JP2011136593A - Lower structure of front pillar - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a lower structure of a front pillar that secures rigidity of a lower front pillar to collision load without increasing the number of components. <P>SOLUTION: In a hinge reinforce 50 that is arranged inside of vehicle width direction of a front pillar outer part 40X, a connection part 62 is integrally formed. The connection part 62 connects a connected portion between a part to be overlapped of a front pillar inner panel 32 and an upper flange 26A of a locker inner front edge part 28 with an outside wall 40A of the front pillar outer part 40X in an almost width direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a front pillar substructure.

  There is one in which a front pillar outer and a side sill outer (rocker outer) are press-molded integrally (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the lower part of the front pillar provided with such a member, for example, a partition member is provided between the outer side and the inner side, so that the rigidity is enhanced by the closed cross section.

JP-A-10-194155

  However, in such a structure, although the rigidity of the lower part of the front pillar with respect to the collision load is increased, the number of parts increases.

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a front pillar lower structure capable of ensuring the rigidity of the lower part of the front pillar against a collision load without increasing the number of parts.

  The lower structure of the front pillar according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a front pillar inner panel disposed on both sides of the front portion of the passenger compartment with the vehicle vertical direction as a longitudinal direction, and a vehicle front-rear direction at the lower end of the vehicle body side. Is formed as a longitudinal direction and has a cross-sectional hat shape that opens outward in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front of the vehicle, and the upper and lower flanges at the front end in the vehicle front-rear direction are arranged at the lower part of the front pillar inner panel in the vehicle vertical direction. A rocker inner panel coupled from the inner side in the width direction, a front pillar outer portion disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the front pillar inner panel, and a rocker outer portion disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the rocker inner panel. Are formed in one piece and formed into a cross-sectional hat shape opened inward in the vehicle width direction, and the flange at the inner end in the vehicle width direction has An outer panel coupled to the front pillar inner panel and the rocker inner panel, and disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the front pillar outer portion of the outer panel, for reinforcing a fixed portion of the door hinge in the front pillar outer portion A front pillar lower structure applied to a vehicle body having a hinge reinforce, wherein the hinge reinforce includes a coupling portion between the front pillar inner panel and an upper flange of the rocker inner panel, and a vehicle in the front pillar outer portion. There is provided a connecting portion that connects the outer wall constituting the outer portion in the width direction to the substantially vehicle width direction.

  According to the front pillar lower structure of the present invention as set forth in claim 1, the rocker inner panel has the upper and lower flanges at the front end portion in the vehicle front-rear direction coupled to the vehicle vertical direction lower portion of the front pillar inner panel from the vehicle width direction inner side. ing. Further, an outer panel in which a front pillar outer portion disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the front pillar inner panel and a rocker outer portion disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the rocker inner panel are integrally formed as one member. The flange at the inner end in the vehicle width direction is coupled to the front pillar inner panel and the rocker inner panel.

  Here, the hinge reinforcement disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the front pillar outer portion of the outer panel is a member for reinforcing the fixed portion of the door hinge in the front pillar outer portion, and the connecting portion is the front pillar inner panel. And the upper flange of the rocker inner panel and the outer wall of the front pillar outer portion constituting the outer portion in the vehicle width direction are connected in a substantially vehicle width direction. Therefore, at the lower part of the front pillar, a closed cross section is formed by the front pillar inner panel, the front pillar outer part, and the hinge reinforcement without separately providing a member for connecting the coupling part and the outer wall in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the coupling rigidity between the front pillar inner panel and the front pillar outer portion is improved. Therefore, for example, when a collision load is input from the front side of the vehicle accompanying a frontal collision of the vehicle to which the front pillar lower structure is applied, deformation of the lower front pillar is suppressed.

  The front pillar lower structure of the present invention described in claim 2 is the structure according to claim 1, wherein the hinge reinforcement is an outer vertical wall disposed to face the outer wall of the front pillar outer portion, A front wall extending inward in the vehicle width direction from a front end in the vehicle longitudinal direction on the outer vertical wall, and a portion extending from the lower end side in the vehicle vertical direction on the front wall is located on the vehicle rear side The connecting portion is formed by bending.

  According to the front pillar lower structure of the present invention described in claim 2, the hinge reinforcement is formed by bending a portion extending from the lower end side in the vehicle vertical direction on the front wall toward the vehicle rear side, A connecting portion that connects the front pillar outer portion side is formed. For this reason, the closed cross section formed in the lower part of the front pillar can be extended from the front end side in the vehicle front-rear direction in the hinge reinforcement to the vehicle rear side according to the length of the extended portion. Therefore, by extending the closed cross section in the vehicle front-rear direction, deformation of the lower portion of the front pillar is effectively suppressed when a collision load is input.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the lower structure of the front pillar of the present invention is the structure of the first or second aspect, wherein the hinge reinforcement is arranged to face the outer wall of the front pillar outer portion. An outer vertical wall and a rear wall extending inward in the vehicle width direction from a rear end in the vehicle longitudinal direction on the outer vertical wall, and extending from a lower end side in the vehicle vertical direction on the rear wall. The site | part is couple | bonded with the intermediate part of the vehicle front-back direction in the said connection part.

  According to the front pillar lower structure of the present invention described in claim 3, the hinge reinforcement has a portion extending from the lower end side in the vehicle vertical direction on the rear wall at the front pillar inner panel side and the front pillar at the lower portion of the front pillar. It is coupled to an intermediate portion in the vehicle front-rear direction at the connecting portion that connects the outer portion side. For this reason, the rigidity of a connection part improves and when a collision load is input, a deformation | transformation of a front pillar lower part is suppressed effectively.

  The front pillar lower structure according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the structure according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the rear end portion of the connecting portion in the vehicle front-rear direction is at the rocker outer portion. It is connected to the upper wall portion in the vehicle vertical direction.

  According to the front pillar lower structure of the present invention described in claim 4, the rear end portion of the connecting portion in the vehicle front-rear direction is coupled to the upper wall portion of the rocker outer portion in the vehicle vertical direction. For this reason, for example, when a collision load is input from the front side of the vehicle, the collision load is efficiently transmitted from the hinge reinforcement connecting portion side to the rocker outer portion side. It is suppressed.

  As described above, according to the front pillar lower structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to secure the rigidity of the lower portion of the front pillar against a collision load without increasing the number of parts. Have.

  According to the lower structure of the front pillar according to claim 2, when a collision load is input, the closed cross section extending from the front end side in the vehicle front-rear direction in the hinge reinforcement to the vehicle rear side is formed in the lower portion of the front pillar. It has the outstanding effect that a deformation | transformation of a front pillar lower part can be suppressed effectively.

  According to the front pillar lower structure according to claim 3, the rigidity of the connecting portion can be improved, and as a result, the deformation of the front pillar lower portion can be effectively suppressed when a collision load is input. It has an excellent effect of being able to.

  According to the front pillar lower structure according to claim 4, when a collision load is input from the front side of the vehicle, by efficiently transmitting the collision load from the connecting portion side of the hinge reinforcement to the rocker outer portion side, It has the outstanding effect that a deformation | transformation of a front pillar lower part can be suppressed effectively.

It is a perspective view which shows the front pillar lower part structure (one part of the 1 line | wire arrow line part enclosed with the dashed-dotted line of FIG. 3) which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view (enlarged cross-sectional view along the 2-2 line of FIG. 3) of the vehicle front view which shows the front pillar lower part structure which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a schematic side view showing a part of a vehicle body of an automobile to which a front pillar lower structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a perspective view in which the hinge reinforcement in one Embodiment of this invention is shown in the state before the bending process of a 1st extension part. It is a typical side view for explaining an operation when the automobile to which the front pillar lower structure according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied collides with the front. It is a FS diagram when a car makes a frontal collision with a barrier. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vehicle front view which shows the front pillar lower part structure which concerns on contrast structure (comparative example with embodiment of this invention). It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vehicle front view which shows the front pillar lower part structure which concerns on contrast structure (comparative example with embodiment of this invention).

(Configuration of the embodiment)
A front pillar lower structure according to an embodiment of 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. 3 shows a schematic side view of a part of a vehicle body 10 of an automobile (vehicle) to which the front pillar lower structure 30 is applied. Further, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of the one-line arrow portion surrounded by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 3, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section taken along line 2-2 in FIG. The figure is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a front pillar 14 (A pillar), a center pillar 16 (B pillar), and a rear pillar 18 (C pillar) are arranged on the vehicle body side portion 12 in order from the front side. A pair of left and right front pillars 14, center pillars 16, and rear pillars 18 are provided. The front pillar 14 is disposed on the front edge of the front side door opening 20 formed on the vehicle body side portion 12, that is, on both sides of the front portion of the vehicle compartment, and has a vehicle body skeleton having a longitudinal direction substantially in the vehicle vertical direction. It is a member.

  More specifically, the front pillar 14 is disposed in a state where it is inclined at both ends in the width direction of a windshield glass (not shown), and from the lower end portion of the front pillar upper 114 to the vehicle lower side. And a front pillar lower 214 that hangs substantially vertically.

  An upper end portion 14 </ b> A of the front pillar upper 114 in the front pillar 14 is coupled to a front end of the roof side rail portion 22 in the vehicle front-rear direction. The roof side rail portion 22 is a skeletal member that is disposed on both sides of the vehicle roof with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle substantially in the longitudinal direction. Further, a lower end portion 14B of the front pillar lower 214 in the front pillar 14 is coupled to a front end of the rocker 24 (also referred to as “side sill”) in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the front pillar 14 and the rocker 24 are substantially L-shaped. It has become. The rocker 24 is a skeleton member arranged at the lower end portion of the vehicle body side portion 12 with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle as the longitudinal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the rocker 24 includes a rocker inner panel 26. The rocker inner panel 26 constitutes a portion of the rocker 24 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and is arranged with the vehicle front-rear direction as the longitudinal direction at the lower end portion of the vehicle body side portion 12, and its front end generally reaches the lower front end of the front pillar 14. And it has a cross-sectional hat shape opened outward in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front of the vehicle. An upper flange 26A is formed at the outer end in the vehicle width direction at the upper end side of the rocker inner panel 26, and a lower flange 26B is formed at the outer end in the vehicle width direction at the lower end side of the rocker inner panel 26. The general surfaces of the upper flange 26A and the lower flange 26B are oriented in the vehicle width direction.

  The front pillar 14 provided continuously to the rocker 24 includes a front pillar inner panel 32. The front pillar inner panel 32 constitutes a portion of the front pillar 14 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and is disposed on both sides of the front portion of the passenger compartment with the vehicle vertical direction as a longitudinal direction. In FIG. 1, the rear end portion of the front pillar inner panel 32 in the vehicle vertical direction is indicated by reference numeral 32Z.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a rocker inner front end portion 28 constituting a front end portion of the rocker inner panel 26 in the vehicle front-rear direction is coupled to a lower portion (lower end portion) of the front pillar inner panel 32 in the vehicle vertical direction. More specifically, the upper flange 26A and the lower flange 26B at the front end portion 28 of the rocker inner overlap the upper and lower polymerized portions 32C and 32D in the vehicle vertical direction of the front pillar inner panel 32 from the inner side in the vehicle width direction. Combined and joined by spot welding.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the front pillar inner panel 32 has a substantially hat shape in which a horizontal cross-sectional shape is opened outward in the vehicle width direction at a portion above the rocker 24 on the vehicle upper side. A front flange 32A is formed on the front end side of the front pillar inner panel 32 in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a rear flange 32B is formed on the rear end side of the front pillar inner panel 32 in the vehicle front-rear direction. It is for use.

  On the outer side in the vehicle width direction (the front side in FIG. 1) of the front pillar inner panel 32 and the rocker inner panel 26, an outer panel 40 (cymen outer panel reinforcement) is disposed so as to oppose them. Note that a outer outer 48 (not shown in FIG. 1, refer to FIG. 2) is disposed on the outer side of the outer panel 40 in the vehicle width direction.

  In the outer panel 40, a front pillar outer portion 40X disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the front pillar inner panel 32 and a rocker outer portion 40Y disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the rocker inner panel 26 are integrated as one member. It is set as the strength member formed. That is, the outer panel 40 includes a corner portion 42 disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the front pillar inner panel 32 and on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the rocker inner panel 26, and the front pillar inner panel 32 on the vehicle upper side of the corner portion 42. The pillar outer longitudinal portion 44 disposed outside the vehicle width direction and the rocker outer longitudinal portion 46 disposed outside the rocker inner panel 26 on the vehicle rear side of the corner portion 42 are integrally formed. The cross-sectional hat shape opened inward in the vehicle width direction in a cross-sectional view orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The corner portion 42 of the outer panel 40 serves as both a lower end portion of the front pillar outer portion 40X and a front end portion of the rocker outer portion 40Y.

  The outer panel 40 includes an outer wall 40A that constitutes a portion of the outer panel 40 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction and is substantially L-shaped in a vehicle side view on the lower side of the front pillar 14, and is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the outer wall 40A. The first wall 40B and the second wall 40C extend inward in the vehicle width direction from both ends in the direction in which the first wall 40B extends, and the first flange 40D extends from the inner end in the vehicle width direction of the first wall 40B. A second flange 40E projects from the inner end in the vehicle width direction of 40C. The outer wall 40A, the first flange 40D, and the second flange 40E have their general surfaces oriented in the vehicle width direction.

  The first flange 40D of the outer panel 40 extends substantially in the vehicle vertical direction at the front end side in the vehicle front-rear direction of the pillar outer longitudinal portion 44, and is bent in an R shape toward the vehicle rear side at the front lower end side of the corner portion 42. Yes. The first flange 40D is overlapped on the front flange 32A of the front pillar inner panel 32 and the lower flange 26B of the rocker inner panel 26 from the outside in the vehicle width direction and is joined by spot welding. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the portion corresponding to the lower end of the corner portion 42 in the first flange 40 </ b> D is the polymerized portion 32 </ b> D below the front pillar inner panel 32 and the rocker inner panel 26 (the rocker inner front end portion 28). It is joined by spot welding in a state of being overlapped with the lower flange 26B.

  On the other hand, the second flange 40E of the outer panel 40 shown in FIG. 1 extends substantially in the vehicle vertical direction on the rear end side in the vehicle front-rear direction of the pillar outer longitudinal portion 44 and extends to the vehicle on the rear upper end side of the corner portion 42. It is bent in an R shape toward the rear side. The second flange 40E is overlapped with the rear flange 32B of the front pillar inner panel 32 and the upper flange 26A of the rocker inner panel 26 from the outside in the vehicle width direction and coupled by spot welding.

  A hinge reinforcement 50 (hinge reinforcement) is disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the outer wall 40A in the front pillar outer portion 40X of the outer panel 40, and the hinge reinforcement 50 is attached to the outer wall 40A by spot welding or the like. Yes. That is, the front pillar outer portion 40 </ b> X is reinforced by the hinge reinforcement 50 at a portion including a fixed portion of the door hinge 70 (see FIG. 3). As schematically shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3, the door hinge 70 is attached to the front pillar lower 214 of the front pillar 14 in a total of two locations, and opens and closes the front side door opening 20. For this purpose, a front side door (not shown) is rotatably connected to the front pillar lower 214 side.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the hinge reinforcement 50 is formed in a plate shape, and its main body 52 has a cross-sectional “U” shape that opens inward in the vehicle width direction by press molding. More specifically, the main body portion 52 of the hinge reinforcement 50 includes an outer vertical wall 54 disposed to face the outer wall 40A of the front pillar outer portion 40X, and a front end of the outer vertical wall 54 in the vehicle front-rear direction. A front wall 56 that extends inward (bent) in the vehicle width direction and faces the first wall 40B of the front pillar outer portion 40X, and inward in the vehicle width direction from the rear end in the vehicle longitudinal direction on the outer vertical wall 54 And a rear wall 58 that is extended (bent) and faces the second wall 40C of the front pillar outer portion 40X. The outer vertical wall 54 is formed with a bolt insertion hole 54A through which a door hinge fixing bolt (not shown) is inserted.

  In addition, the hinge reinforcement 50 has a first extending portion 60 extending from the lower end side in the vehicle vertical direction on the front wall 56 bent to the vehicle rear side. As shown in FIG. 2, the first extending portion 60 includes a coupling portion 36 between the front pillar inner panel 32 and the upper flange 26A of the rocker inner front end portion 28 (the rocker inner panel 26), and the outer side of the front pillar outer portion 40X. A connecting portion 62 that connects the wall 40A to the vehicle width direction is formed. Hereinafter, the connecting portion 62 formed by the first extending portion 60 will be described more specifically.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the hinge reinforcement 50 in a state before the first extending portion 60 is bent toward the vehicle rear side. In the drawing, the bending direction of the first extending portion 60 is indicated by an arrow A. As shown in FIG. 4, the width dimension in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the first extending portion 60 is longer (wider) than the width dimension in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the front wall 56. ) Is set.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the connecting portion 62 formed by the first extending portion 60 is a position substantially corresponding to the vehicle front side extended position of the upper portion of the rocker outer longitudinal portion 46 (in other words, the front end upper portion of the rocker 24. The rear end of the outer panel 40 is located near the rear end of the corner portion 42 of the outer panel 40. The connecting portion 62 includes a partition wall portion 62A that is disposed substantially at the vehicle front side extended position of the upper wall portion 46A in the rocker outer longitudinal portion 46 and separates the space vertically. The partition wall portion 62A extends in the vehicle front-rear direction, similarly to the upper wall portion 46A in the rocker outer longitudinal portion 46, and has a surface in which the general surface includes a substantially vehicle width direction (substantially horizontal direction) when viewed from the front of the vehicle. (Strictly speaking, it is slightly inclined toward the vehicle upper side toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction and at the same inclination angle as the upper wall portion 46A). Further, the connecting portion 62 is formed with a flange 62B that is bent from the inner end in the vehicle width direction of the partition wall portion 62A toward the vehicle upper side, and from the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the partition wall portion 62A to the vehicle lower side. A flange 62 </ b> C that is bent to the right is formed.

  A flange 62C constituting a portion of the connecting portion 62 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction (front side in FIG. 1) is spot welded (dotted) directly to the outer wall 40A of the front pillar outer portion 40X or via the lower end portion of the outer vertical wall 54. Are indicated by “x” marks). A ridge line 62D, which is a connecting portion between the flange 62C and the partition wall portion 62A in the connecting portion 62, extends in the vehicle front-rear direction, and is formed on the outer edge side of the rocker outer longitudinal portion 46 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The ridgeline 46B is substantially continuous.

  The rear end portion in the vehicle front-rear direction of the partition wall portion 62A of the connecting portion 62 is indicated by spot welding (a dot is indicated by “x”) on the lower surface of the second wall 40C (upper wall portion in the vehicle vertical direction) of the rocker outer portion 40Y. ). A ridge line 62E, which is a connection portion between the partition wall portion 62A and the flange 62B in the connecting portion 62, extends in the vehicle front-rear direction and is formed on the inner edge side in the vehicle width direction of the upper wall portion 46A in the rocker outer longitudinal portion 46. The ridgeline 46C is substantially continuous.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the flange 62 </ b> B constituting the inner portion of the connecting portion 62 in the vehicle width direction is located above the polymerized portion 32 </ b> C of the front pillar inner panel 32 and the rocker inner front end portion 28 (the rocker inner panel 26). It is coupled to a coupling portion 36 with the flange 26A. The upper end height position of the flange 62B of the connecting portion 62 is aligned with the upper end height position of the upper flange 26A of the rocker inner front end portion 28.

  Thus, a closed cross section 38 is formed at the lower part of the front pillar 14 integrated with the rocker 24 by the front pillar inner panel 32, the front pillar outer part 40X, and the connecting part 62 of the hinge reinforcement 50 (A pillar). Lower rocker coupling structure).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the hinge reinforcement 50 includes a second extending portion 64 that extends from the lower end side of the rear wall 58 in the vehicle vertical direction. The second extending portion 64 includes a drooping portion 64A that hangs down substantially on the vehicle lower side, and a flange 64B that is bent from the lower end in the vehicle vertical direction of the drooping portion 64A toward the vehicle rear side. The flange 64B of the second extending portion 64 is overlapped with the intermediate portion in the vehicle front-rear direction in the partition wall portion 62A of the connecting portion 62 (in this embodiment, the substantially central portion in the vehicle front-rear direction) in a surface contact state and spot welded. (The dot is indicated by "x" mark).

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

  In the front pillar lower structure 30 shown in FIG. 1 configured as described above, the front pillar outer portion 40X disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the front pillar inner panel 32 and the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the rocker inner panel 26 are disposed. Since the rocker outer portion 40Y to be formed is integrally formed with the outer panel 40 as a single member, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembly process can be reduced.

  Here, a supplementary explanation will be given in comparison with the comparison structure. In order to increase the strength against the collision load, for example, in the front pillar lower structure 100 according to the comparison structure (comparative example with the embodiment of the present invention) shown in FIG. In addition to this, a front pillar outer reinforcement 102 and a rocker outer reinforcement 104 having a hat-shaped cross section opened inward in the vehicle width direction are provided, and a closed cross section 106 is formed by the rocker outer reinforcement 104 and the front pillar inner panel 32. Since it is formed (A-pillar / rocker split structure), the strength member disposed on the outer side becomes two members of the front pillar outer reinforcement 102 and the rocker outer reinforcement 104.

  On the other hand, in the front pillar lower structure 30 shown in FIG. 2, the outer panel 40 is provided instead of the two members in the comparison structure, and the parts are integrated, so the number of parts is reduced compared to the comparison structure. And weight reduction can be achieved. In addition, since the assembly process can be reduced, productivity is improved.

  The hinge reinforcement 50 disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the front pillar outer portion 40X is integrally formed with a connecting portion 62. The connecting portion 62 is connected to the polymerized portion 32C of the front pillar inner panel 32. The connecting portion 36 with the upper flange 26A of the rocker inner front end portion 28 and the outer wall 40A of the front pillar outer portion 40X are connected in a substantially vehicle width direction. For this reason, in the lower part of the front pillar 14, the front pillar inner panel 32, the front pillar outer part 40 </ b> X, and the hinge reinforcement can be provided without separately providing a member that connects the coupling part 36 and the outer wall 40 </ b> A in the vehicle width direction. 50 and a closed cross section 38 are formed, and the coupling rigidity between the front pillar inner panel 32 and the front pillar outer portion 40X is improved. Therefore, the strength of the lower part of the front pillar 14 against the collision load is increased.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, a collision load f directed toward the rear of the vehicle is input to the front end side portion at the lower end portion of the front pillar 14 via the tire 72. Since the closed section 38 (see FIG. 2) is formed, it is difficult to deform. In other words, due to the collision load f in the direction in which the rocker 24 is axially compressed, a load that is deformed in a convex shape in the out-of-plane direction (outside in the vehicle width direction) acts on the lower outer side of the front pillar 14. 2 is formed, the lower portion of the front pillar 14 is efficiently reinforced, so that the lower portion of the front pillar 14 is less likely to collapse. For this reason, compared with the contrast structure in which the closed cross section 38 is not formed, the fall of reaction force (load level) is suppressed (improvement of collision performance).

  This will be supplementarily explained in comparison with other contrast structures. In order to reduce the number of parts, for example, in the front pillar lower structure 110 according to the contrast structure (comparative example with the embodiment of the present invention) shown in FIG. The front pillar outer portion and the rocker outer portion are integrated by the outer panel 112, but the outer panel 112 does not include a portion corresponding to the upper side of the rocker outer reinforcement 104 (see FIG. 7) shown in the above-described contrast structure, Extends in the direction. In the contrast structure shown in FIG. 8, the front pillar lower part integrated with the rocker has an open section (open section) shape opened in the vertical direction of the vehicle, so that the front pillar against the collision load f (see FIG. 5). The strength of the lower portion is lower than that of the closed cross-sectional shape. Therefore, in this contrast structure, the cross-section is liable to collapse early at the time of a frontal collision compared to the case of a closed cross-sectional shape, and as a result, the rocker fully performs the functions at the time of collision (energy absorption function, load transmission function, etc.). There is a possibility that it will not be possible.

  On the other hand, in the front pillar lower structure 30 shown in FIG. 2, since the lower portion of the front pillar 14 is closed, the strength and rigidity of the lower portion of the front pillar 14 with respect to the collision load f (see FIG. 5) are reduced. It becomes higher than the contrast structure shown in FIG. As a result, the reaction force (load level) at the time of collision is increased as compared with the above-described comparison structure, and the rocker 24 can easily perform the function at the time of collision.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the front pillar lower structure 30 according to the present embodiment, the hinge reinforcement 50 has a first extending portion 60 that extends from the lower end side in the vehicle vertical direction on the front wall 56. A connecting portion 62 that is bent rearward and connects the front pillar inner panel 32 side and the front pillar outer portion 40X side in the substantially vehicle width direction is formed. For this reason, the closed section 38 formed in the lower part of the front pillar 14 can extend from the front end side in the vehicle front-rear direction of the hinge reinforcement 50 toward the vehicle rear side in accordance with the length of the first extending portion 60. In the present embodiment, the closed cross-section 38 extends over substantially the entire length in the vehicle front-rear direction at a portion serving as the lower portion of the front pillar 14 and the front end portion of the rocker 24, so that the front against the collision load f from the front side of the vehicle. Deformation of the lower part of the pillar 14 is effectively suppressed. Moreover, since the connection part 62 is shape | molded by a bending process (bending work), shaping | molding is easy compared with the case where a connection part is shape | molded by drawing etc., for example.

  In the front pillar lower structure 30 according to the present embodiment, the rear end portion of the partition portion 62A in the connecting portion 62 in the vehicle front-rear direction is coupled to the lower surface of the second wall 40C in the rocker outer portion 40Y. For this reason, while the joint rigidity of the connection part 62 and the outer panel 40 improves, for example, when the collision load f is input from the vehicle front side, the collision load f is transferred from the connection part 62 side of the hinge reinforcement 50 to the rocker outer part. Since it is efficiently transmitted to the 40Y side, deformation of the lower portion of the front pillar 14 is effectively suppressed.

  In the front pillar lower structure 30 according to the present embodiment, the hinge reinforcement 50 includes a second extending portion 64 that extends from the lower end side in the vehicle vertical direction of the rear wall 58, and the front pillar inner panel 32 side and the front side. The connecting portion 62 that connects the pillar outer portion 40X side is coupled to an intermediate portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction. For this reason, the rigidity of the connection part 62 with respect to the collision load f improves, and the rigidity of the lower part of the front pillar 14 improves further.

  Here, the operation of the front pillar lower structure 30 will be supplementarily described with reference to the graph (FS diagram) in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows an FS diagram when the automobile is brought into frontal collision with the barrier, that is, a graph showing the relationship between the load F and the stroke S.

  In FIG. 6, a two-dot chain line diagram shows an FS diagram of the contrast structure shown in FIG. 7, a dotted line diagram shows an FS diagram of the contrast structure shown in FIG. The solid line diagram shows an FS diagram of the front pillar lower structure 30 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, in the front pillar lower structure 30 according to this embodiment, the reaction force (load level) is improved.

  As described above, according to the front pillar lower structure 30 shown in FIG. 1 and the like according to this embodiment, the rigidity of the lower portion of the front pillar 14 with respect to the collision load f can be ensured without increasing the number of parts. .

(Supplementary explanation of the embodiment)
In the above embodiment, the connecting portion 62 of the hinge reinforcement 50 is formed by bending the first extending portion 60 extending from the lower end side in the vehicle vertical direction on the front wall 56 of the hinge reinforcement 50 to the vehicle rear side. Such a configuration is preferable from the viewpoint of formability, but the hinge reinforcement connecting portion may be configured, for example, by a bottomed rectangular tube portion or the like that is projected by drawing.

  The hinge reinforcement includes, for example, a rear wall extending inward in the vehicle width direction from the rear end in the vehicle longitudinal direction on the outer vertical wall, and is extended from the lower end side in the vehicle vertical direction on the rear wall. The part may be bent to the front side of the vehicle to form the connecting part, and the part extending from the lower end side in the vehicle vertical direction on the outer vertical wall is bent to the inner side in the vehicle width direction to form the connecting part. May be.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, the hinge extension 50 is couple | bonded with the intermediate part of the vehicle front-back direction in the connection part 62 in the 2nd extension part 64 extended from the lower end side of the vehicle up-down direction in the rear wall 58, Such a configuration is more preferable from the viewpoint of improving the rigidity of the connecting portion 62, but the hinge reinforcement has a portion extending from the lower end side in the vehicle vertical direction on the rear wall at the intermediate portion of the connecting portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The structure which is not couple | bonded may be sufficient.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the rear end portion of the partition portion 62A in the connecting portion 62 in the vehicle front-rear direction is coupled to the lower surface of the second wall 40C in the rocker outer portion 40Y. Such a configuration is more preferable, but the rear end portion of the connecting portion in the vehicle front-rear direction may not be coupled to the upper wall portion of the rocker outer portion in the vehicle vertical direction.

  In addition, in the concept of “connecting substantially in the vehicle width direction” in claim 1, the general surface of the connecting portion of the connecting portion is connected in a state where the surface including the vehicle width direction is arranged as the surface direction in the vehicle front view. In addition, according to the surface direction of the upper wall portion 46A in the rocker outer longitudinal portion 46 as in the above embodiment, the general surface of the connecting portion (partition wall portion 62A) of the connecting portion 62 is relative to the vehicle width direction in the vehicle front view. The case where it connects in the state arrange | positioned at a slight inclination is also included.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Car body 12 Car body side part 14 Front pillar 26 Rocker inner panel 30 Front pillar lower structure 32 Front pillar inner panel 36 Connection part 40 Outer panel 40A Outer side wall 40X Front pillar outer part 40Y Rocker outer part 50 Hinge reinforcement 54 Outer vertical wall 56 Front wall 58 Rear wall 62 connection

Claims (4)

A front pillar inner panel disposed on both sides of the front part of the passenger compartment with the vehicle vertical direction as a longitudinal direction;
A front-rear direction of the vehicle is disposed at the lower end of the vehicle body side, the cross-sectional hat shape is opened outward in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front of the vehicle, and the upper and lower flanges at the front end of the vehicle front-rear direction are the front pillars. A rocker inner panel joined from the inner side in the vehicle width direction to the lower part of the inner panel in the vehicle vertical direction;
A front pillar outer portion disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the front pillar inner panel and a rocker outer portion disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the rocker inner panel are integrally formed as a single member. An outer panel having a cross-sectional hat shape opened inward in the direction, and a flange at an inner end in the vehicle width direction coupled to the front pillar inner panel and the rocker inner panel;
A hinge reinforcement disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the front pillar outer portion of the outer panel, and for reinforcing a fixed portion of the door hinge in the front pillar outer portion;
A front pillar lower structure applied to a vehicle body having
The hinge reinforcement connects a connecting portion between the front pillar inner panel and the upper flange of the rocker inner panel, and an outer wall constituting an outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the front pillar outer portion in a substantially vehicle width direction. Front pillar lower structure with connecting part.   The hinge reinforcement includes an outer vertical wall disposed to face the outer wall of the front pillar outer portion, and a front wall extending inward in the vehicle width direction from a front end of the outer vertical wall in the vehicle front-rear direction. 2. The front pillar lower structure according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the front wall extending from the lower end side in the vehicle vertical direction is bent toward the vehicle rear side to form the connecting portion.   The hinge reinforce is provided with an outer vertical wall disposed to face the outer wall of the front pillar outer portion, and an inward extending in the vehicle width direction from a rear end of the outer vertical wall in the vehicle front-rear direction. 3. The front according to claim 1, wherein a portion extending from a lower end side in the vehicle up-down direction of the rear wall is coupled to an intermediate portion of the connecting portion in the vehicle front-rear direction. Pillar substructure.   The front pillar lower structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a rear end portion of the connecting portion in the vehicle front-rear direction is coupled to an upper wall portion of the rocker outer portion in the vehicle vertical direction.

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