JP3539240B2 - Body structure - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a vehicle body structure provided with a cowl top extending in a vehicle width direction so as to straddle left and right strut houses to which suspension struts of a vehicle are respectively attached.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional vehicle, as shown in FIG. 3, a cowl top 3 extending in the vehicle width direction is provided so as to straddle right and left strut houses 2 to which upper ends of suspension struts 1 are respectively attached. The top 3 has a substantially U-shaped cross section which is largely open upward by the upper part of the dash panel 4, the outer panel 5 and the lower panel 6, which are interconnected by spot welding. The bottom 8 of the lower panel 6 is connected to the upper end of the suspension strut 1 together with the strut house 2.
[0003]
In this case, since the cowl top 3 has a substantially U-shaped cross section with a large opening upward, there is a limit in increasing the rigidity of the cowl top 3, and from the suspension strut 1 to the strut house 2 and the cowl top 3. When a large load is applied, it may be difficult to sufficiently suppress deformation of the vehicle body.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to easily increase the rigidity of a cowl top that extends in the vehicle width direction across right and left strut houses in a vehicle.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Therefore, in the vehicle body structure according to the present invention, the cowl top extending in the vehicle width direction and having both ends connected to both side portions of the vehicle body, respectively, has a bottom portion and a first vertical portion extending upward from a vehicle front end portion of the bottom portion. A wall, a second vertical wall extending upward from a vehicle rear end of the bottom, and a third vertical wall extending upward from the bottom at an intermediate position between the first vertical wall and the second vertical wall in the vehicle longitudinal direction. An upper portion of the third vertical wall is connected to an upper portion of the second vertical wall, and the bottom portion and the vehicle left and right struts near the lower end portion of the first vertical wall and near the lower end portion of the third vertical wall. The upper surface of the house is connected to the left and right sides of the vehicle by jointly fastening the upper ends of the suspension struts to the mounting bolts .
[0006]
That is, the left and right suspension struts are arranged so as to be inclined upward toward the vehicle center line extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the lower ends of the first vertical wall of the cowl top are provided on the upper surfaces of the left and right strut houses to which the upper ends of the suspension struts are attached. Since the bottom portions near the lower portion and near the lower end portion of the third vertical wall are connected to each other by jointly fastening the upper ends of the suspension struts to the mounting bolts, a load acts on the cowl top inward in the vehicle width direction from the suspension struts. However, since the first vertical wall and the third vertical wall of the cowl top extend in the vehicle width direction, the load can be strongly supported by the bottom of the cowl top, the first vertical wall, and the third vertical wall. Also, since the upper part of the third vertical wall extending upward from the bottom of the cowl top is connected to the upper part of the second vertical wall, Since the closed cross section extending in the vehicle width direction by a second vertical wall and a third vertical wall are formed, it is possible to greatly increase the rigidity of the entire cowl top.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
1 and 2, a cowl top 11 whose both ends are welded to left and right upper frames (left and right side panels) 10 of the vehicle and extends in the vehicle width direction includes an inner panel 12, an outer panel 13, and a lower panel 14. The upper ends of the panel 12 and the outer panel 13 are connected to each other by spot welding, and the vehicle rear end at the bottom 15 of the lower panel 14 and the lower end of the inner panel 12 are connected to each other by spot welding. At a position intermediate the vertical wall portion 16 formed at the vehicle front end of the lower panel 14 and the vehicle rear end, the lower end of the outer panel 13 and the bottom 15 of the lower panel 14 are interconnected by spot welding, The inner panel 12, the outer panel 13, and the bottom 15 of the lower panel 14 form a closed sectional structure. To have.
[0008]
The upper surfaces of the left and right strut houses 18 to which the upper ends of the suspension struts 17 are respectively attached, and the lower panel bottom 15 near the lower end of the lower panel vertical wall portion 16 and the lower end of the outer panel 13 are connected to the upper end of each suspension strut 17. Of the three mounting bolts 19 are connected together by tightening to the two mounting bolts 19 on the vehicle rear side. Further, the lower part of the vertical wall part 16 is substantially halfway above the upper end part of each suspension strut 17. A cylindrical recess 20 is formed.
[0009]
In addition, 21 is a dash panel whose upper end is connected to the lower end of the inner panel 12 and the rear end of the lower panel bottom 15 on the vehicle rear side, 22 is a windshield, and a two-dot chain line in FIG. This is schematically shown.
[0010]
In the vehicle body structure, the lower panel bottom 15 of the cowl top 11 is connected to the upper surfaces of the left and right strut houses 18 near the lower end of the lower panel vertical wall 16 and near the lower end of the outer panel 13, respectively. The lower panel vertical wall portion 16 and the outer panel 13 can be disposed close to each other between the upper end portions of both suspension struts 17 by forming the substantially semi-cylindrical concave portion 20 at the lower portion of the suspension strut 17. 11 has significantly increased dynamic rigidity in the vehicle width direction, and has a substantially semi-cylindrical recess 20 at the lower portion of the lower panel vertical wall portion 16, so that the surface rigidity itself of the lower panel vertical wall portion 16 is also effective. Has been enhanced.
[0011]
Therefore, since the left and right suspension struts 17 having the upper ends attached to the respective strut houses 18 are inclined such that the upper portions thereof are closer to the vehicle center line extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, the loads acting from the suspension struts 17 inward in the vehicle width direction. Can be firmly supported by the lower panel bottom 15, the lower panel vertical wall 16 and the outer panel 13 of the cowl top 11.
[0012]
In addition, the cowl top 11 has a closed cross-sectional structure formed by the inner panel 12, the outer panel 13, and the lower panel bottom 15, and the rigidity in the vehicle front-rear direction and the vehicle width direction is significantly increased. Effectively suppresses the vibration of each panel due to the dynamic load on the vehicle, greatly reducing the noise while driving the vehicle, and maximizing the suspension performance by limiting the deformation of each part of the vehicle body There is a great advantage that it can be exerted to improve the steering stability of the vehicle.
[0013]
Further, since the closed cross-sectional structure is formed by the inner panel 12, the outer panel 13, and the lower panel bottom 15 as described above, the outer panel 13 of the cowl top 11 slightly vibrates according to the load from the suspension strut 17 during running of the vehicle. Even in the case, transmission of the sound emitted into the closed section due to the micro-vibration to the vehicle interior is reliably blocked by the presence of the inner panel 12, so that the livability of the vehicle can be easily improved. A secondary effect can be obtained.
[0014]
In the above-described embodiment, the inner panel, the lower panel, and the dash panel are formed of separate members. However, the inner panel and the dash panel, the inner panel and the lower panel, or the lower panel and the dash panel are integrally formed. Needless to say, the configuration may be made such that:
[0015]
【The invention's effect】
In the vehicle body structure according to the present invention, the bottoms of the cowl top near the lower end of the first vertical wall and near the lower end of the third vertical wall are jointly fastened to the mounting bolts of the upper ends of the suspension struts and the left and right strut houses. Loads which are respectively connected to the upper surface and act inward in the vehicle width direction from the suspension strut to the cowl top can be strongly supported by the bottom portion of the cowl top, the first vertical wall and the third vertical wall, Since the closed section structure extending in the vehicle width direction is formed by the bottom portion of the cowl top, the second vertical wall, and the third vertical wall, the rigidity of the entire cowl top is significantly increased. Vibration of each part based on the dynamic load can be effectively suppressed, and the noise during vehicle running can be significantly reduced. By maximizing the suspension performance by limiting the shape, it has the advantage of being able to improve the steering stability of the vehicle.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a main part in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a conventional device.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Cowl Top 12 Inner Panel 13 Outer Panel 14 Lower Panel 15 Bottom 16 Vertical Wall 17 Suspension Strut 18 Strut House 19 Mounting Bolt 20 Depression 21 Dash Panel

Claims (3)

A cowl top extending in the vehicle width direction and having both ends connected to both sides of the vehicle body, a bottom portion, a first vertical wall extending upward from a vehicle front end portion of the bottom portion, and a vehicle rear end portion of the bottom portion A second vertical wall extending upward from the first vertical wall, and a third vertical wall extending upward from the bottom at an intermediate position between the first vertical wall and the second vertical wall in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and an upper portion of the third vertical wall. Is connected to the upper portion of the second vertical wall, and the bottom portion near the lower end portion of the first vertical wall and the lower end portion of the third vertical wall and the upper surface of the strut house on the left and right sides of the vehicle are connected to the upper ends of the suspension struts on the right and left sides of the vehicle The vehicle body structure is connected to each other by tightening the parts to the mounting bolts . The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein a lower end portion of the third vertical wall is welded to an upper surface of the bottom portion above the strut house. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a substantially semi-cylindrical recess extending substantially vertically and opening toward the front of the vehicle is formed in a lower portion of the first vertical wall above an upper end of the suspension strut.

Images