JP3376648B2 - Vehicle body front structure and assembly method thereof - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle body front structure for assembling a front unit, in which a radiator core support is attached with exterior parts of the vehicle front part, to a vehicle body by using a fastener and its assembly. Regarding the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 11 shows a conventional vehicle body front structure. In this, a radiator core support unit 3 as shown in FIG. 12 is joined to the front portion of the vehicle body 1 by spot welding. Note that FIG. 12 shows a state in which the first cross member 5 on the vehicle body 1 side is joined to the lower end of the radiator core support unit 3. The radiator core support unit 3 includes an upper member 7, a radiator core support panel 9 and a hood lock bracket 11, which are spot-welded to each other.

In the radiator core support unit 3 thus constructed, exterior components such as a radiator grill 13, a head lamp 15, a combination lamp 17 and a hood lock 19 are attached in a state where the radiator core support unit 3 is welded and fixed to the vehicle body 1, and a harness is provided. 21 is also wired in the upper member 7 as shown in FIG. 13 which is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 11.

However, in such a vehicle body front structure,
Since the radiator core support unit 3 is welded and fixed to the vehicle body 1, the exterior parts such as the radiator grille 13 and the headlamp 15 are individually mounted, so that this mounting work is performed in the engine room as well. Poor performance, and adjustment of the position of exterior parts was complicated.

Therefore, in the past, the radiator grill,
There is a front unit in which headlamps, bumpers, radiators, etc. are attached to a radiator core support unit in advance, and there is a unit in which the front unit is fastened to the vehicle body by bolts (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-2087).
No. 80). When attaching the front unit to the body of the vehicle, the upper side of the radiator core support unit was placed on the upper surface of the mounting portion of the front fender panel of the body, the mounting portions projecting to the left and right ends of the radiator core support unit. The bolts are fastened in this state, and the lower side is fastened by using bolts or the like provided at the left and right ends of the bumper and protruding toward the vehicle body.

[0006]

However, in such a conventional vehicle body front structure, a mechanism for performing positioning between the front unit and the vehicle body when the bolts are fastened to the vehicle body is not particularly provided. For this reason, the operator is required to perform the positioning work based on his / her own judgment, which makes the fastening work complicated and time-consuming, and there is a problem that the workability is extremely poor.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to simplify the work of fastening the front unit to the vehicle body.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention firstly proposes a front unit, in which a radiator core support is provided with exterior parts of the front part of a vehicle body, on a vehicle body side with a fastener. In the vehicle body front structure to be coupled by using the above, while providing recessed portions on the front end upper surfaces of the left and right front fender panels on the vehicle body side, mounting portions that enter the recessed portions are provided at both left and right end portions of the radiator core support. , The flat portion in contact with the lower surface of the mounting portion and the tip of the mounting portion formed on the rear side of the flat portion in the vehicle body come into contact with the concave portion to regulate the position of the front unit in the front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle body. And a regulation surface for each of them are provided.

Secondly, in the method for assembling a vehicle body front portion of an automobile, the front unit, in which the exterior parts of the vehicle body front portion are attached to the radiator core support, is connected to the vehicle body body side by using a fastener. Of the left and right front fender panels into the recesses provided on the front end upper surface of the radiator core support, the mounting portions provided at the left and right end portions of the radiator core support are inserted, and the lower surface of the mounting portion is brought into contact with the flat surface portion of the recessed portion. This is a method of fastening and connecting the front unit and the vehicle body with a fastener in a state where the tip is in contact with the regulation surface of the recess.

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

According to the first configuration and the second method, the mounting portions provided at the left and right ends of the radiator core support are inserted into the recesses provided at the front end upper surfaces of the left and right front fender panels on the vehicle body side. The front end of the mounting unit is positioned in the vehicle body main body in the front-rear direction by bringing the lower surface of the mounting unit into contact with the flat surface of the recess and bringing the tip of the mounting unit into contact with the regulation surface of the recess.

[0013]

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 relates to one embodiment of the present invention and is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle body front structure showing a state before the front unit 25 is fastened to the vehicle body 23. The front unit 25 has a radiator core support 27 to which exterior parts are attached, and before being fastened to the vehicle body 23, the radiator core support 27 has a radiator grill 29, a head lamp 31, a combination lamp 33, and a hood lock 35. Exterior parts such as are attached in advance.

As shown in FIG. 2, the radiator core support 27 includes a radiator core upper 37, which is a main body,
The reinforcing member 39 is welded and fixed to the inside of the radiator core upper 37, and the hood lock stay 41 is welded and fixed downward to the center of the radiator core upper 37. The radiator core upper 37 has a lamp mounting portion 43 to which the headlamps 31 are mounted on the front surface of the left and right ends, a grill mounting portion 45 to which the radiator grill 29 is mounted on the inside of the lamp mounting portion 43, and a central front surface. Lock attachment portions 47 to which the hood locks 35 are attached are respectively formed, and these attachment portions 43, 45 and 47 are integrated with the radiator core upper 37. At the bottom of the lock mount 47, the radiator grill 2
The central part of 9 is attached. The combination lamp 33 is attached to the radiator core upper 37 while being attached to the headlamp 31.

The hood lock stay 41 has its upper end welded and fixed to the lower end of the lock mounting portion 47, and has its lower end fastened and fixed to the first cross member 49 on the vehicle body 23 side by bolts in a state where the lower end is the front unit 25. The left and right ends of the first cross member 49 are welded and fixed to the side members 51, and the harness 50 is wired to the first cross members 49. The lower portions of the left and right grille mounting portions 45 are formed with fixing portions 45a protruding downward, and correspondingly, the fixing portions 49a protruding upward are formed at the left and right ends of the first cross member 49. 45a and 49a are fastened and fixed to each other by bolts when the front unit 25 is attached to the vehicle body 23.

The reinforcing member 39 is the radiator core upper 37.
By being welded and fixed to the radiator core support 27, as shown in FIG. 3 which is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. The radiator core upper 37 and the reinforcing member 39 are both bent and formed so that both left and right ends project toward the vehicle body 23, so that the left and right ends of the radiator core support 27 project toward the vehicle body 23. Will be formed.

On the other hand, the front fender panel 54 on the vehicle body 23 side is provided with an edge portion 59 covered by a hood 57 for opening and closing the engine room on the engine room side of the fender body 55, and a front end portion of this edge portion 59. A receiving surface 61 is formed as a recess into which the mounting portion 53 of the radiator core support 27 is mounted. Mounting part 53
FIG. 4 shows what corresponds to the CC cross section of FIG. 2 in the state of being set on the receiving surface 61, and FIG. 5 shows that which corresponds to the DD cross section. 4 and 5, the hood ridge panel 60 on the vehicle body 23 side attached to the lower surface of the edge portion 59 of the front fender panel 54 is also shown.

The receiving surface 61 is in contact with the lower surface of the mounting portion 53 and is a horizontal surface 63 as a flat surface portion at a position lower than the other parts of the edge portion 59, and the regulation surface 65 with which the tip of the mounting portion 53 is in contact.
It has and. Bolt holes 63a and 53a into which bolts 66 are inserted are formed in the horizontal surface 63 and the mounting portion 53, respectively, and the bolts 66 are screwed into the lower surface of the hood ridge panel 60 so that the radiator core support 27 and the front fender panel are formed. 54 and Hood Ridge Panel 60
A nut 67 for fastening the three members together is attached. Further, a convex portion 63b that bulges upward in an arc shape is formed at a side edge portion of the horizontal plane 63 on the engine room side, and the mounting portion 53 is inserted between the convex portion 63b and the fender main body 55. The convex portion 63b and the fender body 5
The width of the horizontal surface 63 between 5 and 5 is slightly longer than the width of the mounting portion 53 in the same direction.

The regulation surface 65 is provided with a central vertical portion 65a which rises substantially vertically from the horizontal surface 63, and inclined portions 65b provided on both sides of the vertical portion 65a. On the other hand, the attachment portion 53 of the radiator core support 27 has the restriction surface 6
5 has a notch portion 53b and a protruding portion 53c so as to contact the vertical portion 65a and the inclined portion 65b, respectively. The notch portion 53b and the protruding portion 53c of the mounting portion 53 are
By making contact with the vertical portion 65a and the inclined portion 65b of the regulation surface 65, the position of the front unit 25 in the front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle body 23 is regulated.
As a result, the front unit 25 is fastened and coupled to the vehicle body 23.

Lower front ends of the front fender panel 54 are formed at lower front ends thereof with lower flanges 67 bent inward and projecting forward, extending vertically.
On the other hand, the radiator core upper 37 at a position corresponding to the lower flange 67 is provided with a groove 71 formed between the two protrusions 69 and into which the lower flange 67 is inserted.
2E in a state in which the lower flange 67 and the groove 71 are connected to each other.
FIG. 6 corresponds to the -E cross section. A chamfer 69a is formed on the tip of the two protrusions 69 on the groove 71 side. Further, an upper flange 73 extending in the vertical direction is provided above the lower flange 67, and a housing of the combination lamp 33 attached to the radiator core upper 37 corresponding to the upper flange 73 has a housing similar to the groove 71. A groove is formed. By inserting the lower flange 67 into the groove 69 and the upper flange 73 into a groove (not shown), the vehicle body 23 of the front unit 25 is inserted.
The position in the left-right direction with respect to is restricted.

A mounting surface 75 projecting toward the front fender panel 54 is provided outside the projection 69 and the groove 71 of the radiator core upper 37, and a bolt hole 75a is formed in the mounting surface 75. A nut 79, into which a bolt 77 inserted into a bolt hole 75a is screwed, is fixed to the inside of the lower side surface of the front fender panel 54 corresponding to the mounting surface 75. The bolt 77 is fastened with the position in the direction regulated.

When assembling such a vehicle body front structure, exterior components such as a radiator grill 29 and a head lamp 31 are attached to a radiator core support 27 to complete the front unit 25, and then the front unit 25 is completed. Are fastened and coupled to the vehicle body 23 using bolts.

FIG. 7 schematically shows a work process for attaching the front unit 25 to the vehicle body 23. First, in (a), the attachment portion 5 of the radiator core support 27 is attached.
3 and the horizontal surface 63 on the front fender panel 54 side
Align the top and bottom positions of and. From this state, the front unit 2
5 is brought close to the vehicle body 23, and as shown in FIG.
The front unit 25 is pushed further forward while the lower surface of the front unit is in contact with the horizontal surface 63 of the front fender panel 54. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8 which is a cross-sectional view taken along line F-F of (b), the mounting portions 53 enter between the convex portions 63b on both sides of the horizontal surface 63 and the fender main body 55, so that there is some restriction in the left-right direction. However, in this state, the convex portion 63b is still formed.
For example, a gap t exists between the fender body 55 and the fender body 55.

When the front unit 25 is further pushed in as in (c) from the state of (b), the H-G cross section of FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (c), which is a GG cross sectional view of (c). As shown in FIG. 9B, the upper flange 73 and the lower flange 67 on the side of the front fender panel 54 are close to the groove 81 and the groove 71, which are not shown in FIG. .

Further, when the front unit 25 is pushed in as shown in (d) from this state, the sectional view taken along the line I--I in FIG. 10 (d) and the sectional view taken along line J--J in (d). Figure 1
As shown in 0 (b), the upper flange 73 enters the groove 81, and the lower flange 67 enters the groove 71, whereby the gap t in FIG. 8 is corrected and the lateral positioning is performed.

At the same time, the notch portion 53b and the protruding portion 53c at the tip of the mounting portion 53 form the vertical portion 65a of the regulation surface 65.
And the inclined portion 65b, respectively, thereby positioning in the front-rear direction. At this time, the bolt holes 53a of the mounting portion 53 on the radiator core support 27 side and the bolt holes 63a of the horizontal surface 63 on the front fender panel 54 side.
And the bolt holes 75a of the mounting surface 75 on the radiator core support 27 side and the nut 79 on the front fender panel 54 side are aligned. While tightening the bolts 66 and 77 in this state,
Hood lock stay 41 of radiator core support 27
The front unit 25 is attached to the vehicle body 23 by fastening the lower end of the and the fixing portion 45a of the grill mounting portion 45 to the first cross member 49 using bolts.

As described above, when fastening the front unit 25 to the vehicle body 23, positioning in the front-rear direction is performed by the mounting portion 53 of the radiator core support 27 and the receiving surface 61 of the front fender panel 54. On the other hand, the lateral positioning is performed by the grooves 71 and 81 of the radiator core support 27 and the lower and upper flanges 67 and 73 of the front fender panel 54. Therefore, the operator does not need to perform the positioning work based on his / her own judgment, the fastening work is facilitated, the working time is shortened, and the work efficiency is improved.

In the above embodiment, the left and right positioning mechanisms are provided on the lower side, which includes the lower flange 67 and the groove 71, and on the upper side, which includes the upper flange 73 and the groove 81. However, only one of the lower side and the upper side may be provided. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the pair of left and right positioning mechanisms is provided on both the left and right sides, but the left and right positioning mechanisms may be provided.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the front unit is fastened to the vehicle body, the recesses provided on the front end upper surfaces of the left and right front fender panels on the vehicle body side, and the radiator core. Since the vehicle body is positioned in the front-rear direction by the mounting portions provided at the left and right ends of the support, the fastening work is facilitated and the working time is shortened, so that the workability can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle body front structure showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the front unit of FIG. 1 in a further disassembled state.

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

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD of FIG.

6 is a sectional view taken along line EE of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an assembling work process of the vehicle body front structure of FIG. 1.

8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF of FIG.

9A is a sectional view taken along line GG of FIG. 7, and FIG. 9B is a sectional view taken along line HH of FIG.

10A is a sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG. 7, and FIG.
FIG.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle body front structure showing a conventional example.

12 is a perspective view of a radiator core support in the vehicle body front structure of FIG. 11. FIG.

13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

23 Body 25 front unit 27 radiator core support 29 Radiator grill (exterior parts) 31 Headlamp (exterior parts) 35 Hood Lock (Exterior parts) 53 Mounting part 54 front fender panel 61 Receiving surface (recess) 63 Horizontal surface (flat surface) 65 Regulation 66,77 bolts (fasteners) 67 Lower flange (flange) 71, 81 groove 73 Upper flange (flange)

Continuation of front page (56) Reference JP-A-3-284482 (JP, A) JP-A-2-249772 (JP, A) JP-A-5-170135 (JP, A) JP-A-63-212184 (JP , A) Actually open 3-9977 (JP, U) Actually open 2-18779 (JP, U) Actually open 2-16369 (JP, U) Actually open 63-131869 (JP, U) Actually Kohei 4-15576 (JP, Y2) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B62D 25/08

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vehicle body front structure for connecting a front unit, in which a vehicle body front exterior component is attached to a radiator core support, to a vehicle body side using a fastener,
The left and right front fender panels on the body side of the vehicle body are provided with recesses on the front end upper surfaces, while the left and right ends of the radiator core support are provided with mounting portions to be inserted into the recesses, and the lower surfaces of the mounting portions contact the recesses. And a regulation surface that is formed on the rear side of the vehicle body of the plane portion and that contacts the front end of the mounting portion to regulate the position of the front unit in the front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle body. Front structure of the car body. 2. A method of assembling a vehicle body front part of a vehicle, wherein a front unit having a radiator core support to which exterior parts of a vehicle body front part are attached is connected to a vehicle body body side by using a fastener. Insert the mounting parts provided on both left and right end portions of the radiator core support into the recesses provided on the front end upper surface of the front fender panel, and make the lower end of the mounting part into contact with the flat surface part of the recessed part to attach the tip of the mounting part. A method for assembling a vehicle body front portion of an automobile, characterized in that the front unit and the vehicle body body are fastened and coupled by a fastener in a state of being brought into contact with the regulation surface of the recess.