pillar outer reinforcement and the rocker outer reinforcement are set on a jig.

  The vehicle body side part coupling structure according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is excellent in that workability is good because the connecting member can be welded from the lower surface side of the opening of the rocker outer reinforcement with the outer member attached. Has an effect.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a vehicle body side portion coupling structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In these drawings, an arrow FR appropriately shown indicates the vehicle front side, an arrow UP indicates the vehicle upper side, and an arrow OUT indicates the vehicle width direction outer side.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lower part of a vehicle to which the vehicle body side part coupling structure according to the present invention is applied. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle body side portion coupling structure, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle body side portion coupling structure. As shown in these drawings, a center pillar 12 as a pillar extending along the vehicle vertical direction is disposed on the vehicle side portion 10. The center pillar 12 is a vehicle skeleton member, and includes a center pillar outer reinforcement 14 disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and a center pillar inner panel 16 disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. A rocker 18 extending along the vehicle front-rear direction is disposed at the lower portion of the vehicle side portion 10. The rocker 18 is a vehicle skeleton member, and includes a rocker outer reinforcement 20 disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and a rocker inner panel 22 disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

  The rocker outer reinforcement 20 has a hat-like cross section and includes a pair of upper and lower flange portions 20A in the vehicle vertical direction. The rocker inner panel 22 has a hat-shaped cross section, and includes a pair of upper and lower flange portions 22A in the vehicle vertical direction. And the lower end part of the center pillar inner panel 16 disposed in the vehicle vertical direction is sandwiched between the pair of upper and lower flange parts 20A of the rocker outer reinforcement 20 and the pair of upper and lower flange parts 22A of the rocker inner panel 22. The pair of upper and lower flange portions 20A are joined to the center pillar inner panel 16 by spot welding, and the pair of upper and lower flange portions 22A are joined to the center pillar inner panel 16 by spot welding. As a result, the rocker 18 has a closed cross section composed of the rocker outer reinforcement 20, the rocker inner panel 22, and the center pillar inner panel 16 penetrating therebetween.

  A side outer panel 24 as an outer member is disposed outside the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 in the vehicle width direction. The side outer panel 24 includes a vertical wall portion 24A arranged along the vertical direction of the vehicle, a protruding portion 24B protruding in a cross-sectional hat shape outwardly in the vehicle width direction at a lower portion of the vertical wall portion 24A, and a vehicle at a lower portion of the protruding portion 24B. And a flange portion 24 </ b> C that extends toward the inner side in the width direction and is bent toward the vehicle lower side. The flange portion 24C is joined to the lower flange portion 20A of the rocker outer reinforcement 20 by spot welding.

  The center pillar outer reinforcement 14 is formed of a high-strength material (high-tensile steel plate) to reduce the vehicle weight, and the plate thickness is reduced. When the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 is formed of a high-strength material, the moldability is deteriorated, and the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 cannot be formed into a shape that expands the skirt by a drawing method. For this reason, in consideration of formability, the shape must be formed by a bending method, and the ridge line 14A on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 has a substantially straight shape. The center pillar outer reinforcement 14 has a substantially hat-shaped cross section, and has a vertical wall portion 14B disposed along the vehicle vertical direction on the vehicle width direction outer side, and a ridge line 14A on the vehicle front side of the vertical wall portion 14B. A front wall portion 14C that is bent inward in the vehicle width direction via the vehicle vertical direction, and a vehicle rearward direction of the vertical wall portion 14B that is bent inward in the vehicle width direction via a ridge line 14A. And a rear wall portion 14 </ b> D disposed along the line.

  Further, a flat joint 14E that extends continuously from the lower end of the vertical wall portion 14B to the vehicle lower side and is joined to the vertical wall of the rocker outer reinforcement 20 at the vehicle lower portion of the center pillar outer reinforcement 14. A projecting joint portion 14F that is continuously bent from the lower end portion of the front wall portion 14C or the rear wall portion 14D toward the vehicle front side or the vehicle rear side and joined to the upper surface portion 20B of the rocker outer reinforcement 20; Is provided. Further, the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 includes a pair of front and rear flange portions 14G in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the pair of front and rear flange portions 14G are spotted on a pair of front and rear flange portions (not shown) of the center pillar inner panel 16. By being welded, a closed cross section is formed by the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 and the center pillar inner panel 16.

  A circular hole 26 into which the connecting member 30 can be inserted is formed in the lower part of the front wall portion 14C and the rear wall portion 14D of the center pillar outer reinforcement 14. A pair of circular openings 28 into which both end portions of the connecting member 30 can be inserted are formed in the upper surface portion 20B of the rocker outer reinforcement 20. The connecting member 30 is formed in a semicircular ring shape. In other words, the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 has holes 26 formed at two locations, and the upper surface portion 20B of the rocker outer reinforcement 20 has four openings 28 formed therein.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the connecting member 30 is inserted into the hole 26 of the front wall portion 14 </ b> C and the rear wall portion 14 </ b> D from one end of the opening portion 28 of the rocker outer reinforcement 20 through the end portion of the connecting member 30. Further, the end of the connecting member 30 is inserted into the other opening 28 of the rocker outer reinforcement 20. As a result, the vicinity of the central portion of the connecting member 30 is positioned in the hole portions 26 of the front wall portion 14C and the rear wall portion 14D, and both end portions of the connecting member 30 are inserted into the two openings 28 of the rocker outer reinforcement 20. In this state, the welding allowance of the connecting member 30 protrudes to the lower part of the opening 28. The welding allowance of the connecting member 30 is preferably about 5 mm, for example. In this state, both end portions of the connecting member 30 are welded to the edge of the opening 28 from the lower surface side of the upper surface portion 20B of the rocker outer reinforcement 20 by arc welding or the like, and the vicinity of the center portion of the connecting member 30 is the front wall portion 14C and The edge of the hole 26 of the rear wall 14D is welded by arc welding or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lower portion of the side outer panel 24 is formed in a shape such that the vicinity of the center portion protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction and the skirt spreads in the vehicle front-rear direction. A flange portion 24C extending toward the vehicle lower side is formed at the lower end portion of the side outer panel 24, and the flange portion 24C is joined to the flange portion 20A on the lower side of the rocker outer reinforcement 20 by welding or the like. A flange portion 24D is formed on the side portion of the side outer panel 24 and the upper portion of the lower portion, and the flange portion 24D is joined to the flange portion 14G of the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 and the flange portion 20A of the rocker outer reinforcement 20 by welding or the like. ing.

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

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the joint portion 14 </ b> E and the joint portion 14 </ b> F of the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 are joined to the vertical wall and the upper surface portion 20 </ b> B of the rocker outer reinforcement 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the side outer panel 24 is joined to the flange portion 14 </ b> G of the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 and the flange portion 20 </ b> A of the rocker outer reinforcement 20.

  In this state, the end of the connecting member 30 is inserted into one of the openings 28 from the lower surface side of the upper surface portion 20B of the rocker outer reinforcement 20, and the connecting member 30 is inserted into the holes 26 of the front wall portion 14C and the rear wall portion 14D. Further, the end of the connecting member 30 is inserted into the other of the openings 28 of the rocker outer reinforcement 20. As a result, the vicinity of the central portion of the connecting member 30 is positioned in the hole portions 26 of the front wall portion 14C and the rear wall portion 14D, respectively, and both end portions (welding allowance) of the connecting member 30 protrude to the lower portion of the opening portion 28. Become. In this state, both ends (welding allowance) of the connecting member 30 are welded to the edge of the opening 28 from the lower side of the upper surface portion 20B of the rocker outer reinforcement 20 by arc welding or the like, and the vicinity of the central portion of the connecting member 30 is in front. The edge part of the hole part 26 of the wall part 14C and the rear wall part 14D is welded by arc welding or the like.

  In such a configuration, the connecting member 30 is inserted into the hole portions 26 formed in the front wall portion 14C and the rear wall portion 14D of the center pillar outer reinforcement 14, and both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member 30 are the rocker outer reinforcement. 20 is welded to the upper surface portion 20 </ b> B, and the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the connecting member 30 is welded to the edge portion of the hole portion 26. In this configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, when a load is input to the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 at the time of a side collision, the load travels along the ridge line 14 </ b> A of the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 as indicated by an arrow A to the vehicle lower side. Communicated. At that time, the connecting member 30 serves as a load transmission path as indicated by arrows A and B, and the load transmitted from the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 to the rocker outer reinforcement 20 is dispersed in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Thereby, the local input to the lower part of the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 is relieved, and the local deformation | transformation of the rocker outer reinforcement 20 can be suppressed. Further, since the connecting member 30 and the welded portion between the connecting member 30 and the rocker outer reinforcement 20 cannot be seen by the side outer panel 24 arranged on the vehicle width direction outer side of the vehicle side portion 10, the appearance of the vehicle side portion 10 is not affected.

  In addition, since the connecting member 30 is a semi-circular pipe, the connecting member 30 can be assembled in a state where the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 and the rocker outer reinforcement 20 are set on the jig, and a dedicated jig is not required. It becomes. In addition, since the connecting member 30 is a semicircular pipe, the connecting member 30 can be welded from the inside of the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 and the side outer panel 24 is connected to the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 and the rocker outer reinforcement 20. After the attachment, the connecting member 30 can be welded. That is, the conventional process of assembling the center pillar outer reinforcement and the side outer panel is a welding operation from the inside of the vehicle. Therefore, in this embodiment, the connecting member 30 is welded to the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 and the rocker outer reinforcement 20. In addition, assembly is possible without changing the order of conventional processes.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, in the vehicle side portion 100 according to the first comparative example, a center pillar outer reinforcement 102 is disposed along the vehicle vertical direction. The lower part 102A of the center pillar outer reinforcement 102 is formed in a shape that expands by a squeezing method, and a joint 102B formed at the lower end of the center pillar outer reinforcement 102 is welded to the vertical wall of the rocker outer reinforcement 20 or the like. It is joined by. In this configuration, when a load is input to the center pillar outer reinforcement 102 at the time of a side collision, the load is transmitted in a wide range of the rocker outer reinforcement 20 as indicated by an arrow C, and the local deformation below the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 is performed. Is suppressed.

  However, in order to reduce the weight of the vehicle, when the pillar outer reinforcement is formed using a high-strength material to reduce the thickness of the pillar outer reinforcement, the shape formed by the drawing method as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, it is necessary to make the shape formed by a bending method, and the lower portion 122A of the pillar outer reinforcement 122 has a straight shape. That is, the ridgeline 122B in the vehicle vertical direction of the pillar outer reinforcement 122 has a straight shape, and the lower end 122C on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the pillar outer reinforcement 122 is joined to the vertical wall of the rocker outer reinforcement 20 by welding or the like. A pair of bent portions 122D in the vehicle front-rear direction are joined to the upper surface portion 20B of the rocker outer reinforcement 20. In this configuration, the ridgeline 122B of the pillar outer reinforcement 122 to which a large load is transmitted as indicated by an arrow D at the time of a side collision has a straight shape, and the load is transmitted to a local portion of the rocker outer reinforcement 20. For this reason, the rocker outer reinforcement 20 may cause local deformation.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the connecting member 30 serves as a load transmission path, and the load transmitted from the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 to the rocker outer reinforcement 20 is distributed in the vehicle front-rear direction. Deformation can be suppressed.

  In the embodiment described above, the upper surface portion 20B of the rocker outer reinforcement 20 is formed with a pair of openings 28 through which both ends of the connecting member 30 can be inserted, and both ends (welding allowance) of the connecting member 30 are rockers. Although it welded to the edge of the opening part 28 from the downward side of the upper surface part 20B of the outer reinforcement 20, as an other structure, without providing a pair of opening part 28 in the upper surface part 20B of the rocker outer reinforcement 20, it is a connection member. You may make it weld the both ends of 30 to the upper surface part 20B of the rocker outer reinforcement 20 directly. In this configuration, the connecting member 30 needs to be welded from the outside of the center pillar outer reinforcement 14, and the connecting member 30 needs to be welded before the side outer panel 24 is attached to the center pillar outer reinforcement 14 and the rocker outer reinforcement 20. There is.

  Further, the shape of the connecting member 30 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be other shapes such as a U-shaped pipe. Further, the connecting member 30 is not limited to a pipe (hollow tubular shape), and may be a solid rod shape.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an overall configuration of a vehicle body side part coupling structure according to an embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the vehicle body side part coupling structure shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the vehicle body side part coupling structure shown by FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a center pillar outer reinforcement, a rocker outer reinforcement and a connecting member used in the vehicle body side part coupling structure shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a center pillar outer reinforcement, a rocker outer reinforcement and a connecting member used in the vehicle body side part coupling structure shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing a center pillar outer reinforcement, a rocker outer reinforcement, and a connecting member used in the vehicle body side part coupling structure shown in FIG. 1. It is a perspective view which shows the whole structure of the vehicle body side part coupling structure which concerns on a 1st comparative example. It is a perspective view which shows the whole structure of the vehicle body side part coupling structure which concerns on a 2nd comparative example.

Explanation of symbols

10 Vehicle side 12 Center pillar (pillar)
14 Center pillar outer reinforcement (Pillar outer reinforcement)
14A Ridge line 14C Front wall part 14D Rear wall part 16 Center pillar inner panel (pillar inner)
18 Rocker 20 Rocker outer reinforcement 20B Upper surface part 22 Rocker inner panel (Rocker inner)
26 hole 28 opening 30 connecting member

Claims (4)

A pillar that extends along the vehicle vertical direction and that forms a closed cross section with a pillar inner disposed inside the vehicle width direction and a pillar outer reinforcement disposed outside the vehicle width direction;
A rocker inner extending along the vehicle longitudinal direction and disposed inside the vehicle width direction and a rocker outer reinforcement disposed outside the vehicle width direction form a closed cross section, and are joined to the lower portion of the pillar by welding. Rukka,
The pillar outer reinforcement is inserted into holes formed in the front wall portion and the rear wall portion of the pillar outer reinforcement, and both longitudinal end portions are welded to the rocker outer reinforcement, and the longitudinal center portion is an edge portion of the hole portion. A connecting member welded to
The vehicle body side part coupling structure having   The vehicle body side part coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein a ridge line on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the front wall part and the rear wall part is substantially linear.   The vehicle body side part coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member is a semicircle or a U-shaped ring. The upper surface portion of the rocker outer reinforcement has an opening,
The longitudinal direction both ends of the said connection member are penetrated by the said opening part in the state which provided the welding allowance, and are welded to the edge part of the said opening part from the lower surface side of the said rocker outer reinforcement. The vehicle body side part coupling structure according to any one of the above.

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