JP2012224165A - Vehicle front structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle front structure that prevents a spring tower and a side member from being deformed.SOLUTION: A front side member 22, a reinforcing member 36 and a suspension arm 38 are fastened to each other with a bolt 40, a nut 48 and collars 50, 52. The reinforcing member 36 extends downward from a suspension tower 30 to a bottom wall 24C of the front side member 22 to be joined to the suspension tower 30, and an outer wall surface 24B and the bottom wall 24C of the front side member 22, thereby reinforcing the suspension tower 30 and two orthogonal wall surfaces of the front side member 22. Deformation of the suspension tower 30 and the front side member 22 can be effectively prevented without increasing the plate thickness of the suspension tower 30 or the front side member 22.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle body front structure.

  As a prior art, a front body structure of an automobile including a side member extending in the vehicle front-rear direction and an apron member extending in the vehicle front-rear direction above the side member is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-335619.

In the prior art, a rigid member is stretched between the front end of the apron member and the side member, but the rigid member does not suppress deformation of the spring tower.
When the vehicle corners, the pushing force by the suspension spring and the shock absorber acts on the suspension tower, and the pushing force acts on the side member side wall via the suspension tower, so that the suspension tower and the side member are deformed. There was room for improvement in suppressing both deformations.

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle body front structure that can suppress deformation of a spring tower and side members.

  The vehicle body front structure according to claim 1 includes a side member disposed along a vehicle longitudinal direction, an apron upper member disposed along the vehicle longitudinal direction above the side member, and the side member. A suspension tower coupled to the apron upper member, and disposed along the vertical direction of the suspension tower, and joined to the suspension tower and the apron upper member to form a closed cross section with at least the suspension tower. And a reinforcing member having a lower end portion wound around the lower surface of the side member and joined to the lower surface.

  In the vehicle body front structure according to claim 1, the reinforcing member is joined to the suspension tower and the apron upper member, and the reinforcing member and the suspension tower form a closed cross section, so the suspension tower is reinforced by the reinforcing member. And deformation of the suspension tower is suppressed.

  Furthermore, the reinforcing member joined to the suspension tower and the apron upper member is reinforced by the reinforcing member because the lower end of the reinforcing member is turned to the lower surface of the side member and joined to the lower surface of the side member. Side member cross-section collapse is suppressed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle body front portion structure according to the first aspect, a suspension member is attached to the lower end portion of the reinforcing member, and the reinforcing member is disposed between the side member and the suspension member. In the disposed state, the side member, the reinforcing member, and the suspension member are connected by a connecting member.

  In the vehicle body front structure according to claim 2, the suspension member is attached to the lower end portion of the reinforcing member, and the side member, the reinforcing member, and the suspension member are arranged with the reinforcing member disposed between the side member and the suspension member. Are connected by the connecting member, the rigidity of the attachment part of the suspension member of the side member is ensured, and deformation of the side member due to the input of lateral force from the suspension member during cornering is suppressed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle body front structure according to the second aspect, the connecting member includes a bolt that penetrates the side member, the reinforcing member, and the suspension member, and a nut that is screwed to the bolt. It is.

In the vehicle body front part structure according to the third aspect, the side member, the reinforcing member, and the suspension member are connected by bolts and nuts (jointly fastened).
Since the side member, the reinforcing member, and the suspension member are connected by bolts and nuts, disassembly is easy unlike welding.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle body front portion structure according to any one of the first to third aspects, another closed cross section connected to the cross section is formed by the reinforcing member and the side member. Has been.

  In the vehicle body front part structure according to claim 4, when another closed cross section connected to the closed cross section formed by the suspension tower and the reinforcing member is formed by the reinforcing member and the side member, the closed cross section is not used. Compared to the above, a higher reinforcing effect can be obtained for the side member.

  As described above, according to the vehicle body front structure according to the first aspect, the deformation of the spring tower and the side member can be suppressed with a simple configuration.

  According to the vehicle body front part structure of the second aspect, the deformation of the side member due to the lateral force during cornering can be suppressed.

  According to the vehicle body front part structure of the third aspect, the side member, the reinforcing member, and the suspension member can be easily disassembled.

  According to the vehicle body front structure according to the fourth aspect, the deformation of the side member can be further suppressed.

It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of one Embodiment of the vehicle front part structure of this invention. It is the side view seen from the vehicle outside of a vehicle front part structure. It is sectional drawing along the vehicle width direction of a suspension tower, a Freon and a side member, a reinforcement member, and a suspension member. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of the vehicle front portion structure shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of the vehicle front portion structure shown in FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing along the vehicle width direction of the suspension tower which concerns on other embodiment, a Freon and a side member, a reinforcement member, and a suspension member.

  Hereinafter, the vehicle to which the vehicle front structure according to the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. In the figure, the arrow FR indicates the vehicle body front direction, the arrow IN indicates the vehicle body outward direction, and the arrow UP indicates the vehicle body upward direction.

(Apron upper member)
As shown in FIG. 1, apron upper members 12 are arranged along the vehicle longitudinal direction at both upper ends in the vehicle width direction of the front body 10 of the vehicle body. The apron upper member 12 is an apron on the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The upper outer 14 and the apron upper inner 16 and the apron upper outer 18 and the apron upper inner 20 on the rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction form a rectangular closed cross-sectional structure.

  The apron upper outer 14 has a substantially L-shaped cross section. A flange 14A is formed from the outer end in the vehicle width direction toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and a flange 14B is formed from the inner end in the vehicle width direction toward the lower side of the vehicle body. Is formed.

  The flange 14A of the apron upper outer 14 on the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction is joined to the outer end portion of the upper wall 16A of the apron upper inner 16 in the vehicle width direction by spot welding or the like. On the other hand, the flange 14B of the apron upper outer 14 is joined to the side wall 16B of the apron upper inner 16 by spot welding or the like.

  A flange 18A of the apron upper outer 18 on the rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction is joined to an outer end portion of the upper wall 20A of the apron upper inner 20 in the vehicle width direction by spot welding or the like. On the other hand, the flange 18B of the apron upper outer 18 is joined to the side wall 20B of the apron upper inner 20 by spot welding or the like.

  Further, the upper wall 16A of the apron upper inner 16 and the upper wall 20A of the apron upper inner 20 are joined by spot welding or the like, and the side wall 16B of the apron upper inner 16 and the side wall 20B of the apron upper inner 20 are joined by spot welding or the like. Has been.

(Front side member)
A front side member 22 is disposed along the vehicle longitudinal direction below the apron upper member 12 in the vehicle width direction. The front side member 22 has a rectangular closed section structure by a front side member lower 24 and a front side member upper 26.
The cross-sectional shape of the front side member lower 24 is a substantially U shape with the opening directed upward in the vehicle body, and a flange 24A is formed along the vehicle body longitudinal direction at the inner end in the vehicle width direction.

  On the other hand, the front side member upper 26 has a flange 26 </ b> B formed at the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the upper wall surface 26 </ b> A that closes the opening portion of the front side member lower 24 toward the upper side of the vehicle body. The flange 26B is joined to the upper end portion of the outer wall surface 24B on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the front side member lower 24 by spot welding or the like.

(Wheel apron)
A wheel apron front 28 is integrally formed on the vehicle lower side of the apron upper inner 16 in the vehicle width direction inner end side.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wheel apron front 28 includes a side wall 28A on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, a horizontal wall portion 28B extending inward in the vehicle width direction from the lower end of the side wall 28A, and an inner side in the vehicle width direction of the horizontal wall portion 28B. A flange 28C extending from the end toward the lower side of the vehicle body and a spherical wheel arch portion front 28D formed at a corner portion between the side wall 28A and the horizontal wall portion 28B are provided.
The flange 28C of the wheel apron front 28 is joined to the upper end portion of the outer wall surface 24B on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the front side member lower 24 by spot welding or the like.

(Suspension tower)
As shown in FIG. 1, a suspension tower 30 is disposed on the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the wheel apron front 28.
The upper wall 30A of the suspension tower 30 is formed with an opening 32 and a bolt hole 34 used to attach the spring 54 and the shock absorber 56 shown in FIG.

The suspension tower 30 is formed with a flange 30B extending along the vehicle front-rear direction on the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the upper wall portion 30A, and formed with flanges 30C extending in the vertical direction on both sides in the vehicle width direction of the upper portion. A wheel arch center 30D formed in an arc shape along the wheel arch front 28D is formed on the side portion.
The flange 30B of the suspension tower 30 is joined to the side wall 16B of the apron upper inner 16 by spot welding or the like.

On the other hand, the flange 30C of the suspension tower 30 is joined to the side wall 20B of the apron upper inner 20 and the side wall 28A of the wheel apron front 28 by spot welding or the like.
The wheel arch portion center 30D of the suspension tower 30 has both ends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body disposed on the opposite side of the wheel apron front 28 across the wheel arch portion front 28D of the wheel apron front 28 and the suspension tower 30. It is joined to the rear wheel arch part rear by spot welding.
The lower end portion of the suspension tower 30 is joined to the outer wall surface 24B of the front side member lower 24 by spot welding or the like.

(Reinforcing member)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a reinforcing member 36 extending in the vehicle width direction is disposed below the wheel apron front 28 and the front side member 22.
The reinforcing member 36 includes a lower wall 36A, a side wall 36B extending upward from both ends in the vehicle front-rear direction of the lower wall 36A, and a flange 36C extending from the upper end of the side wall 36B to the opposite side of the lower wall 36A. Presents.

The flange 36C is joined to the lower surface of the wheel arch portion front 28D of the wheel apron front 28, the outer wall surface 24B of the front side member lower 24, and the lower wall 24C of the front side member lower 24 by spot welding or the like.
An end portion of a suspension arm 38 having a hollow structure is disposed below the lower portion of the reinforcing member 36 disposed below the front side member 22.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, holes 42, 42 through which bolts 40 to be described later for fixing the suspension arm are inserted are formed in the end portion of the suspension arm 38.
A hole 44 is formed in the reinforcing member 36 coaxially with the holes 42 and 42 of the suspension arm 38, and a hole 46 is formed in the lower wall 24 </ b> C of the front side member lower 24.

A tubular nut 48 is welded coaxially to the hole 46 on the upper surface of the lower wall 24C of the front side member lower 24.
A pipe-like collar 50 is arranged coaxially with the hole 44 inside the reinforcing member 36, and a pipe-like collar 52 is arranged coaxially with the holes 42, 42 inside the suspension arm 38.

  Bolts 40 are inserted through the holes 42 and 42 of the suspension arm 38 and the collar 52, the holes 44 and collar 50 of the reinforcing member 36, and the hole 46 of the front side member lower 24 from below the suspension arm 38 and screwed into the nut 48. Thus, the end portion of the suspension arm 38 is fixed to the connecting portion between the reinforcing member 36 and the front side member 22.

(Function)
Next, the operation of the vehicle front structure according to this embodiment will be described.
When the vehicle corners, the thrust force Fu from the suspension spring 54 and the shock absorber 56 acts on the suspension tower 30, and the thrust force Fu acts on the outer wall surface 24B of the front side member lower 24 via the suspension tower 30. At the same time, a force Fs directed inward in the vehicle width direction from the suspension arm 38 acts on the lower wall 24C of the front side member lower 24.

  These forces cause the cross section of the front side member 22 to collapse (deformation from the solid line state shown in FIG. 4B to the two-dot chain line state). In the vehicle body front structure of this embodiment, the front side member 22 The member 22, the reinforcing member 36, and the suspension arm 38 are configured to be fastened to each other by bolts 40 nuts 48 and collars 50, 52, and the reinforcing member 36 extends downward from the suspension tower 30 and extends to the lower wall 24C of the front side member 22. Is joined to the suspension tower 30 and the outer wall surface 24B and the lower wall 24C of the front side member 22 to reinforce the suspension tower 30 and the two wall surfaces of the front side member 22 perpendicular to each other. Deformation of suspension tower 30 and deformation of front side member 22 (cross-section collapsed) And effectively suppress it can without having to increase the thickness of the suspension tower 30 and the front side member 22.

[Other Embodiments]
In the above embodiment, the suspension arm 38 is fastened to the connecting portion between the front side member 22 and the reinforcing member 36. However, at least the suspension arm 38 may be connected to the front side member 22, and the suspension arm 38 The front side member 22 and the reinforcing member 36 can be connected to a portion other than the connecting portion.

  In the above embodiment, the end portion of the suspension arm 38 is disposed on the lower side of the reinforcing member 36, but the end portion of the suspension arm 38 may be inserted into the reinforcing member 36 as shown in FIG. . Thereby, the number of parts can be reduced, and the height of the connecting portion of the front side member 22, the reinforcing member 36, and the suspension arm 38 can be reduced.

  Although the suspension arm 38 in the above embodiment has a hollow structure, the suspension arm 38 may have a solid structure such as die casting.

  In the above-described embodiment, the suspension structure is a strut type. However, the suspension structure may be of a type other than the strut type, such as a double wishbone or a multilink.

  As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited above, In addition to the above, it is also possible to change the shape of each member within the range which does not deviate from the main point. Of course.

10 Front body (body front structure)
12 Apron upper member 22 Front side member (side member)
30 Suspension tower 36 Reinforcement member 40 Bolt (connection member)
48 Nut (connection member)

Claims (4)

A side member arranged along the vehicle longitudinal direction;
An apron upper member disposed along the vehicle front-rear direction above the side member in the vehicle;
A suspension tower coupled to the side member and the apron upper member;
The suspension tower is disposed along the vertical direction of the suspension tower, and is joined to the suspension tower and the apron upper member to form a closed cross section at least with the suspension tower, and the lower end portion is rotated to the lower surface of the side member. A reinforcing member which is inserted and joined to the lower surface;
A vehicle body front structure. A suspension member is attached to the lower end of the reinforcing member,
The vehicle body front portion according to claim 1, wherein the side member, the reinforcing member, and the suspension member are connected by a connecting member in a state in which the reinforcing member is disposed between the side member and the suspension member. Construction   The vehicle body front structure according to claim 2, wherein the connecting member is a bolt that penetrates the side member, the reinforcing member, and the suspension member, and a nut that is screwed to the bolt.   The vehicle body front part structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein another closed cross-section portion connected to the cross-section portion is formed by the reinforcing member and the side member.