JP3528463B2 - Car body structure - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an automobile body structure,
In particular, the present invention relates to a structure around a connecting portion between a floor tunnel formed in a front and rear direction in a floor center and a vertical wall of a dash panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 4 and 5 show a conventional structure.
Is a dash panel, 2 is a floor panel joined to the rear end of the toeboard 1a of the dash panel 1, and the floor tunnel 3 is directed toward the vehicle body from the toeboard 1a of the floor panel 1 to the vertical wall 1b at the center thereof. It is bulged (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-28178).

From above the toe board 1a on the passenger side of the dash panel 1 to above the front end of the floor tunnel 3,
The blower unit 5, the cooler unit 6, and the heater unit 7 of the air conditioner are arranged in this order, but the electronic component 8 is arranged on the front end portion of the floor tunnel 3 of the dash panel 1, so that the heater unit is arranged. The element 7 is arranged above the electronic component 8 and is arranged above the front end of the floor tunnel 3.

This electronic component 8 utilizes the closed cross-sectional space of the cowl box 4, which is a frame member in the vehicle width direction of the front waist of the vehicle body, which also functions as an outside air introduction portion of the blower unit 5, inside the cowl box 4. However, as described above, the blower unit 5 is disposed on the side of the dash panel 1 on the passenger seat side, and the air inlet 5a of the blower unit 5 is disposed in the cowl box. Since the electronic component 8 is arranged in the cowl box 4 because it is open to the side of the passenger seat side of 4, the air inlet 5a and the outside air not shown formed on the other side of the cowl box 4 are not shown. In the air circulation path connecting with the inlet,
Since the electronic component 8 exists as air resistance and impairs the air supply performance of the blower unit 5, the electronic component 8 does not restrict the foot space of the front seat occupant as described above. It is in the actual condition that it must be placed on the part.

[0005]

The bent corner C at the periphery of the tunnel opening where the vertical wall 1b of the dash panel 1 and the floor tunnel 3 are connected to each other is angularly formed so that the heater unit 7 and the electronic component 8 are mounted as much as possible to the dash panel. Vertical wall 1b
Since the panel material can be disposed in close proximity to the dash panel 1, wrinkles are apt to occur at the bent corner C due to the excess material of the panel material during press molding of the dash panel 1, which not only deteriorates the quality, but also improves the manufacturing yield. Tends to get worse.

Further, as described above, even if the bent corner portion C is formed to be angular and the heater unit 7 and the electronic component 8 are arranged as close to the vertical wall 1b of the dash panel 1 as possible, The heater unit 7 has a large front-rear dimension, and instrument functional components 10 such as instruments and audio equipment project forward from the back side of the instrument panel 9, so that the heater unit 7 and the functional component 1
Since there is not enough space between the heater unit 7 and the functional component 10, it is necessary to form the operation surface 9a of the instrument panel 9 so as to stand upright. Therefore, the visibility of the operation surface 9a of the instrument panel 9 and the operability of the instrument functional component 10 deteriorate.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to avoid the generation of wrinkles due to press molding at the bent corner portion of the peripheral edge of the tunnel opening where the vertical wall of the dash panel and the floor tunnel are connected, and to dispose on the front end portion of the floor tunnel. A space can be provided in the front-rear direction between the instrument panel such as the heater unit of the air conditioner, and the operating surface of the instrument panel is formed by tilting forward to improve visibility and operation of instrument parts. It is intended to provide a vehicle body structure capable of improving the property.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a central portion of a vertical wall of a dash panel in which a floor tunnel formed in a front and rear direction in a floor center is opened, a width substantially equivalent to an opening width of the floor tunnel is provided. It is characterized in that a concave portion that bulges toward the engine room as a whole is formed to increase the radius of curvature of the bent corner portion of the tunnel opening peripheral edge where the vertical wall and the floor tunnel are connected.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the cooler unit and the heater unit of the air conditioner are vertically stacked on the front end portion of the floor tunnel according to the first aspect so as to be inserted into the recessed portion of the dash panel. It is characterized by being arranged as.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the blower unit of the air conditioner according to the second aspect is connected to a side portion of the cooler unit and disposed near the floor tunnel.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the central portion of the vertical wall of the dash panel in which the floor tunnel is opened, there is provided a recessed portion having a width substantially equivalent to the opening width of the floor tunnel and bulging toward the engine room as a whole. Since the radius of curvature of the bent corner of the peripheral edge of the tunnel opening where this vertical wall and the floor tunnel are connected is enlarged, the excess material phenomenon of the panel material at the bent corner at the time of press molding of the dash panel. It is possible to avoid the generation of wrinkles due to the above, it is possible to improve the feeling of quality, and it is possible to increase the manufacturing yield.

Further, since the front end portion of the air conditioning functional component such as the heater unit of the air conditioner can be accommodated in the recessed portion, the radius of curvature of the bent corner portion of the peripheral edge of the tunnel opening is enlarged as described above. Even if a space is provided behind the air conditioning functional component, therefore, the operating surface of the instrument panel can be tilted forward and the visibility and the operability of the instrument functional component can be improved.

According to the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the cooler unit and the heater unit of the air conditioner are vertically stacked on the front end portion of the floor tunnel to be provided in the recessed portion of the dash panel. Since it is arranged so as to enter, the space around the feet of the passenger in the passenger seat can be enlarged, and the habitability can be improved.

According to claim 3, in addition to the effect of claim 2, by arranging the blower unit near the floor tunnel, the air inlet of the blower unit can be set near the center of the cowl box. Thus, functional parts such as electronic parts can be arranged on the side of the cowl box on the passenger side without hindering the intake of the blower unit, and the space in the cowl box is effectively used. be able to.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings by attaching the same reference numerals to the same parts as those in the conventional structure.

1-3, 1 dash panel, 2
Is a floor panel joined to the rear end of the toeboard 1a of the dash panel 1, and the floor tunnel 3 extends from the toeboard 1a of the dash panel 1 to the vertical wall 1b at the center thereof.
Is bulged toward the passenger compartment.

In the central portion of the vertical wall 1b of the dash panel 1 in which the floor tunnel 3 is opened, the engine room E.
A recessed portion 11 bulging to the R side is formed, and the vertical wall 1b is formed.
And the floor tunnel 3 are connected to each other, the radius of curvature R of the bent corner C at the peripheral edge of the tunnel opening is enlarged to form the bent corner C with a relatively large roundness.

Each unit component of the air conditioner is arranged from above the toeboard 1a on the passenger side of the dash panel 1 to above the front end of the floor tunnel 3. In this embodiment, the unit parts of the air conditioner are provided at the front end of the floor tunnel 3. Cooler unit 6
The heater unit 7 and the heater unit 7 are vertically stacked, and are arranged so as to be inserted into the recessed portion 11 of the vertical wall 1b of the dash panel 1.

As described above, since the cooler unit 6 and the heater unit 7 are vertically stacked and connected,
While the cooler unit 6 and the heater unit 7 have a narrowed height, the width in the vehicle width direction is increased to secure a required volume. It is desirable to increase the width dimension.

The blower unit 5 is connected to the side portion of the cooler unit 6, and the blower unit 5 is arranged near the floor tunnel 3.

Floor tunnel 3 of this blower unit 5
The air inlet 5a of the blower unit 5 can be set closer to the center of the cowl box 4 by the disposition thereof, and the side portion of the cowl box 4 on the passenger side is provided on the other side portion of the cowl box 4. An electronic component 8 is provided in the side portion of the cowl box 4 on the passenger side because the space does not contribute to the air circulation path connecting the outside air intake port (not shown) and the air inlet 5a.

In FIG. 1, 9 is an instrument panel, 1
Reference numeral 0 indicates instrument functional parts such as instruments and audio equipment incorporated in the operation surface 9a of the instrument panel 9.

According to the structure of the above embodiment, in the central portion of the vertical wall 1b of the dash panel 1 in which the floor tunnel 3 is open, the engine room E. A concave portion 11 that bulges to the R side is formed, and the radius of curvature R of the bent corner portion C at the peripheral edge of the tunnel opening where the vertical wall 1b and the floor tunnel 3 are connected to each other is enlarged to form the bent corner portion. Since C is formed with a relatively large roundness, it is possible to avoid the generation of wrinkles due to the press molding of the dash panel 1, and it is possible to improve the feeling of quality and increase the manufacturing yield.

Further, since the front end portion of the air conditioning functional component such as the heater unit 7 arranged on the front end portion of the floor tunnel 3 can be inserted into the recessed portion 11, the peripheral edge of the tunnel opening as described above. Radius of curvature R of bent corner C of
Even if the operation panel 9 is enlarged, an extra space can be obtained behind the air conditioning functional component. Therefore, even if the operation surface 9a of the instrument panel 9 is formed by tilting forward, it is incorporated in the operation surface 9a and the instrument panel 9a is installed. 1 does not interfere with the air-conditioning function parts, and the visibility of the operation surface 9a can be improved by the forward tilted arrangement of the operation surface 9a. Operability can be improved.

In particular, in this embodiment, since the cooler unit 6 and the heater unit 7 are vertically stacked on the front end of the floor tunnel 3, the space around the feet of the passenger in the passenger seat is enlarged. You can
Since the blower unit 5 is connected to the cooler unit 6 and arranged near the floor tunnel 3 of the floor center, it is possible to further expand the space around the feet of the passenger in the passenger seat and improve the comfortability. You can

Moreover, by disposing the blower unit 5 closer to the floor tunnel 3 as described above, the air inlet 5a of the blower unit 5 can be set closer to the center of the cowl box 4, so that the cowl box 4 can be provided. In addition, a sufficient space for storing parts can be obtained on the side portion on the passenger's side, which is out of the air circulation path connecting the air inlet 5a and the outside air intake (not shown) provided on the side portion on the driver's seat side of the cowl box 4. Therefore, functional parts such as the electronic parts 8 can be arranged in the side portion on the passenger seat side without disturbing the intake of the blower unit 5, and the space in the cowl box 4 can be effectively used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a dash panel according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a conventional structure.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the conventional structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Dash panel 1b vertical wall 3 floor tunnel 5 Blower unit 6 Cooler unit 7 heater unit 11 Recessed part C Bent corners around the tunnel opening R radius of curvature ER engine room

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A recess provided in a central portion of a vertical wall of a dash panel in which a floor tunnel formed in a front-rear direction in a floor center is bulged toward the engine room as a whole with a width substantially equal to the opening width of the floor tunnel. A vehicle body structure for an automobile, characterized in that a curvature radius of a bent corner portion of a peripheral edge of a tunnel opening where the vertical wall and the floor tunnel are connected to each other is enlarged. 2. The cooler unit and the heater unit of the air conditioner are vertically stacked on the front end of the floor tunnel so as to be inserted into the recessed portion of the dash panel. The body structure of the automobile described. 3. The vehicle body structure according to claim 2, wherein the blower unit of the air conditioner is connected to a side portion of the cooler unit and disposed near the floor tunnel.