JP2021195079A - Vehicle body structure - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicle body structure that includes a chassis having a predetermined rigidity and a cabin made of CFRP and that is simply configured to improve a plurality of functional characteristics expected to a front pillar.SOLUTION: In a vehicle body structure including a chassis having a predetermined rigidity to a collision and a cabin mounted and fixed on the chassis, including at least a pillar, and made of carbon fiber-reinforced resin, the pillar is provided at a lower portion with a reinforcement material 60 made of metal. When a vehicle length direction, a vehicle width direction, and a vehicle height direction are defined as X, Y, and Z directions, the reinforcement material includes a first XZ surface located on a vehicle body inner side, a second XZ surface located on a vehicle body outer side, a first YZ surface located on a vehicle body front side, and a XY surface forming a bottom surface. The second XZ surface is at least a door hinge attachment surface, and the XY surface is connected to a floor of the cabin.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle body structure of an automatic vehicle using a carbon fiber reinforced resin.

Conventionally, a frame structure is known as a vehicle body structure. The frame structure is a vehicle body structure in which the body is put on a frame (framework) on which the main parts of the vehicle such as an engine, a drive motor, and a transmission are mounted. In recent years, for the purpose of reducing the weight of a vehicle platform, it has been studied to construct a vehicle body structure using a carbon fiber reinforced resin (hereinafter referred to as CFRP). Structural materials made of CFRP have high rigidity, and particularly exhibit high strength against compressive stress or tensile stress acting in the orientation direction of fibers.

Here, the CFRP structural material has the property of brittlely breaking when subjected to an impact. Therefore, even when the vehicle body structure is constructed using CFRP, it is necessary to secure the rigidity against collision, the bonding strength with other components of the vehicle, and the like. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a cabin made of fiber reinforced resin of an automobile in which the strength of a front pillar made of fiber reinforced resin is increased by using a member made of a metal material.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-186928

However, the front pillars are required to suppress destruction even when the vehicle falls, protect the occupants in the vehicle interior, and ensure the strength of the connection with the front door and the rigidity against a collision from the front of the vehicle. .. Even when the body portion including the front pillars is configured by using CFRP, it is necessary to maintain the strength characteristics of these front pillars. However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 above improves the anti-collision performance of the front pillars. It is necessary to take measures for load input from the rooftop side when the vehicle falls, and for the strength of connection with the front door, etc., without considering other viewpoints.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is expected to be a front pillar in a vehicle body structure including a chassis having a predetermined rigidity and a cabin made of CFRP. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle body structure capable of improving a plurality of functional characteristics with a simple configuration.

In order to solve the above problems, according to a certain aspect of the present invention, a chassis having a predetermined rigidity against collision and a cabin made of carbon fiber reinforced resin which is placed and fixed on the chassis and contains at least pillars are provided. In the vehicle body structure, the pillar is provided with a metal reinforcing material at the bottom, and the reinforcing material is located inside the vehicle body when the vehicle length direction is the X direction, the vehicle width direction is the Y direction, and the vehicle height direction is the Z direction. The second XZ surface includes a first XZ surface, a second XZ surface located on the outside of the vehicle body, a first YZ surface located on the front side of the vehicle body, and an XY surface constituting the bottom surface. At least the mounting surface of the door hinge, and the XY surface is provided with a vehicle body structure joined to the floor of the cabin.

Further, in the above vehicle body structure, the first XZ surface, the second XZ surface and the first YZ surface may be joint surfaces with the pillars.

Further, in the above vehicle body structure, at least the first XZ surface may extend to a height including a stress concentration assumption region where stress is assumed to be concentrated at the time of a side collision of the vehicle.

Further, in the above vehicle body structure, the reinforcing material may further include a second YZ surface located on the rear side of the vehicle body.

Further, in the above vehicle body structure, the XY surface may be a mounting surface for a fastening member for fixing the chassis and the cabin.

Further, in the above vehicle body structure, the XY surface may extend to the inside of the vehicle body from the first XZ surface.

As described above, according to the present invention, in a vehicle body structure including a chassis having a predetermined rigidity and a cabin made of CFRP, a plurality of functional characteristics expected of front pillars can be improved by a simple configuration. ..

It is a schematic diagram which shows the whole structure of the vehicle body structure which concerns on this embodiment. It is a front perspective view which shows the front part of the cabin of the vehicle body structure which concerns on this embodiment. It is a rear perspective view which shows the front part of the cabin of the vehicle body structure which concerns on this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows a part of the structure of the front pillar. It is one cross-sectional view of the front pillar. It is a lower sectional view of the front pillar. It is a perspective view which looked at the reinforcing material from the outside of a car body. It is a perspective view which looked at the reinforcing material from the inside of a car body. It is the figure which looked at the reinforcing material from the outside of a car body. It is the figure which looked at the reinforcing material from the bottom side.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are designated by the same reference numerals, so that duplicate description will be omitted.

First, an example of the overall configuration of the vehicle body structure according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the overall configuration of the vehicle body structure 1. As shown in FIG. 1, in the present specification, the vehicle width direction may be referred to as the X direction, the vehicle length direction may be referred to as the Y direction, and the vehicle height direction may be referred to as the Z direction.

The vehicle body structure 1 includes a chassis 10 and a cabin 30. The chassis 10 is a component having a predetermined rigidity against a vehicle collision. The chassis 10 is formed by using, for example, iron, a light metal, or a carbon fiber reinforced resin. In order to increase the rigidity of the chassis 10, it is preferable to construct the chassis 10 using iron. On the other hand, in order to make the vehicle body structure 1 lighter, it is preferable to construct the chassis 10 using a light metal or a carbon fiber reinforced resin. Above all, it is preferable to configure the chassis 10 using aluminum, which is relatively easy to manufacture and can obtain both weight reduction and rigidity.

The chassis 10 includes left and right side frames 11L and 11R and cross members 13a and 13b suspended on the left and right side frames 11L and 11R. For example, an engine, a drive motor, a transmission, etc. (not shown) are loaded on the chassis 10. In the vehicle body structure 1 shown in FIG. 1, a loading space for an engine, a drive motor, or the like is provided on the front side.

The cabin 30 is a component that is placed and fixed on the chassis 10 to form at least a vehicle interior portion. The cabin 30 includes at least left and right front pillars 31R and 31L, a roof top 33, a roof pillar 35, left and right roof side rails 41L and 41R, left and right side sills 37L and 37R, and a floor 39. At least a part of the cabin 30 is formed by combining a plurality of structural materials made of CFRP. The cabin 30 is engaged and fixed to a plurality of engaging elements formed in the chassis 10. For example, the chassis 10 and the cabin 30 are fixed by using bolts and nuts in a state where the holes formed in the floor 39 of the cabin 30 are engaged with the plurality of bush pins formed in the chassis 10. ..

The front pillars 31L, 31R and the roof pillar 35 form the front part of the cabin 30. Further, the front pillars 31L and 31R, the roof side rails 41L and 41R and the side sills 37L and 37R form the left and right side portions of the cabin 30, respectively. Openings 43L and 43R for front doors are formed on the left and right sides of the cabin 30. The front pillar 31L (31R) is provided with upper and lower door hinges 51U and 51L for attaching the front door.

Since the car body structure 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called two-door car car body structure, two openings 43L and 43R are formed, but the car body structure is a so-called four-door car car body structure. In this case, an opening for the rear door is formed. The plurality of structural members constituting the cabin 30 may each be composed of a plurality of members.

In the vehicle body structure 1 according to the present embodiment, at least the chassis 10 has a predetermined rigidity against a collision, and the rigidity of the entire vehicle body is guaranteed even when the rigidity of the cabin 30 is reduced. Therefore, the cabin 30 can be configured mainly by using CFRP, and the weight of the entire vehicle body is reduced.

Here, in order to prevent the rooftop 33 of the cabin 30 from being crushed (hereinafter, also referred to as “roof crash”) when the vehicle falls and to protect the occupants in the vehicle interior, the load received by the rooftop 33 is received. Needs to be efficiently transmitted to the floor 39. Further, the front pillars 31L and 31R are parts where the door hinges 51U and 51R are joined or used for fastening to the chassis 10, and it is required to be able to cope with these. Further, in the case of the vehicle body structure 1 including the chassis 10 and the cabin 30, a load can be input to the front pillars 31L and 31R at the time of a collision from the front of the vehicle, so that the configuration is required to withstand the collision load. ..

2 to 3 are explanatory views showing the front part of the cabin 30 including the front pillars 31L and 31R. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the front portion of the cabin 30 as viewed from the front, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the front portion of the cabin 30 as viewed from the rear.

The front portion of the cabin 30 includes left and right front pillars 31L and 31R, left and right side sills 37L and 37R, a roof pillar 35, a floor 39, a tunnel portion 47 and a front portion 49. The left and right side sills 37L and 37R are connected to the lower ends of the left and right front pillars 31L and 31R, respectively, and extend in the Y direction. The roof pillar 35 is located at the front end of a roof top (not shown), and both ends thereof are connected to the upper ends of the left and right front pillars 31L and 31R.

The front portion 49 is located between the lower portions of the left and right front pillars 31L and 31R. The left and right front pillars 31L and 31R, the roof pillar 3 and the front portion 49 form an opening in which the front window is arranged. The tunnel portion 47 is formed along the Y direction at the center of the floor 39 in the vehicle width direction. The tunnel portion 47 forms a space in which a propeller shaft that transmits power output from, for example, an engine or a drive motor is arranged.

In the vehicle body structure 1 according to the present embodiment, the entire cabin 30 is formed by using CFRP. However, the present invention can be applied to the cabin 30 in which at least the front pillars 31L and 31R are formed by using CFRP.

The front pillars 31L and 31R are erected upward from the floor 39. Side sills 37L and 37R are connected to the rear side of the lower ends of the front pillars 31L and 31R in the Y direction. Hinge mounting holes 45U and 45L for fixing door hinges for mounting the front door are provided on the outer surface (YZ surface) of the front pillars 31L and 31R.

4 to 6 are explanatory views showing a configuration example of the front pillar 31L. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the configuration of the left front pillar 31L among the left and right front pillars 31L and 31R. Further, FIG. 5 is an XY cross-sectional view of the front pillar 31L at a position where the upper hinge mounting hole 45U is provided in the front pillar 31L, and FIG. 6 shows a lower hinge mounting hole 45L in the front pillar 31L. It is XY sectional view of the front pillar 31L at the provided position.

The front pillar 31L is configured as a composite member composed of a plurality of members including CFRP. The front pillars 31L shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 are provided between the CFRP outer member 51 located on the outside of the vehicle body, the CFRP inner member 57 located on the inside of the vehicle body, and the outer member 51 and the inner member 57. Including the reinforcement 55. In addition, in FIG. 4, the illustration of the outer member 51 is omitted.

The outer member 51 and the inner member 57 are made of, for example, one or a plurality of CFRP sheets, respectively, and have a three-dimensional shape forming the outer shape of the front pillar 31L. A member constituting the front portion 49 of the cabin 30 is joined to the inner surface of the vehicle body of the inner member 57. The reinforcement 55 has a higher rigidity than CFRP such as iron or steel plate, and has a function of reinforcing the front pillar 31L. The outer member 51, the inner member 57, and the reinforcement 55 may be joined by an adhesive, welded by a resin, or bolted.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a tubular member 53 is provided between the outer member 51 and the reinforcement 55 in a portion other than the lower portion of the front pillar 31L. The tubular member 53 is a member obtained by molding CFRP into a tubular shape according to the shape of the front pillar 31L, and has a function of increasing the strength of the front pillar 31L. The arrangement position of the tubular member 53 includes the position where the upper hinge mounting hole 45U is provided. Therefore, a hinge mounting hole 45U is formed on the YZ surface of the tubular member 53 located on the outer side of the vehicle body.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, a reinforcing member 60 is provided between the outer member 51 and the reinforcement 55 in the lower part of the front pillar 31L. The lower part of the front pillar 31L is a part used for joining with the floor 39, fastening with the chassis 10, and joining the door hinge for attaching the front door, and strength corresponding to these is required. Further, the front pillar 31L efficiently transmits the load applied to the front pillar 31L from the roof top 33 side to the floor 39 in order to suppress a roof crash when the vehicle falls, and the cabin 30 can be used in the event of a collision from the front of the vehicle. It is required to prevent it from being crushed toward the passenger compartment.

Therefore, the reinforcing material 60 provided in the lower part of the front pillar 31L is made of a metal material to more firmly reinforce the lower part of the front pillar 31L. For example, the reinforcing material 60 may be molded using an iron steel plate or may be molded using aluminum. By arranging the reinforcing material 60 made of metal material in the lower part of the front pillar 31L and arranging the tubular member 53 made of CFRP in the other parts, the characteristics required for the front pillar 31L are realized and the weight of the vehicle body is reduced. It is possible to achieve both.

7 to 10 are explanatory views showing a configuration example of the reinforcing member 60. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the reinforcing material 60 as viewed from the front outside the vehicle body, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the reinforcing material 60 as viewed from the rear inside the vehicle body. Further, FIG. 9 is a view of the reinforcing material 60 as viewed from the outside of the vehicle body, and FIG. 10 is a view of the reinforcing material 60 as viewed from the bottom surface side.

In the present embodiment, the reinforcing material 60 includes a first XZ surface 61 located inside the vehicle body, a second XZ surface 63 located outside the vehicle body, a first YZ surface 65 located on the front side of the vehicle body, and the vehicle body. It is formed in a box shape including a second YZ surface 67 located on the rear side and an XY surface 69 constituting the bottom surface. For example, the term XZ plane does not mean a plane exactly parallel to the XZ plane in the space consisting of the XYZ3 axes, but includes a plane or a curved surface extending substantially along the XZ plane. The same applies to the YZ plane and the XY plane.

In the reinforcing material 60, at least the first XZ surface 61, the second XZ surface 63, and the first YZ surface 65 are joint surfaces with the members constituting the front pillar 31L. Specifically, the surface of the first XZ surface 61 facing the inside of the vehicle body is joined to the reinforcement 55. Further, the surface of the second XZ surface 63 facing the outside of the vehicle body is joined to the inner surface of the outer member 51. Further, the surface of the first YZ surface 65 facing the front side of the vehicle body is joined to the inner surface of the outer member 51. Further, in the present embodiment, of the XY surfaces 69 constituting the bottom surface, the surface facing the upper side of the vehicle body is joined to a part of the inner member 57.

By joining the member constituting the front pillar 31L and the reinforcing material 60 on a plurality of surfaces, the joining strength between the front pillar 31L and the reinforcing material 60 is enhanced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the front pillar 31L and the reinforcing member 60 are separated when the load is input to the front pillar 31L. The surface of the second YZ surface 67 facing the rear side of the vehicle body may be joined to the inner surface of the outer member 51, or other appropriate parts may be joined to the member constituting the front pillar 31L.

Further, the XY surface 69 constituting the bottom surface is joined to the floor 39 of the cabin 30. The XY surface 69 and the floor 39 may be joined by an adhesive, bolted, or by any other suitable method. Here, the width of the reinforcing member 60 in the X direction gradually increases downward. Specifically, the width of the reinforcing member 60 in the X direction is gradually increased downward by forming the second YZ surface 67 located on the rear side of the vehicle body so as to be inclined toward the front side of the vehicle body. Further, the XY surface 69 is provided so as to extend to the inside of the vehicle body from the first XZ surface 61.

Therefore, the size (area) of the XY surface 69 is made larger than the size of the XY cross section of the upper part of the reinforcing member 60. As a result, the joining area between the reinforcing material 60 and the floor 39 is expanded, and the reinforcing material 60 and thus the front pillar 31L can be stably joined to the floor 39. Further, the second YZ surface 67 is inclined toward the front side of the vehicle body, and the size of the XY cross section of the reinforcing material 60 gradually increases downward, so that when a collision occurs from the front of the vehicle, the reinforcing material 60 and thus the front pillar The 31 is less likely to fall, and the safety of the occupants in the vehicle interior can be improved. Further, since the XY surface 69 is provided so as to extend to the inside of the vehicle body from the first XZ surface 61, the reinforcing material 60 and thus the front pillar 31 are less likely to fall in the event of a side collision of the vehicle, and the safety of the occupants in the vehicle interior is improved. It can enhance the sex.

The XY surface 69 is also used as a fixing portion for fixing the chassis 10 and the cabin 30. That is, the XY surface 69 is a mounting surface for a fastening member for fixing the chassis 10 and the cabin 30, and the XY surface 69 is provided with a fastening member such as a bush pin or a bolt for fixing the chassis 10 and the cabin 30. A hole 69a to be inserted is provided. The fastening member is attached through the hole 69a and the floor 39 to fix the chassis 10 and the cabin 30. By fixing the chassis 10 and the cabin 30 by using the reinforcing material 60 made of a metal material, the fixing strength between the chassis 10 and the cabin 30 can be increased. The hole portion 69a may be used for positioning the cabin 30 with respect to the chassis 10. A part of the fastening member is arranged in the opening 71 provided in the first XZ surface 61.

Further, the first XZ surface 61 joined to the reinforcement 55 extends upward from the second XZ surface 63, the first YZ surface 65, and the second YZ surface 67. The first XZ surface 61 extends to a height including a stress concentration assumption region where stress is assumed to be concentrated at the time of a side collision of the vehicle. Specifically, in the event of a side collision of a vehicle, the bumper portion of the vehicle of the collision partner generally comes into contact with the side surface of the own vehicle, so that the strength of the conventional front pillar is increased in the range corresponding to the bumper portion. Has been done. Therefore, in the vehicle body structure 1 according to the present embodiment, it is assumed that the stress is similarly concentrated in the range corresponding to the bumper portion of the vehicle, and the first XZ surface 61 extends to the height including the stress concentration assumed region. Has been done. This makes it possible to reduce the risk of the front pillar 31L being destroyed in the event of a side collision of the vehicle.

Further, the second XZ surface 63 located on the outer side of the vehicle body is a joint surface of the door hinge for mounting the front door, and the second XZ surface 63 is provided with two hinge mounting holes 45L. A bolt or screw for fixing the door hinge is inserted into the hinge mounting hole 45L. The front door can be firmly supported by joining the door hinge using the reinforcing material 60 made of a metal material. Further, by joining the door hinges by using the reinforcing material 60, it is possible to suppress the destruction of the door hinges when the vehicle collides, and it is possible to increase the certainty of maintaining the state in which the door can be opened and closed.

Since the front pillar 31R on the right side is configured in the same manner as the front pillar 31L on the left side, the description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, according to the vehicle body structure 1 according to the present embodiment, the rigidity against a collision is ensured by assembling the chassis 10 having a predetermined rigidity against a collision and the cabin 30 made of CFRP. It is possible to achieve both the weight reduction of the vehicle body and the weight reduction of the vehicle body.

Further, in the vehicle body structure 1 according to the present embodiment, a reinforcing material 60 made of a metal material is provided below the front pillars 31L and 31R mainly made of CFRP. The reinforcing material 60 constitutes a first XZ surface 61 on the inside of the vehicle body, a second XZ surface 63 on the outside of the vehicle body, a first YZ surface 65 on the front side of the vehicle body, a second YZ surface 67 on the rear side of the vehicle body, and a bottom surface. It has an XY surface 69 and is configured in a box shape. Therefore, the strength against a load from all directions is increased.

Further, of the reinforcing material 60, the second XZ surface 63 located on the outside of the vehicle body is used as a mounting surface for the door hinge. As a result, the front door is firmly supported by utilizing the reinforcing material 60 made of a metal material. Further, the XY surface 69 constituting the bottom surface is joined to the floor 39 of the cabin 30. Therefore, the load input to the front pillars 31L and 31R from the rooftop 33 side can be efficiently transmitted to the floor 39, and roof crash can be suppressed.

In this way, the vehicle body structure 1 according to the present embodiment is expected to have a simple configuration in the front pillars 31L and 31R by providing the reinforcing material 60 exhibiting a plurality of functions in the lower part of the front pillars 31L and 31R. Multiple functional characteristics can be improved.

Further, in the vehicle body structure 1 according to the present embodiment, the XY surface 69 constituting the bottom surface is a mounting surface for a fastening member for fixing the chassis 10 and the cabin 30. As a result, the chassis 10 and the cabin 30 can be firmly fixed by using the reinforcing material 60 made of a metal material. Further, the parts for joining the door hinges and the parts for fastening the chassis 10 and the cabin 30 are shared, and the number of parts is reduced. Further, the size of the XY surface 69 constituting the bottom surface of the reinforcing material 60 is larger than the size of the XY cross section of the upper part of the reinforcing material 60. As a result, the joint area between the reinforcing material 60 and the floor 39 is expanded, and the front pillars 31L and 31R can be stably supported.

Further, in the vehicle body structure 1 according to the present embodiment, the XY surface 69 constituting the bottom surface of the reinforcing material 60 is enlarged toward the rear of the vehicle body and toward the inside of the vehicle body. Therefore, in the event of a frontal collision or a side collision of the vehicle, the reinforcing material 60 and thus the front pillars 31L and 31R are less likely to fall, and the occupants in the vehicle interior can be protected.

Further, in the vehicle body structure 1 according to the present embodiment, the first XZ surface 61 located inside the vehicle body extends to a height including a stress concentration assumption region where stress is assumed to be concentrated at the time of a side collision of the vehicle. There is. Therefore, in combination with the reinforcement 55, the risk of the front pillars 31L and 31R being destroyed in the event of a side collision of the vehicle is reduced, and the occupants in the vehicle interior can be protected. The second XZ surface 63, the first YZ surface 65, and the second YZ surface 67 other than the first XZ surface 61 may also be extended to the height including the stress concentration assumption region, but the vehicle body. It is preferable to set it within the necessary range from the viewpoint of weight reduction.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to these examples. It is clear that a person having ordinary knowledge in the field of technology to which the present invention belongs can come up with various modifications or modifications within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims. , These are also naturally understood to belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Further, the above-described embodiment and the mode in which each modification is combined with each other naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

1 ... Body structure, 10 ... Chassis, 30 ... Cabin, 31L, 31R ... Front pillar, 45U, 45L ... Hinge mounting holes, 51 ... Outer member, 53 ... Tubular member, 55 ... Reinforcement, 57 ... Inner member, 60 ... Reinforcing material, 61 ... 1st XZ surface, 63 ... 2nd XZ surface, 65 ... 1st YZ surface, 67 ... 2nd YZ surface, 69 ... XY surface

Claims (6)

A chassis with a certain rigidity against collision,
In a vehicle body structure provided with a carbon fiber reinforced resin cabin mounted and fixed on the chassis and containing at least pillars.
The pillar has a metal reinforcement at the bottom and
When the vehicle length direction is the X direction, the vehicle width direction is the Y direction, and the vehicle height direction is the Z direction,
The reinforcing material is
The first XZ surface located inside the car body,
The second XZ surface located on the outside of the car body,
The first YZ surface located on the front side of the car body,
Including the XY surface constituting the bottom surface,
The second XZ surface is at least a mounting surface for a door hinge.
The XY surface is a vehicle body structure joined to the floor of the cabin. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein the first XZ surface, the second XZ surface, and the first YZ surface are joint surfaces with the pillars. The vehicle body structure according to claim 2, wherein at least the first XZ surface extends to a height including a stress concentration assumed region where stress is assumed to be concentrated at the time of a side collision of the vehicle. The vehicle body structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the reinforcing material further includes a second YZ surface located on the rear side of the vehicle body. The vehicle body structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the XY surface is a mounting surface for a fastening member that fixes the chassis and the cabin. The vehicle body structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the XY surface extends inside the vehicle body from the first XZ surface.

Images