JP2020044929A - Vehicular center pillar - Google Patents

Abstract

To achieve desired characteristics even when a fiber-reinforced resin structure is applied to a center pillar.SOLUTION: A vehicular center pillar includes a side face part positioned at the front and rear in the vehicle lengthwise direction of a fiber-reinforced resin structure with a hollow cylindrical shape in the longitudinal direction. The side face part is formed by overlapping at least two of first, second, third and fourth fiber-reinforced resin sheets different in the orientation direction of fiber. A part of a region of the side face part in the longitudinal direction includes a first region formed on the vehicle compartment side in the vehicle width direction, and a second region formed on the vehicle exterior side in the vehicle width direction. A proportion of the third and fourth fiber-reinforced resin sheets occupied in the second region is higher than that of the third and fourth fiber-reinforced resin sheets occupied in the first region. A lower region of the side face part in the vehicle height direction includes a deformed region formed so that a proportion of a length of the second region occupied in the overall length in the vehicle width direction is higher than that of a length of the second region occupied in the overall length in the vehicle width direction in an upper region of the side face part in the vehicle height direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle center pillar.

  The structure of a vehicle body such as a passenger car is provided with a center pillar connected to a side sill located at a lower portion of a vehicle body side portion and extending in a vertical direction. The structure of the conventional vehicle body side portion is made of steel such as a steel plate. The steel center pillar has an outer panel located outside the vehicle body and an inner panel located inside the vehicle body, and the outer panel and the inner panel are joined to each other. Further, in order to increase the strength of the center pillar, for example, a steel-made reinforcement is provided between the outer panel and the inner panel.

  On the other hand, in recent years, for the purpose of reducing the weight of a vehicle body, it has been studied to configure a structural material such as a center pillar using a fiber-reinforced resin containing a reinforcing fiber such as a carbon fiber (for example, Patent Document 1). See.). The member made of fiber reinforced resin has relatively high rigidity, and exhibits high strength particularly against a compressive stress or a tensile stress acting in the direction of fiber orientation. For this reason, the member made of the fiber reinforced resin can obtain desired characteristics according to the orientation direction of the fiber.

JP 2013-193637 A

  Here, in order to protect the occupant in the event of a side collision of the vehicle, it is effective to make the upper part of the center pillar corresponding to the occupant's head difficult to deform. On the other hand, in order to absorb the collision energy, it is effective to easily deform the lower part of the center pillar corresponding to the position of the bumper of a passenger car or the like. Conventionally, the strength of the center pillar has been partially varied by, for example, stacking a plurality of steel reinforcements as necessary. However, when a plurality of steel reinforcements are stacked, the number of parts increases, and the vehicle may be heavy.

  In order to reduce the weight of the vehicle, it is conceivable to form the reinforcement or the center pillar body as a structure made of fiber reinforced resin. Even in the case of using a fiber-reinforced resin reinforcement or center pillar body, as in the case of using a steel reinforcement, the lower part of the center pillar is easily deformed, and the upper part is hardly deformed, It is necessary to protect passengers.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to exhibit desired characteristics even when a fiber-reinforced resin structure is applied to a center pillar. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle center pillar capable of performing the following.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to an aspect of the present invention, in a vehicle center pillar including a fiber-reinforced resin structure having a hollow cylindrical shape in a longitudinal direction, in a vehicle length direction of the fiber-reinforced resin structure, The side portions located on the front side and the rear side are the first fiber reinforced resin sheet in which the orientation direction of the fiber is 0 ° with respect to the longitudinal direction, the direction in which the orientation direction of the fiber is 90 ° with respect to the longitudinal direction. The second fiber-reinforced resin sheet, the third fiber-reinforced resin sheet in which the orientation direction of the fiber is 45 ° to the longitudinal direction, and the orientation direction of the fiber is −45 ° to the longitudinal direction. At least two or more of a certain fourth fiber reinforced resin sheet are formed by being overlapped, and at least a part of a side portion in a longitudinal direction is a first region formed on a vehicle side in a vehicle width direction. , Formed on the outside of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction And the proportion of the third fiber-reinforced resin sheet and the fourth fiber-reinforced resin sheet in the second area is equal to the proportion of the third fiber-reinforced resin sheet and the fourth fiber sheet in the first area. The ratio of the length of the second region to the entire length in the vehicle width direction is higher than the ratio of the fiber-reinforced resin sheet in the lower region of the side portion in the vehicle height direction. There is provided a vehicle center pillar including a deformation region that is higher than a ratio of the length of the second region to the entire length in the vehicle width direction.

  The ratio of the length of the second region to the entire length in the vehicle width direction may gradually increase from the upper region to the lower region.

  Near the boundary between the first region and the second region, an overlap portion may be formed in which the component on the first region side and the component on the second region side of the fiber-reinforced resin structure overlap.

  The overlap portion may be formed by alternately overlapping a plurality of fiber-reinforced resin sheets constituting the first region and a plurality of fiber-reinforced resin sheets constituting the second region.

  The fiber reinforced resin structure may include a cover layer laminated on the side surface over the first region and the second region.

  The cover layer may be formed over at least one of the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the side portion, the inner portion located on the vehicle compartment side in the vehicle width direction, and the outer portion located on the vehicle outer side in the vehicle width direction. .

  The fiber reinforced resin structure may be a center pillar body.

  The fiber reinforced resin structure may be reinforcement.

  As described above, according to the present invention, desired characteristics can be exhibited even when the fiber reinforced resin structure is applied to the center pillar.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a vehicle body side structure including a center pillar according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic diagram which looked at the center pillar which concerns on the embodiment in the X-axis direction of the vehicle body. It is sectional drawing of the fiber reinforced resin structure in the center pillar which concerns on the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the laminated structure of the fiber reinforced resin structure in the center pillar which concerns on the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the side structure of the fiber reinforced resin structure in the center pillar which concerns on the embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the vicinity of the boundary of a 1st area | region and a 2nd area | region. It is sectional drawing which shows the vicinity of the boundary of a 1st area | region and a 2nd area | region. It is sectional drawing which shows the vicinity of the boundary of a 1st area | region and a 2nd area | region. It is sectional drawing which shows the vicinity of the boundary of a 1st area | region and a 2nd area | region. It is sectional drawing which shows the cover layer of the fiber reinforced resin structure in the center pillar which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows a mode of a fiber reinforced resin structure at the time of a side collision. It is a schematic diagram which shows a mode of a fiber reinforced resin structure at the time of a side collision. It is a sectional view showing an example of composition of a fiber reinforced resin structure in a center pillar concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. Further, in this specification and the drawings, a plurality of components having substantially the same function and configuration may be distinguished from each other by adding different alphabets after the same reference numeral.

<1. First Embodiment>
The center pillar according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[1-1. Center pillar overall configuration]
The overall configuration of the center pillar 3 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle body side structure 1 having a center pillar 3. The vehicle body side structure 1 shown in FIG. 1 schematically shows a part of the structure on the left side of the front of the passenger car. As shown in FIG. 1, in this specification, the front-rear direction (vehicle length direction) of the vehicle is also referred to as a vehicle body X-axis direction, the vehicle width direction is also referred to as a vehicle body Y-axis direction, and the vehicle height direction is referred to as a vehicle body Z-axis direction. Also called axial direction. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the center pillar 3 viewed from the front side of the vehicle along the body X-axis direction.

  The vehicle body side structure 1 includes a roof pillar 5, a rear pillar 4, a front pillar 2, a center pillar 3, a side sill 6, and the like. The roof pillar 5 extends in the vehicle body X-axis direction above the cabin space of the vehicle, and forms a side portion of the roof of the vehicle. The side sill 6 extends below the side of the vehicle along the body X-axis direction.

  The front pillar 2 has a lower end connected to the front end of the side sill 6 and an upper end connected to the front end of the roof pillar 5. The front pillar 2 forms a front part constituting a cabin space of the vehicle, and is arranged to support a side of the windshield. The rear pillar 4 has a lower end connected to the rear end of the side sill 6 and an upper end connected to the rear end of the roof pillar 5. The center pillar 3 has a lower end connected to a center portion of the side sill 6 in the vehicle body X-axis direction and an upper end connected to a center portion of the roof pillar 5 in the vehicle body X-axis direction.

  An opening for a front door is formed between the side sill 6, the roof pillar 5, the front pillar 2, and the center pillar 3. An opening for a rear door is formed between the side sill 6, the roof pillar 5, the rear pillar 4, and the center pillar 3. A front door (not shown) is attached to the front pillar 2 by, for example, a hinge member. A rear door (not shown) is attached to the center pillar 3 by, for example, a hinge member.

  In the vehicle body side structure 1, the center pillar 3 has a longitudinal direction along the vertical direction of the vehicle and is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape. The center pillar 3 has a roof pillar connection portion 16 provided at an upper end, a side sill connection portion 14 provided at a lower end, and a center pillar body portion 12 located between the roof pillar connection portion 16 and the side sill connection portion 14. . The center pillar body 12 has a hollow cylindrical shape in the longitudinal direction along the vehicle body Z-axis direction, and the roof pillar connection portion 16 and the side sill connection portion 14 are both hollow cylindrical shapes in the longitudinal direction along the vehicle body X-axis direction. Having. The center pillar main body 12 has a function of absorbing collision energy while protecting the occupant during a side collision of the vehicle.

  In the present embodiment, the center pillar body 12, the roof pillar connection 16 and the side sill connection 14 are formed using a fiber reinforced resin obtained by impregnating a reinforcing fiber such as a carbon fiber with a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin. This is a structure made of a multi-layer composite material. The center pillar 3 made of fiber reinforced resin can realize high strength and light weight. The center pillar body 12, the roof pillar connection 16 and the side sill connection 14 may be formed integrally, or may be formed as separate members. When formed as separate members, the members are joined to each other by, for example, an adhesive.

  In the center pillar 3 according to the present embodiment, at least the center pillar body 12 may be a structure made of fiber reinforced resin, and at least one of the roof pillar connection portion 16 or the side sill connection portion 14 is made of steel or the like. You may. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, an example in which the entire center pillar 3 is made of a fiber reinforced resin will be described.

  The center pillar 3 may be, for example, a molded body obtained by laminating fiber-reinforced resin sheets containing continuous fibers. The fiber reinforced resin sheet containing continuous fibers is formed by impregnating continuous fibers with a matrix resin. Examples of continuous fibers that can be used include carbon fibers, but other fibers may be used, and furthermore, a plurality of fibers may be used in combination. However, since carbon fibers have excellent mechanical properties, it is preferable that the reinforcing fibers include carbon fibers.

  As the matrix resin of the fiber-reinforced resin, a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin is used. As the thermoplastic resin, for example, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, ABS resin (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer synthetic resin), polystyrene resin, AS resin (acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer synthetic resin), polyamide resin , A polyacetal resin, a polycarbonate resin, a polyester resin, a PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) resin, a fluororesin, a polyetherimide resin, a polyetherketone resin, and a polyimide resin.

  One or a mixture of two or more of these thermoplastic resins can be used as the matrix resin. Alternatively, the matrix resin may be a copolymer of these thermoplastic resins. When the thermoplastic resin is a mixture, a compatibilizer may be further used in combination. Furthermore, a bromine-based flame retardant, a silicon-based flame retardant, red phosphorus, or the like may be added to the thermoplastic resin as a flame retardant.

  When molding the center pillar 3 using a fiber reinforced resin sheet made of a thermoplastic resin and continuous fibers, for example, a press molding method may be employed. When the center pillar 3 is press-formed, for example, after laminating a plurality of fiber-reinforced resin sheets to form a prepreg having a predetermined thickness, the prepreg is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the thermoplastic resin and put into a molding die. Then, the prepreg is cooled to a temperature lower than the melting point of the thermoplastic resin to form a plurality of components. The center pillars 3 are formed by joining the obtained components together. In addition, the molding method of the center pillar 3 when using a thermoplastic resin is not limited to the press molding method.

  Examples of the thermosetting resin include an epoxy resin, an unsaturated polyester resin, a vinyl ester resin, a phenol resin, a polyurethane resin, and a silicone resin. One or a mixture of two or more of these thermosetting resins can be used as the matrix resin. When these thermosetting resins are used, an appropriate curing agent or reaction accelerator may be added to the thermosetting resin.

  When the center pillar 3 is formed using a fiber-reinforced resin sheet made of a thermosetting resin and continuous fibers, for example, an autoclave molding method may be employed. When autoclaving the center pillar 3, for example, after laminating a plurality of fiber-reinforced resin sheets to form a prepreg having a predetermined thickness, the prepreg is placed on a molding die and bagged, and then, in an autoclave device, A plurality of components are formed by heating and curing the prepreg while keeping the inside of the bag in a vacuum state. The center pillars 3 are formed by joining the obtained components together. The method of forming the center pillar 3 when using a thermosetting resin is not limited to the autoclave molding method.

[1-2. Center pillar body]
The center pillar body 12 of the center pillar 3 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the center pillar body 12. The cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 3 is a view of the II cross section shown by the dashed line in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the center pillar body 12 includes an inner part 20 located on the vehicle interior side in the vehicle width direction (the body Y-axis direction), an outer part 30 located on the vehicle outer side in the vehicle width direction, and a vehicle. It has a side surface portion 40a located on the front side in the longitudinal direction (the body X-axis direction) and a side surface portion 40b located on the rear side in the vehicle length direction. The inner part 20, the outer part 30, and the side parts 40a, 40b are integrally formed. The inner part 20, the outer part 30, and the side parts 40a and 40b form a hollow cylindrical closed space.

  The center pillar body 12 has a laminated structure in which a plurality of fiber reinforced resin sheets are laminated. More specifically, the inner part 20, the outer part 30, and the side parts 40a and 40b of the center pillar main body part 12 are formed by laminating a plurality of fiber reinforced resin sheets having different fiber orientation directions.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the side portions 40 a and 40 b are formed of a first fiber-reinforced resin sheet (first layer 51) in which the orientation direction of the fibers is 0 ° with respect to the longitudinal direction of the center pillar body 12. , 90 ° second fiber-reinforced resin sheet (second layer 53), 45 ° third fiber-reinforced resin sheet (third layer 55), and -45 ° fourth fiber reinforcement At least two or more of the resin sheets (fourth layer 57) are laminated and formed. FIG. 4 shows a four-layer fiber reinforced resin sheet, and each fiber reinforced resin sheet is laminated in an appropriate number. Further, in FIG. 4, the first layer 51, the second layer 53, the third layer 55, and the fourth layer 57 are sequentially stacked from above, but the order in which they are stacked is not particularly limited.

  Among them, the combination of the fiber reinforced resin sheet (first layer 51) in which the fiber orientation direction is 0 ° and the fiber reinforced resin sheet (second layer 53) in which the fiber orientation direction is 90 ° has high compressive strength and tensile strength at the time of side collision. And it is difficult to deform. On the other hand, the combination of the fiber reinforced resin sheet (third layer 55) in which the orientation direction of the fiber is 45 ° and the fiber reinforced resin sheet (fourth layer 57) in which the fiber orientation direction is −45 ° is 0 °, 90 ° Deforms more easily than fiber-reinforced resin sheet combinations and absorbs collision energy.

  The side surfaces 40a and 40b of the center pillar body 12 exhibit high compressive strength and tensile strength at the time of a side collision, and are more easily deformed than the first region A and the first region A, which are hardly deformed. And a second region B for absorbing collision energy. The first region A is a region where the first layer 51 and the second layer 53 are relatively large, and the second region B is where the third layer 55 and the fourth layer 57 are relatively large. Area. More specifically, the ratio of the first layer 51 and the second layer 53 occupying the first region A is higher than the ratio of the first layer 51 and the second layer 53 occupying the second region B. The ratio of the third layer 55 and the fourth layer 57 occupying the second region B is higher than the ratio of the third layer 55 and the fourth layer 57 occupying the first region A. .

  For example, when each fiber reinforced resin sheet has the same thickness and the number of laminations of the first region A and the second region B is the same, the third layer 55 and the fourth layer in the second region B By making the total number of the layers 57 larger than the total number of the third layers 55 and the fourth layers 57 in the first area A, the third layers 55 and the fourth layers occupying the second area B are provided. The proportion of the layer 57 can be higher than the proportion of the third layer 55 and the fourth layer 57 in the first region A.

  Alternatively, when the thicknesses of the fiber-reinforced resin sheets are different and the thicknesses of the first region A and the second region B in the laminating direction are the same, the third layer 55 and the second By making the sum of the thickness of the fourth layer 57 larger than the sum of the thicknesses of the third layer 55 and the fourth layer 57 in the first region A, the third region occupying the second region B is obtained. The ratio of the layer 55 and the fourth layer 57 can be higher than the ratio of the third layer 55 and the fourth layer 57 occupying the first region A.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the side surface portion 40a of the center pillar main body 12 as viewed from the front side in the vehicle length direction. The left side in the drawing shows the vehicle compartment side in the vehicle width direction, and the right side shows the vehicle exterior side in the vehicle width direction. The upper side in the figure indicates the upper side in the vehicle height direction (corresponding to the longitudinal direction), and the lower side indicates the lower side in the vehicle height direction. In the following description, the side surface portion 40a will be described as an example, but the configuration and effect of the side surface portion 40b are the same.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the side surface portion 40a of the center pillar body 12 has a first region A formed on the vehicle interior side in the vehicle width direction and a second region formed on the vehicle outer side in the vehicle width direction. B. The region having both the first region A and the second region B in the vehicle width direction may be provided over the entire longitudinal direction of the side surface portion 40a, and may be provided only in a part of the longitudinal direction. Is also good. Due to the first region A formed on the vehicle cabin side, the vehicle cabin side of the side surface portion 40a is not easily deformed, so that a passenger can be protected in the event of a side collision. On the other hand, due to the second region B formed on the outside of the vehicle, the outside of the side surface portion 40a is easily deformed, and the input collision energy can be absorbed.

  A deformation region D that is easily deformed and absorbs collision energy is provided in a lower region of the side surface portion 40a in the vehicle height direction. The deformation region D is a region where the ratio of the length of the second region B to the entire length in the vehicle width direction is relatively high. More specifically, in the deformation region D, the ratio of the length of the second region B to the entire length in the vehicle width direction is the second ratio to the entire length in the vehicle width direction of the upper region in the vehicle height direction. Is higher than the length ratio of the region B. For example, in the deformation area D, the length of the second area B in the vehicle width direction is longer than half of the entire length in the vehicle width direction, and other than the deformation area D, the length of the second area B in the vehicle width direction is different. The length may be shorter than half the entire length in the vehicle width direction.

  The deformation area D is arranged so as to include a position corresponding to a side collision assumed part corresponding to the height of a bumper of a passenger car. Thereby, at the time of a side collision, the lower region of the center pillar body 12 where the deformation region D is provided is easily deformed, and can absorb the input collision energy. On the other hand, the upper region of the center pillar main body 12 where the deformation region D does not exist is less likely to be deformed, and the head of the occupant can be protected during a side collision.

  When the composition ratio of the first layer 51, the second layer 53, the third layer 55, and the fourth layer 57 is different, the upper region and the lower region of the side surface portion 40a are clearly separated. Since the strength rapidly changes at the boundary, the center pillar body 12 may be easily broken at the time of a side collision. Therefore, the ratio of the length of the second region to the entire length in the vehicle width direction from the upper region to the lower region may be gradually increased. Similarly, the ratio of the length of the second region to the entire length in the vehicle width direction at the boundary between the deformation region D and the other region may be gradually increased or decreased.

  When the cylindrical center pillar body 12 is formed by a braiding method, the orientation direction of the fibers can be adjusted relatively freely. When such a braiding method is used, the ratio of the orientation direction of the fibers can be made different without clearly distinguishing the upper region and the lower region, or the deformed region D and the other region.

  When the composition ratio of the first layer 51, the second layer 53, the third layer 55, and the fourth layer 57 is different, the first region A and the second region B are clearly separated. In such a case, since the strength changes abruptly at the boundary, the center pillar body 12 may be easily broken at the time of a side collision. For this reason, near the boundary between the first area A and the second area B, the component on the first area A side and the component on the second area B side may overlap.

  6, 7, 8A, and 8B show cross sections of the center pillar main body 12 near the boundary between the first region A and the second region B. FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the layer on the first region A side and the layer on the second region B side overlap each other near the boundary between the first region A and the second region B. . For example, when the center pillar body 12 is formed, the layers on the first region A side and the layers on the second region B side overlap each other by laminating the fiber reinforced resin sheets while alternately overlapping the ends. Can be wrapped.

  Further, in the example shown in FIG. 7, near the boundary between the first area A and the second area B, the end on the first area A side and the end on the second area B side overlap. doing. For example, when manufacturing the center pillar body 12, after forming the member on the first region A side and the member on the second region B side, the ends are overlapped and joined by an adhesive or the like. Thus, the end on the first area A side and the end on the second area B side can be overlapped.

  In the example shown in FIG. 8A, near the boundary between the first region A and the second region B, the layer on the first region A side and the layer on the second region B side are positioned at the same position. Overlapping. For example, at the time of molding the center pillar body portion 12, by stacking the fiber reinforced resin sheets while alternately overlapping the end portions at the same position, the layer on the first region A side and the layer on the second region B side Can overlap each other.

  When the thickness of the fiber reinforced resin sheet is large, a relatively large gap S is formed around the end of the layer on the first region A side and the end of the layer on the second region B side as shown in FIG. 8B. May be done. On the other hand, when the thickness of the fiber reinforced resin sheet is small, as shown in FIG. 8A, the gap S formed around the end of the layer on the first region A side and the end of the layer on the second region B side Can be reduced. By reducing the gap S, the risk that the fiber reinforced resin sheet will peel off can be reduced. Therefore, it is preferable that the thickness of the fiber reinforced resin sheet is thin. The thickness of the fiber reinforced resin sheet can be, for example, a value within a range of 0.03 to 1 mm.

  As described above, the component on the first area A side and the component on the second area B side overlap near the boundary between the first area A and the second area B, At the time of a side collision, the possibility that the center pillar body 12 is broken near the boundary can be reduced.

  Even when the first area A and the second area B are not clearly divided, the intensity changes at the boundary portion, so that the first area A and the second area B can be separated from each other at the time of the side collision. May be torn, and the center pillar body 12 may not exhibit desired characteristics. Therefore, a cover layer may be provided on at least one of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the center pillar main body 12 over the first region A and the second region B.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a cover layer provided on the center pillar body 12. FIG. 9 is a diagram corresponding to a cross-sectional view of the center pillar body 12 shown in FIG. In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the center pillar main body 12 includes cover layers 70 and 72 that are stacked over the first region A and the second region B of the side surface portions 40a and 40b. The cover layer 70 is a layer laminated on the outer peripheral surface side of the center pillar main body 12, and the cover layer 72 is a layer laminated on the inner peripheral surface side of the center pillar main body 12. The cover layers 70 and 72 are formed, for example, from one or more fiber reinforced resin sheets.

  The cover layer 70 enhances rigidity against a tensile force or a compressive force generated at the boundary between the first region A and the second region B on the outer peripheral surface side of the center pillar main body 12. The cover layer 72 enhances rigidity against a tensile force or a compressive force generated at the boundary between the first region A and the second region B on the inner peripheral surface side of the center pillar main body 12. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the first region A and the second region B are torn at the time of the side collision, and the center pillar main body 12 cannot exhibit desired characteristics.

  Further, the cover layer 70 may be formed over the entire outer peripheral surfaces of the inner portion 20, the outer portion 30, and the side portions 40a, 40b of the center pillar main body portion 12. The cover layer 72 may be formed over the entire inner peripheral surface of the inner portion 20, the outer portion 30, and the side surfaces 40a, 40b of the center pillar body 12. Thereby, at the time of a side collision, the first region A and the second region B are torn, and the possibility that the center pillar body 12 cannot exhibit desired characteristics can be further reduced.

  Next, the operation of the center pillar body 12 during a side collision will be described. FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are schematic diagrams illustrating a state of the side surface 40a of the center pillar main body 12 at the time of a side collision. FIG. 10A shows a state of the side surface portion 40a immediately before the other vehicle collides with the side surface of the vehicle, and FIG. 10B shows a state of the side surface portion 40a after the other vehicle collides with the side surface of the vehicle.

  When another passenger vehicle (another vehicle) collides with the side surface of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 10A, the bumper 60 of the other vehicle comes into contact with a deformation region D provided in a lower region of the side surface portion 40a. The contact position of the bumper 60 is, for example, an area whose height from the road surface is in a range of 300 to 600 mm. In the center pillar body 12 of the center pillar 3 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10B, when the bumper 60 of another vehicle collides with the deformation area D, the lower area of the center pillar body 12 where the deformation area D is provided. Are easily deformed, and the energy input by the collision is absorbed. On the other hand, the upper region of the center pillar body 12 where the deformation region D is not provided is less likely to deform, and the head of the occupant is protected.

  As described above, even when the fiber reinforced resin structure is used as the center pillar main body 12, the center pillar 3 according to the present embodiment has the same structure as the case where the steel-made reinforcement is used. The passenger can be protected by making the lower part of 12 easily deformable and making the upper part hard to deform.

<2. Second Embodiment>
Subsequently, a center pillar according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the configuration of the center pillar according to the present embodiment. The cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 11 is a view of the II cross-section shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, the center pillar body 112 of the center pillar according to the present embodiment includes an inner panel 182 disposed on the vehicle interior side, an outer panel 184 disposed on the vehicle exterior side, and the inner panel 182 and the outer panel 184. And a reinforcement 180 disposed inside the closed space formed by the above. The reinforcement 180 has a function of absorbing collision energy while protecting the occupant during a side collision of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the reinforcement 180 corresponds to a fiber-reinforced resin structure.

  In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the inner panel 182 in the direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the center pillar main body 112 has a substantially U-shaped open cross-sectional shape opened to the outer panel 184 side. The cross-sectional shape of the outer panel 184 in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the center pillar main body 112 has a substantially U-shaped open cross-sectional shape opened to the inner panel 182 side. Both ends of the inner panel 182 and the outer panel 184 in the vehicle length direction are joined to each other by, for example, an adhesive. Thereby, a closed space is formed between the inner panel 182 and the outer panel 184. The reinforcement 180 is disposed inside the closed space, and is joined to at least a part of the inner panel 182 or the outer panel 184.

  However, the cross-sectional shapes of the inner panel 182 and the outer panel 184 are not limited to the above examples. The inner panel 182 and the outer panel 184 may form the center pillar main body 112 together with the reinforcement 180. Alternatively, the center panel body 112 may be formed by integrating the inner panel 182 and the outer panel 184 into a cylindrical shape, and joining the reinforcement 180 to the inside of the cylindrical shape.

  The inner panel 182 and the outer panel 184 are a multi-layer composite material formed using a fiber reinforced resin in which a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin is impregnated into a reinforcing fiber such as a carbon fiber, and have high strength and It is possible to reduce the weight. However, the material of the inner panel 182 and the outer panel 184 is not limited to the above example. For example, the inner panel 182 and the outer panel 184 made of steel may be joined to each other by welding.

  The reinforcement 180 has a configuration similar to that of the center pillar body 12 in the first embodiment. The inner portion 120, the outer portion 130, and the side portions 140a, 140b of the reinforcement 180 correspond to the inner portion 20, the outer portion 30, and the side portions 40a, 40b of the center pillar body 12, respectively. Therefore, at the time of the side collision, the lower region of the reinforcement 180 is easily deformed, and the input collision energy can be absorbed. On the other hand, the upper region of the reinforcement 180 is less likely to be deformed, and can protect the occupant's head during a side collision.

  As described above, even when the fiber reinforced resin structure is used as the reinforcement 180, the center pillar 3 according to the present embodiment has the same structure as the case where the steel reinforcement is used. By making the lower part easy to deform and making the upper part hard to deform, the occupant can be protected.

<3. Summary>
As described above, the center pillar 3 according to the present embodiment includes the fiber-reinforced resin structure having a hollow cylindrical shape in the longitudinal direction. The side portion of such a fiber-reinforced resin structure has a first layer 51 in which the orientation direction of the fiber is 0 ° with respect to the longitudinal direction, and a first layer 51 in which the orientation direction of the fiber is 90 ° with respect to the longitudinal direction. A second layer 53, a third layer 55 in which the orientation direction of the fiber is at 45 ° to the longitudinal direction, and a fourth layer 57 in which the orientation direction of the fiber is at -45 ° to the longitudinal direction. At least two or more are overlapped and formed. Further, at least a part of the side surface portion in the longitudinal direction includes a first region A formed on the vehicle interior side in the vehicle width direction and a second region B formed on the vehicle exterior side in the vehicle width direction. Have. The ratio of the third layer 55 and the fourth layer 57 occupying the second region B is higher than the ratio of the third layer 55 and the fourth layer 57 occupying the first region A. The ratio of the length of the second region B to the entire length in the vehicle width direction in the lower region in the vehicle height direction of the side surface portion is the length in the vehicle width direction in the upper region of the side surface portion in the vehicle height direction. It has a deformation region D higher than the ratio of the length of the second region B to the whole.

  Thereby, at the time of a side collision, the upper region of the fiber-reinforced resin structure where the deformation region D is not provided is less likely to deform, and the head of the occupant is protected. On the other hand, the lower region of the fiber reinforced resin structure in which the deformation region D is provided is easily deformed, and energy input by collision is absorbed.

  Further, the fiber reinforced resin structure in the center pillar 3 according to the present embodiment does not include a plurality of components, but the orientation of the fibers in the fiber reinforced resin constituting the integrally formed fiber reinforced resin structure. The first region A and the second region B have different characteristics by changing the ratio of the directions. Therefore, the center pillar 3 can be manufactured relatively easily, and the vehicle can be further reduced in weight.

  As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is obvious that those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can conceive various changes or modifications within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims. It is understood that these also belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Further, a mode in which the above-described embodiment and each modified example are combined with each other naturally belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the first region A in which the ratio of the third layer 55 and the fourth layer 57 is relatively low, the composition ratio of each layer may be the same or different over the whole. In the first region A, a portion where the ratio of the third layer 55 and the fourth layer 57 is relatively high may be partially included. Similarly, in the second region B in which the ratio of the third layer 55 and the fourth layer 57 is relatively high, the composition ratio of each layer may be the same or different over the whole. In the second region B, a portion where the ratio of the third layer 55 and the fourth layer 57 is relatively low may be partially included.

3 Center pillar 12, 112 Center pillar main body 20, 120 Inner part 30, 130 Outer parts 40a, 40b, 140a, 140b Side part 51 First layer 53 Second layer 55 Third layer 57 Fourth layer 70 , 72 cover layer 180 reinforcement 182 inner panel 184 outer panel A first area B second area D deformation area S void

Claims (8)

In a vehicle center pillar having a fiber-reinforced resin structure having a hollow cylindrical shape in the longitudinal direction,
Side portions located on the front side and the rear side in the vehicle length direction of the fiber reinforced resin structure,
A first fiber-reinforced resin sheet in which the orientation direction of the fibers is 0 ° to the longitudinal direction, a second fiber-reinforced resin sheet in which the orientation direction of the fibers is 90 ° to the longitudinal direction, A third fiber reinforced resin sheet in which the orientation direction of the fibers is at 45 ° to the longitudinal direction and a fourth fiber reinforced resin sheet in which the orientation direction of the fibers is at -45 ° to the longitudinal direction At least two or more of are superimposed and formed;
At least a part of the side portion in the longitudinal direction is
A first region formed on the vehicle cabin side in the vehicle width direction;
A second region formed outside the vehicle in the vehicle width direction,
The ratio of the third fiber reinforced resin sheet and the fourth fiber reinforced resin sheet occupying the second region is determined by the ratio of the third fiber reinforced resin sheet and the fourth fiber reinforced resin occupied in the first region. Higher than the percentage of resin sheet,
In the lower region of the side portion in the vehicle height direction, the ratio of the length of the second region to the entire length in the vehicle width direction is equal to the vehicle width direction in the upper region of the side portion in the vehicle height direction. A deformation region higher than a ratio of the length of the second region to the entire length of the second region,
Center pillar for vehicles.   2. The vehicle center pillar according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of the length of the second region to the entire length in the vehicle width direction gradually increases from the upper region to the lower region. 3.   Near the boundary between the first region and the second region, an overlap portion is formed in which the component on the first region side and the component on the second region side of the fiber-reinforced resin structure overlap. The vehicle center pillar according to claim 1, wherein:   The said overlap part is formed by the several said fiber-reinforced resin sheet which comprises the said 1st area | region, and the some said fiber-reinforced resin sheet which comprises a said 2nd area | region alternately overlaps. The center pillar for vehicles according to 1.   The vehicle center according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fiber reinforced resin structure includes a cover layer laminated on the side surface portion over the first region and the second region. Pillar.   The cover layer covers at least one of the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the side portion, the inner portion located on the vehicle compartment side in the vehicle width direction, and the outer portion located on the vehicle outer side in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle center pillar according to claim 5, wherein the vehicle center pillar is formed by:   The vehicle center pillar according to claim 1, wherein the fiber reinforced resin structure is a center pillar body. The vehicle center pillar according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the fiber reinforced resin structure is reinforcement.

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