JP3362572B2 - Car side body structure - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a side vehicle body structure of an automobile, and particularly, when a force is applied from the front end of a rocker,
The present invention relates to a side body structure of an automobile for reducing a deformation amount of a door opening on a side surface of a vehicle body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an example of a side body structure of an automobile, a structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-39063 is known.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the side body structure of this automobile, a rocker (also referred to as a side sill) outer reinforcement 70 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction is arranged in a rocker portion 72A of a side outer panel 72. A joint portion 70A provided at a front end portion of the rocker outer reinforcement 70 is joined to a front pillar reinforcement lower 74 arranged inside a front pillar (also referred to as a hinge pillar) lower portion 72B of the side outer panel 72. Further, the joint portion 70B provided at the rear end portion of the rocker outer reinforcement 70 is joined to the center pillar reinforcement lower 76 disposed inside the center pillar lower portion 72C of the side outer panel 72. That is, Rocka outer reinforcement 7
0 connects the front pillar reinforcement lower 74 and the center pillar reinforcement lower 76 to secure the rigidity of the vehicle body.

[0004]

However, in the side body structure of this automobile, the impact load applied to the vehicle body through the front tire at the time of a head-on collision causes the front pillar reinforcement lower 74, the rocker outer reinforcement 70, and the center 70. It is transmitted in the order of the pillar reinforcement lower 76. Therefore, in order to reduce the amount of deformation of the door openings 78 and 80 on the vehicle body side, the joint between the front pillar reinforcement lower 74 and the rocker outer reinforcement 70 and the rocker outer reinforcement 70 and the center pillar reinforcement lower 76 are reduced. It is important to reinforce the joints and the periphery of each joint, but if the members are thickened or reinforcements are added to reinforce them, the weight of the vehicle body increases significantly. There was a problem.

In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a side body structure of an automobile capable of reducing the amount of deformation of a door opening without significantly increasing the weight.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a side body structure for an automobile, the cross section of which is seen from the front-rear direction of the body.
Fairly forms the bottom of the side pillars after corner ridge of the opening and the U-shaped towards the inside in the vehicle width direction vertical two forms at least the door opening from the front end facing the front tire
With the rocker reinforcing member that is formed, and the joint surface that is in the shearing direction with respect to the load that acts on the rocker reinforcing member from the front of the vehicle body.
A front pillar reinforcing member joined to an outer side surface of the rocker reinforcing member .

Therefore, in the side body structure for an automobile according to the first aspect of the present invention, the load acting on the vehicle body through the front tires at the time of a front collision directly acts on the front end portion of the rocker reinforcing member , and the vehicle front-rear direction. The cross section seen from the opening is in the vehicle width direction
It is efficiently transmitted to the lower part of the rear pillar that forms the door opening through the upper and lower two corner ridges of the rocker reinforcing member that is U-shaped toward the inside . In addition, the load acting on the front pillar reinforcing member via the front tire at the time of a frontal collision is in the shearing direction with respect to the load acting from the front of the vehicle body , and the joint surface joined to the outer surface of the rocker reinforcing member is It is efficiently transmitted to the rocker reinforcing member via the.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the side body structure for an automobile according to the first aspect, the rear side has a front surface on which the upper surfaces of the rocker reinforcing members are abutted substantially orthogonally.
It is characterized by having a pillar reinforcing member.

Therefore, in the side body structure for an automobile according to the second aspect of the present invention, the load acting on the vehicle body through the front tire at the time of a front collision directly acts on the rocker reinforcing member,
It acts from the direction orthogonal to the front surface of the reinforcing member of the rear pillar via the upper surface of the rocker reinforcing member.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment of a side body structure for an automobile of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the figure, an arrow FR indicates a front direction of the vehicle body, an arrow UP indicates an upward direction of the vehicle body, and an arrow IN indicates an inward direction of the vehicle body.

As shown in FIG. 1, a front door opening 10 and a rear door opening 12 are formed on the vehicle body side portion of the automobile of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, rockers 14 are arranged below the door openings along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The rocker 14 includes a rocker outer panel 16 that forms an outer side portion of the rocker 14 in the vehicle width direction and a rocker inner panel 18 that forms an inner side portion of the rocker 14 in the vehicle width direction. Make up 20.

In the closed cross section 20, a rocker outer reinforcement 22 as a rocker reinforcing member is arranged along the rocker outer panel 16. The rocker outer reinforcement 22 has a U-shaped cross section when viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle body with the opening facing inward in the vehicle width direction.

A flange 22B is formed upward at the vehicle width direction inner end of the upper surface 22A of the rocker outer reinforcement 22. This flange 22B is
It is welded between the upper flange 16A of the rocker outer panel 16 and the upper flange 18A of the rocker inner panel 18. Further, a flange 22D is formed downward at the vehicle width direction inner end portion of the lower surface 22C of the rocker outer reinforcement 22. This flange 22D is
It is welded between the lower flange 16B of the rocker outer panel 16 and the lower flange 18B of the rocker inner panel 18.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper corner ridge line 22F is the boundary between the side surface 22E and the upper surface 22A of the rocker outer reinforcement 22, and the lower corner is the boundary between the side surface 22E and the lower surface 22C of the rocker outer reinforcement 22. The side corner ridges 22G are rocker outer reinforcements 2 facing the front tires (not shown), respectively.
Rear pillar forming a door opening from the front end 22H of No. 2
It reaches the lower part of the center pillar 24, and further extends rearward.

A lower end portion of a front pillar outer reinforcement 26 serving as a front pillar reinforcing member is joined near the front end portion 22H of the rocker outer reinforcement 22. The cross section of the front pillar outer reinforcement 26 viewed from above the vehicle body is U-shaped with its opening facing inward in the vehicle width direction.

A front side 26A of the front pillar outer reinforcement 26 is formed with a flange 26B at the inner end in the vehicle width direction toward the front.
The lower end of 6B has a rocker outer reinforcement 2
It is welded to the second flange 22B. Further, a flange 26D is formed rearward at the vehicle width direction inner end of the rear surface 26C of the front pillar outer reinforcement 26, and the lower end of the flange 26D is formed on the flange 22B of the rocker outer reinforcement 22. It is welded.

At the lower end of the front surface 26A of the front pillar outer reinforcement 26, a flange 26E is formed toward the front, and this flange 26E is welded to the upper surface 22A of the rocker outer reinforcement 22. A flange 26F is formed rearward at the lower end of the rear surface 26C of the front pillar outer reinforcement 26.
F is the upper surface 2 of the rocker outer reinforcement 22
It is welded to 2A.

The lower end portion of the side surface 26G of the front pillar outer reinforcement 26 extends downward along the side surface 22E of the rocker outer reinforcement 22 and serves as an extending portion 26H. This extension 26H
Is a side surface 22E of the rocker outer reinforcement 22.
It is welded by spot welding or the like.

The center pillar 24 is provided with a center pillar outer reinforcement 28 as a reinforcing member of the rear pillar. The cross section of the center pillar outer reinforcement 28 viewed from above the vehicle body is U-shaped with the opening facing inward in the vehicle width direction, and the lower end is a rectangular shape formed on the upper surface 22A of the rocker outer reinforcement 22. It is inserted into the rocker outer reinforcement 22 through the notch 30 having a shape.

As shown in FIG. 3, a front surface 28A of the center pillar outer reinforcement 28 is formed with a flange 28B toward the front at an inner end portion in the vehicle width direction of the front surface 28A. A lower portion of the flange 28B is a rocker inner. It is welded between the upper flange 18A of the panel 18 and the flange 22B of the rocker outer reinforcement 22. Further, a flange 28D is formed rearward at the vehicle width direction inner end of the rear surface 28C of the center pillar outer reinforcement 28.
The lower part of D is the upper flange 18 of the rocker inner panel 18.
It is welded between A and the flange 22B of the rocker outer reinforcement 22.

At the front edge of the cutout portion 30 of the rocker outer reinforcement 22, the flange 22 is directed upward.
J is formed, and this flange 22J is welded to the front surface 28A of the center pillar outer reinforcement 28. The upper surface 22A of the rocker outer reinforcement 22 is abutted substantially orthogonal to the front surface 28A of the center pillar outer reinforcement 28.

The rear edge of the cutout portion 30 of the rocker outer reinforcement 22 is provided with a flange 22 facing upward.
K is formed, and this flange 22K is welded to the rear surface 28C of the center pillar outer reinforcement 28. The upper surface 22A of the rocker outer reinforcement 22 is abutted on the rear surface 28C of the center pillar outer reinforcement 28 substantially at right angles.

At the side edge of the cutout portion 30 of the rocker outer reinforcement 22, a flange 22L is formed upward.
The flange 22L is welded to the side surface 28E of the center pillar outer reinforcement 28. The upper surface 22A of the rocker outer reinforcement 22 is abutted on the side surface 28E of the center pillar outer reinforcement 28 substantially at right angles.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.
In the side body structure of the vehicle of the first embodiment, the load acting on the vehicle body via the front tire at the time of a front collision is directly applied to the front end portion 22H of the rocker outer reinforcement 22.
And is efficiently transmitted to the lower portion of the center pillar 24 via the two corner ridges 22F and 22G.

Further, in a side view of the vehicle, which is generated at the joint between the front pillar outer reinforcement 26 and the rocker outer reinforcement 22, which is generated by the force (arrow F in FIG. 1) acting on the front pillar from the front tire at the time of frontal collision. With respect to the bending moment (arrow M in FIG. 1), the joint surface that acts in the shearing direction on the tensile side of the bend, specifically, the joint surface between the extension portion 26H and the side surface 22E, is compressed at the same time. The joint surface that also acts in the shearing direction on the side, specifically, the joint surface between the flange 26F of the front pillar outer reinforcement 26 and the upper surface 22A of the rocker outer reinforcement 22 is joined to the front tire during a front collision. The force that acts on the front pillars is efficiently transmitted to the rocker outer reinforcement 22. It is.

Therefore, in the side body structure for an automobile of the first embodiment, the load acting on the vehicle body through the front tires at the time of front collision is directly received by the rocker outer reinforcement 22 and the two corner ridges 22F. , 22G, and can be efficiently transmitted to the lower portion of the center pillar 24, and is generated at the joint between the front pillar outer reinforcement 26 and the rocker outer reinforcement 22 generated by the force acting from the front tire to the front pillar. The bending moment in the side view of the vehicle can be efficiently transmitted to the rocker outer reinforcement 22 as described above.

Therefore, unlike the prior art, it is not necessary to reinforce the joint between the front pillar reinforcing member and the rocker reinforcing member, the joint between the rocker reinforcing member and the center pillar reinforcing member, and the periphery of each joint. The amount of deformation of the door opening can be reduced without increasing the weight.

Further, in the side body structure of the automobile according to the first embodiment, the load acting on the vehicle body through the front tire at the time of a front collision directly acts on the front end portion 22H of the rocker outer reinforcement 22 and the rocker outer portion 22H. It acts from the direction orthogonal to the front surface 28A of the center pillar outer reinforcement 28 via the upper surface 22A of the reinforcement 22.

Therefore, the supporting rigidity of the entire rocker is improved with respect to the load applied from the front end portion of the rocker 14.

Next, a second embodiment of the vehicle side body structure of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The same members as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the vehicle side body structure of the second embodiment, an end face 22M is formed at the front end of the rocker outer reinforcement 22, and the front pillar outer reinforcement 22 is formed at this end face 22M. A joint surface 26J extending downward from the front surface 26A of the ment 26 and having an outer end portion in the vehicle width direction connected to the extending portion 26H is welded by spot welding or the like.

The rocker outer reinforcement 22 and the front pillar outer reinforcement 26
A side outer panel 30 is disposed on the outer side of the center pillar outer reinforcement 28 in the vehicle width direction. The side outer panel 30 includes the rocker portion 3
2, it has a front pillar portion 34 and a center pillar portion 36.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cross section of the front pillar portion 34 of the side outer panel 30 as seen from above the vehicle body is U-shaped with the opening facing inward in the vehicle width direction. A front end 34A of the front pillar portion 34 has a front end formed with a flange 34B on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. The flange 34B is welded to a front flange 38A of the front pillar inner panel 38. Further, a flange 34D is formed rearward at the vehicle width direction inner end of the rear surface 34C of the front pillar portion 34, and the flange 34D sandwiches the flange 26D of the front pillar outer reinforcement 26 and sandwiches the front pillar. It is welded to the rear flange 38B of the inner panel 38. Further, the front surface 26A of the front pillar outer reinforcement 26 is the front surface 34A of the front pillar portion 34.
Abuts A.

Therefore, also in the side body structure for an automobile of the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the side body structure for an automobile in the first embodiment can be obtained.

Next, a third embodiment of the side body structure for an automobile according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The same members as those in the second embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the side body structure of an automobile according to the third embodiment, the portion of the rocker outer reinforcement 22 on the rear side of the joint with the front pillar outer reinforcement 26 (the imaginary portion of FIG. 6). A bulkhead 40 is arranged at a portion P1) indicated by a line.

As shown in FIG. 7, a portion 40B of the outer wall portion of the bulkhead 40 excluding the inner portion 40A in the vehicle width direction.
Are welded to the inner wall of the rocker outer reinforcement 22.

Therefore, also in the side body structure for an automobile of the third embodiment, the same effect as that of the side body structure for an automobile in the first embodiment can be obtained, and at the time of the front collision, the front tire acts on the front pillar. The bulkhead 40 further reinforces against the bending moment on the compression side of the bending against the bending moment in the side view of the vehicle generated at the joint between the front pillar outer reinforcement 26 and the rocker outer reinforcement 22 caused by the force Therefore, the rocker outer reinforcement 22 is less likely to be deformed by a compressive load that acts on the rear portion (the portion P1 indicated by the imaginary line in FIG. 6) of the joint with the front pillar outer reinforcement 26. .

Next, a fourth embodiment of the side body structure for an automobile of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

The same members as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the vehicle side vehicle body structure of the fourth embodiment, the front end portion of the rocker outer reinforcement 22 is located forward of the front pillar outer reinforcement 42 as a front pillar reinforcing member. It has a protruding portion 44 that is protruded. A plurality of (two in FIG. 8) crash beads 46 are formed on the upper corner ridge 22F of the protrusion 44.

As shown in FIG. 9, the cross section of the front pillar outer reinforcement 42 viewed from above the vehicle body is L-shaped. At the vehicle width direction inner end of the rear surface 42A of the front pillar outer reinforcement 42,
A flange 42B is formed rearward, and the flange 42B is welded to a rear end edge portion 48B of a side surface 48A of the front pillar inner panel 48. Further, the cross section of the front pillar inner panel 48 viewed from above the vehicle body is L-shaped, and a flange 48D is formed toward the front at the vehicle width direction outer end portion of the front surface 48C.
The flange 48D is welded to the front end edge portion 42D of the side surface 42C of the front pillar outer reinforcement 42, and the front pillar outer reinforcement 42 and the front pillar inner panel 48 form a closed cross section 50.

As shown in FIG. 8, the lower end portion of the side surface 42C of the front pillar outer reinforcement 42 is
It extends downward along the side surface 22E of the rocker outer reinforcement 22 and serves as an extended portion 42E. The extended portion 42E is welded to the side surface 22E of the rocker outer reinforcement 22 by spot welding or the like.

Therefore, also in the side body structure of the automobile of the fourth embodiment, the same effect as that of the side body structure of the automobile of the first embodiment can be obtained, and at the time of the front collision, the crash bead 46 causes the protrusion. The portion 44 can be deformed to absorb the collision energy. Further, the crash bead 46 formed on the protruding portion 44 of the rocker outer reinforcement 22 is covered with the side outer panel, so that the appearance quality is improved.

In the above, the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments within the scope of the present invention. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that

[0050]

According to the side vehicle body structure of an automobile of the present invention as set forth in claim 1, the cross section viewed from the front and rear direction of the vehicle has the opening in the vehicle width direction.
A rocker reinforcement member having a U-shape facing inward and having two upper and lower corner ridges extending from the front end facing the front tire to at least the lower part of the rear pillar that forms the door opening, and the rocker reinforcement. The rocker reinforcement member has a joint surface that is in the shearing direction against the load acting from the front of the vehicle body .
Since the front pillar reinforcing member joined to the outer surface is provided, it has an excellent effect that the deformation amount of the door opening can be reduced without significantly increasing the weight.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the side body structure for an automobile according to the first aspect, a rear pillar having a front surface on which the upper surfaces of the rocker reinforcing members are abutted substantially orthogonally. Since the structure is provided with the reinforcing member, in addition to the effect described in claim 1, there is an excellent effect that the support rigidity of the entire rocker is improved with respect to the load applied from the front end portion of the rocker.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a side vehicle body structure of an automobile according to a first embodiment of the present invention as seen from a vehicle body obliquely outer side.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a side body structure of an automobile according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the front of the vehicle body.

3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a side vehicle body structure of an automobile according to a second embodiment of the present invention, as seen from a vehicle body diagonally outer side.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a front pillar of a side body structure of an automobile according to a second embodiment of the present invention, as seen from above the vehicle body.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a side part vehicle body structure of an automobile according to a third embodiment of the present invention, as seen obliquely from the front and outside of the vehicle body.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a rocker of a side body structure of an automobile according to a third embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the rear of the vehicle body.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a side vehicle body structure of an automobile according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, as seen obliquely from the front and outside of the vehicle body.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a front pillar of a side body structure of an automobile according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, as seen from above the vehicle body.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a side vehicle body structure of an automobile according to a conventional embodiment, as seen from a vehicle body obliquely outer side.

[Explanation of symbols]

14 rocker 16 rocker outer panel 22 rocker outer reinforcement (rocker reinforcing member) 22A upper surface 22F upper corner ridge line 22G lower corner ridge line 22H front end 24 center pillar (rear pillar) 26 front pillar outer reinforcement (front pillar reinforcing member) ) 28 center pillar outer reinforcement (rear reinforcing member of the pillar) 28A front 42 front pillar outer reinforcement (front pillar reinforcing member)

Continuation of front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B62D 25/04 B62D 25/20

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cross-section as seen from the front-rear direction of the vehicle body has an opening.
Width is the direction inwardly towards the U-shaped upper and lower two corners ridge is fairly formed in the lower part of the side pillars after forming at least the door opening from the front end facing the front tire B <br/> Tsu The rocker reinforcing member and the rocker reinforcing member have a joint surface in a shearing direction with respect to a load acting from the front of the vehicle body and the outer surface of the rocker reinforcing member.
Side vehicle-body structure of a motor vehicle, characterized by comprising, a front pillar reinforcement member joined to. 2. The side part vehicle body structure for an automobile according to claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing member for the rear pillar, the reinforcing member for the rear pillar having a front surface on which an upper surface of the rocker reinforcing member is abutted substantially orthogonally.