JP2621940B2 - Front body structure of vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a front body structure of a vehicle, and more particularly to an improvement in a support structure for supporting a lower edge of a front wind panel.

<< Prior Art >> Generally, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in a vehicle such as a passenger car, a dash lower panel 6 is provided along the vehicle width direction with an engine room 2 and a rear compartment 4 behind the engine room. It is divided by. A cowl box 8 also extending along the vehicle width direction is joined to the upper end of the dash lower panel 6.

The cowl box 8 is integrally formed with a cowl member 10 constituting a structural member at an upper portion thereof. The cowl member 10 is provided with a dash upper member (reinforcement panel) 14 extending in the vehicle width direction on the back surface of a cowl panel 12 forming an upper wall portion of the cowl box 8, and front and rear edges of the dash upper member 14. This dash upper member 14 is formed by welding and joining 14a and 14b.
And the cowl panel 12 traverse a closed cross section having a substantially uniform area in the width direction of the vehicle.

Also, cowl member 10 has front wind panel 16
The cowl panel 12 on the upper side is curved along the lower end edge of the front wind panel 16.
A window panel supporting portion 20 for supporting the lower edge portion 16a by bonding with an adhesive 18 is formed so as to protrude upward (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 62-117156).

<< Problems to be Solved by the Invention >> When a large impact force acts on the front part of the vehicle, such as when the vehicle makes a head-on collision, the engine room 2 of the vehicle body is largely crushed, and the engine room 2 is plastically deformed. While absorbing the energy at the time of collision, the periphery of the cabin 4 is rigidly formed, and the vehicle body itself is formed so as to protect the occupant. At this time, if the engine room 2 is significantly crushed due to a collision or the like, the engine 22 or its accessories 24 move toward the rear of the vehicle body. On the other hand, in recent years, there has been a tendency for vehicles to be low cowl and low bonnet due to demands for design and improvement of aerodynamic characteristics, and the layout in which the cowl box 8 and the engine 22 are close to each other is increasing. Therefore, particularly when the engine 22 or the like is moved rearward in such a low cowl or low bonnet vehicle, the upper rear end of the engine 22 or the auxiliary devices 24 may interfere with the cowl member 10.

Since the cowl member 10 is formed rigidly as a structural member, the force applied to the cowl member 10 due to the interference acts as a stress on the entire length in the vehicle width direction, and the support portion supporting the lower edge 16a of the wind panel 16 Also works on 20. In such a case, the lower edge 16a of the wind panel 16 and the support 2
It is technically difficult to sufficiently secure the bonding strength of the adhesive 18 for bonding to the entire length of the window panel 16.
Rather than lowering the bonding strength between the lower edge 16a and the support portion 20 over the entire length, even if a part is completely peeled off, it is possible to leave as much as possible a portion where strong bonding strength is maintained. This is preferable from the viewpoint of holding the wind panel 16.

Therefore, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 61-66561, the present applicant formed a closed section extending in the vehicle width direction with a glass holding member for supporting the windshield glass and the cowl panel. The cross section is smaller than the both sides in the vehicle width direction in the area facing the engine body at the center part in the vehicle width direction, and the rigidity of only the center part facing the engine body is reduced, so that only the center part is deformed at the time of collision A structure has been proposed in which the holding function is prevented from being lost throughout the vehicle width direction.

However, in the proposed structure, the rigidity of the cowl box itself is greatly changed between the central portion and both side portions in the vehicle width direction. There was room for further improvement in this regard.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances,
The purpose is to absorb energy by partially deforming the center if the engine or its accessories move rearward and collide with the center of the front window panel support at the time of collision. It is another object of the present invention to provide a front vehicle body structure of a vehicle that can prevent distortion of both sides of the front window support portion as much as possible and does not affect the vehicle body rigidity such as twisting.

<< Means for Solving the Problems >> In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an engine room and a rear dash lower panel, which is provided at an upper end portion of the dash lower panel, extends along the vehicle width direction and has both end portions. A cowl box fixed to a side wall of an engine room is provided, the cowl box includes a cowl panel formed with a wind panel supporting portion that supports the lower edge along the lower edge of the front wind panel, and the dash panel. And a dash upper member having a substantially uniform cross-section that forms a closed cross section in the vehicle width direction together with the cowl panel on the lower surface of the cowl panel. The member contacts the cowl panel on both sides in the vehicle width direction so as to form a closed cross section below the wind panel support portion of the cowl panel. At the center of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction, the cowl panel is joined to the cowl panel so as to form a closed cross section behind the wind panel supporting portion to form a front body structure of the vehicle.

<Operation> According to the present invention having the above structure, the dash upper member provided on the lower surface of the cowl panel extends along the vehicle width direction and forms a substantially uniform closed cross section with the cowl panel to reinforce the cowl box. I do. Here, since the dash upper member forms a closed cross section below the wind panel support portion of the cowl panel on both sides thereof, it forms a closed cross section behind the wind panel support portion of the cowl panel at the center in the vehicle width direction. The rigidity of the cowl box as a whole is maintained as uniformly as possible, and the rigidity of the wind panel support is partially increased on both sides in the vehicle width direction without affecting the vehicle rigidity such as torsion. Can be lower.

Therefore, when the engine and its accessories are moved rearward due to a vehicle collision or the like and interfere with the cowl box, the central portion of the wind panel support can be deformed to absorb energy. . As a result, it is possible to prevent as much as possible the distortion of the both sides of the cowl box and the wind panel supporting portions formed on both sides thereof. Even if deformation occurs, the joining strength of the window support portions formed at both end portions of the cowl box can be maintained high, and the window panel can be firmly held.

<< Embodiment >> Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a front body structure of a vehicle according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cowl box which forms a main part of the present invention. 2 to 5 each show a cross section of each part indicated by an arrow in FIG. As shown in these figures, the cowl box 30 is provided in the engine room 2 as before.
A dash upper panel 32 that extends along the vehicle width direction at the upper end of a dash lower panel 6 that separates the vehicle compartment 4 from the dash lower panel 6 forms a lower wall of the cowl box 30, and a cowl panel that forms an upper wall. 34 and a dash upper member 36 serving as a reinforcing panel.

The dash upper panel 32 is the dash lower panel 6
The rear end edge 32a is formed so as to extend rearward by a predetermined amount toward the interior of the vehicle compartment 4 and to rise upward by a predetermined amount. The rear edge 32a of the dash upper panel 32 has the cowl panel 34
The rear edge 34a of the cowl panel 3 is welded and joined.
The front edge 34b of 4 is the lower end 16a of the front wind panel 16.
Is extended to the front.

The cowl panel 34 is curved along the lower edge 16a of the front panel 16, and a window panel support 38 for joining and supporting the lower edge 16a is integrally formed so as to protrude upward and bend. ing.

The dash upper member 36 is provided so as to extend in the vehicle width direction substantially along the wind panel support portion 38, and the rear edge 36a and the front edge 36b are welded to the rear surface (lower surface) of the cowl panel 34. At the same time, their intermediate parts are inflated and joined in a bag shape. That is, the dash upper panel 32 and the cowl panel 34 form the cowl member 40 which is a structural member extending so as to cross the vehicle width direction. The cowl member 40 has a uniform cross section in the longitudinal direction. It has become.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the dash upper member 36 has a central portion 36 in the vehicle width direction corresponding to the rear of the engine mounting position in the engine room 2.
A is formed so as to retreat so as to escape rearward to the inside of the passenger compartment 4. In other words, the dash upper member
36 is joined to the cowl panel 34 so as to form a closed cross section below the wind panel support portion 38 of the cowl panel 34 on both sides in the vehicle width direction, and at the center of the vehicle width direction behind the wind panel support portion 38 of the cowl panel 34. Is joined to the cowl panel 34 so as to form a closed cross section.

That is, the wind panel support portion 38 is formed on the cowl member 40 as a structural member over a predetermined length in the portions 38B on both sides in the vehicle width direction, while the cowl member
In the central portion 38A formed by retreating 40, the wind panel supporting portion 38 is disengaged from the cowl member 40 as a structural member and the lower portion is opened, and the rigidity of the wind panel supporting portion 38 is The rigidity of the side portions 38B on both sides is formed higher than that of the center portion 38A in the vehicle width direction formed by retracting the portion 40.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an insertion port 46 through which the defroster duct 44 of the air conditioning unit 42 is inserted is opened at the center of the cowl box 40 in the vehicle width direction. The body 48 of the air conditioning unit 42 is a cowl box as shown in the figure.
30 is provided below the inside of the cabin 4, and the inside of the cabin 4 is covered with an instrument panel 50. The defroster duct 44 is guided below the front window panel 16 through the insertion port 46, and is connected to an outlet (not shown) formed in the instrument panel 50.

Here, the insertion port 46 is formed in both the dash upper panel 32 and the cowl panel 34.
Although the two panels 32 and 34 are almost superposed at the formation portion of the dash upper panel 32, the periphery of the insertion port 48 on the side of the dash upper panel 32 is formed to be raised inside the insertion port 48 on the cowl panel 34 side. , Around the insertion port 48
The two panels 32, 34 are not particularly joined by welding or the like, and the two panels 32, 34 are respectively connected to the rear edge 32a, 3
Welded only at 4a.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, both end portions of the cowl box 30 (only the right end portion is shown in the figure) are welded and fixed to the side wall 52 of the engine lum. That is, the side wall 52 of the engine room is connected to the side panel 54 and the apron reinforcement.
The cowl side upper panel 58 and the cowl side upper panel 58 are joined.The cowl panel 34 and the dash upper member 36 are joined to the apron reinforcement 56 via the cowl side upper panel 58, and the dash upper panel 32 is the cowl side upper panel. It is welded to both 58 and side panel 54.

Therefore, in the present embodiment configured as described above, the engine and accessories move rearward due to a collision of the vehicle, and the like.
As a result, when the upper rear end of the engine or accessories or the like interferes with the cowl box 30, the cowl member 40 at the center in the vehicle width direction corresponding to the rear of the engine is formed by being retracted rearward. This cowl member 40
The portion formed only by the cowl panel 34 located forward of the portion will be crushed. For this reason, if the interference does not reach up to the cowl member 40 that has been retracted, the lower edge portion 16a of the front wind panel 16 is supported by the central support portion 38A.
Just crush and peel off, cowl members 40 on both sides
The bonding strength at the support portion 38B formed above is kept strong.

Further, since the center portion of the cowl member 40 is formed to be retracted, the rigidity of the cowl member 40 itself is higher at both sides than at the center. Therefore, if the interference reaches up to 40 cowl members that have been retreated,
The stress acting on the cowl member 40 is concentrated on a central portion, particularly, a portion curved rearward, and causes a large deformation here. Thereby, it is possible to prevent or minimize the occurrence of distortion in both sides of the cowl member 40 and the support portion 38B formed thereon, and to reduce the amount of distortion as much as possible. Can maintain high bonding strength. In addition, cowl member 40
Is formed in a substantially uniform size along the vehicle width direction, and therefore does not significantly affect the rigidity of the vehicle body against twisting or the like of the vehicle body during normal running.

In FIG. 2, when the dash upper panel 32 is crushed from the front on the engine room 2 side,
Since the dash upper panel 32 and the cowl panel 34 are not joined around the insertion opening 46, the collapse of the dash upper panel acts on the dash upper panel 32 on the cowl panel 34 side until reaching the rear edge 32a. The transmitted force is not transmitted.

<< Effects >> In summary, according to the present invention, the dash upper member provided on the lower surface of the cowl panel extends along the vehicle width direction to form a substantially uniform closed cross section together with the cowl panel to reinforce the cowl box. However, since the dash upper member forms a closed cross section below the wind panel support of the cowl panel on both sides thereof, it forms a closed cross section behind the wind panel support of the cowl panel in the center in the vehicle width direction. The overall rigidity of the cowl box is kept as uniform as possible, and the rigidity of the wind panel support is partially increased on both sides in the vehicle width direction without affecting the vehicle rigidity against twisting, etc. Can be lowered.

For this reason, when the engine and its accessories are moved rearward due to a vehicle collision, etc., and they interfere with the cowl box, the center of the wind panel support is deformed to absorb energy. Can be. As a result, it is possible to prevent as much as possible the distortion of both sides of the cowl box and the wind panel supporting portions formed on both sides thereof, and the wind panel supporting portion formed at the center of the cowl box can be prevented from being deformed. Even if deformation occurs, the joining strength of the window support portions formed at both end portions of the cowl box can be maintained high, and the window panel can be firmly held.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 5 show an embodiment of a front body structure of a vehicle according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cowl box which is a main part thereof, and FIG. 2 is a view in FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line IVIV in FIG. 1, and FIG. V- in
FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing a front portion of the vehicle, and FIG. 7 is a schematic side sectional view of a conventional cowl box taken along a line VI-VI in FIG. 2 ... engine room, 4 ... car room 6 ... dash lower panel, 16 ... front wind panel 16a ... lower edge, 30 ... cowl box 34 ... cowl panel (cowl box upper wall) 36 ... … Dash upper member (reinforcement panel) 38 …… Wind panel support 38A …… Support at the center in the vehicle width direction 38B …… Support at both sides in the vehicle width direction 52 …… Engine room side wall

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cowl box extending along a vehicle width direction and having both ends fixed to a side wall of an engine room is disposed at an upper end portion of a dash lower panel that separates an engine room from a vehicle room behind the engine room. Is formed at least by a cowl panel formed with a wind panel supporting portion for supporting the lower edge along the lower edge of the front wind panel, and a dash upper panel joined to an upper end of the dash panel; A dash upper member having a substantially uniform cross section that forms a closed cross section in the vehicle width direction together with the cowl panel is provided on a lower surface of the panel. The dash upper member supports the wind panel of the cowl panel on both sides in the vehicle width direction. The cowl panel is joined to the cowl panel so as to form a closed cross section at a lower portion of the cowl panel. Front body structure of a vehicle, wherein joined to said cowl panel, so as to form a closed cross section to the channel support portion rearward.