JP4294581B2 - Vehicle front pillar structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a front pillar structure of a vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a front pillar of a vehicle is known in which an outer panel 102 and an inner panel 103 are joined to each other by flange portions 104 and 105 at both ends with a stiffener 101 interposed therebetween. In the front pillar 100, the capacity of the closed section is ensured by the balance between the maximum width dimension C and the maximum depth dimension D, and the vehicle body rigidity and the collision performance are satisfied. In the case of the front pillar 100, the wind shield 110 is supported by one flange portion 104, the gap between the wind shield 110 and the outer panel 102 is closed by the garnish 111, and the door seal 112 is provided on the other flange portion 105. The door seal 112 seals between the door sash 113 and the front pillar 100, and an interior material 114 that covers the inner panel 103 is attached to the vehicle interior side of the front pillar 100.

In addition, in order to improve vehicle body rigidity, a hollow member having a closed cross-section is integrally formed by a hydroform molding method, and an outer panel is attached to the outside of the hollow member to constitute a front pillar (for example, Patent Document 1). reference). In this front pillar, a flange portion projecting outward from the hollow member is provided at one end of the outer panel, and the windshield is supported by this flange portion.
JP 2002-2533 A

In the case of the conventional front pillar structure shown in FIG. 7, the range from the end of the interior material 114 to the end of the door sash 113 is a blind spot, but the maximum width dimension C of the closed cross section formed by the outer panel 102 and the inner panel 103. And the flange portion 104 for supporting the windshield 110 is provided, the width of the interior material 114 becomes extremely large, and thus the blind spot range becomes large.
Also, in the case of a front pillar having a hollow member and an outer panel as in Patent Document 1, a flange portion is provided at one end of the outer panel so as to protrude outward from the hollow member in order to attach the windshield. After all, the blind spot range becomes large.
Therefore, the present invention provides a front pillar structure capable of narrowing the blind spot range while satisfying the vehicle body rigidity and the collision performance.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1, a pair of side surfaces and a direction along the line of sight of the OPERATION's width direction (e.g., side 12 and 13 in the embodiment) and, of the pair A front surface (for example, the front surface 11 in the embodiments described later) that supports the windshield (for example, the windshield 6 in the embodiments described later) connected to the front end of one of the side surfaces (for example, the side surface 12 in the embodiments described later). ) And a rear surface connecting both rear ends of the pair of side surfaces (12, 13), and is integrally formed in a closed cross section , and the depth dimension in the direction along the driver's line of sight is greater than the horizontal width dimension. preparative configured hollow member is large (for example, the hollow member 10 in the embodiment) and the side surface of the side located at a distance from the front (e.g., side 13 in the embodiment) to An attached door seal (for example, a door seal 30 in an embodiment described later) and an outer member (for example, an embodiment described later) that is attached to the front surface of the hollow member and covers the hollow member from the door seal to the windshield. An outer panel 20 and a garnish 40) in an example are provided.
With this configuration, the horizontal width dimension of the front pillar can be reduced while satisfying the vehicle body rigidity and the collision performance.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the outer member is a corner portion of the side surface to which the front surface of the hollow member and the door seal are attached (for example, a corner portion in an embodiment described later). 14), and an outer panel (for example, an outer panel 20 in an embodiment to be described later) supported.
By comprising in this way, it becomes easy to position an outer panel to a hollow member, and to join easily.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein the outer member includes a garnish (for example, a garnish 40 in an embodiment to be described later) mounted between the outer panel and the windshield. It is characterized by that.
By comprising in this way, the clearance gap between an outer panel and a windshield can be filled, and an assembly | attachment becomes easy.
The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein one end of the hollow member in the longitudinal direction (for example, one end 10a in an embodiment described later) is a roof. A roof side outer (for example, a roof side in an embodiment to be described later) disposed inside an outer panel (for example, an outer panel 20 in an embodiment to be described later) in a side portion (for example, a roof side portion 3 in an embodiment to be described later). The outer side 3a) and the roof side inner (for example, the roof side inner 3b in the embodiments described later) are arranged on the inner side and welded thereto, and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the hollow member (for example, the embodiments described later). The other end portion 10b) is a front body side portion (for example, a front body side portion 4 in an embodiment described later). Arranged between an outer panel (for example, an outer panel 20 in an embodiment described later) and a front body side inner (for example, a front body side inner 4a in an embodiment described later), the front body side inner and the front body side It is characterized by being sandwiched between and welded to a stiffener welded to the inner (for example, a stiffener 7 in an embodiment described later).

According to the first and fourth aspects of the invention, the horizontal width dimension of the front pillar can be narrowed while satisfying the vehicle body rigidity and the collision performance, so that the blind spot range by the front pillar can be narrowed and the field of view can be reduced. Will be better.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, while becoming easy to position an outer panel to a hollow member, it becomes easy to join.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 3, the clearance gap between an outer panel and a windshield can be filled, and an assembly | attachment becomes easy.

Embodiments of the front pillar structure according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings of FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the front pillar 2 of the vehicle 1 is a portion that connects the roof side portion 3 and the front body side portion 4, and forms a part of an opening in which the front door 5 is accommodated. An end of a windshield (hereinafter abbreviated as “windshield”) 6 is supported.
As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 2, the front pillar 2 includes a metal hollow member 10, a metal outer panel 20 attached to the vehicle exterior side of the hollow member 10, a door seal 30, a garnish 40, and a hollow member. 10 interior panels 50 attached to the inside of the vehicle. The outer panel 20 is integrally formed from the roof side portion 3 to the front body side portion 4.

  The hollow member 10 is integrally formed into a polygonal closed cross-section pipe shape by a hydroform molding method in order to ensure vehicle body rigidity and collision performance, and includes at least a front surface 11 that supports the windshield 6 and a driver's line of sight. A pair of side surfaces 12 and 13 whose width direction is the direction along the line (the line-of-sight direction in FIG. 2) is provided. The hollow member 10 is set so that the depth dimension in the direction along the driver's line of sight is larger than the width dimension in the horizontal direction.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, one end portion 10 a in the longitudinal direction of the hollow member 10 is formed inside the end portions of the roof side outer 3 a and the roof side inner 3 b disposed on the inner side of the outer panel 20 in the roof side portion 3. And is joined to the roof side outer 3a and the roof side inner 3b by MIG welding (MIG welding).
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the other end portion 10b in the longitudinal direction of the hollow member 10 is disposed between the outer panel 20 of the front body side portion 4 and the front body side inner 4a. Mig welded to 4a and Mig welded to the stiffener 7 which sandwiches the other end 10b in cooperation with the front body side inner 4a. The stiffener 7 is welded to the front body side inner 4a.
3 is a perspective view of the front pillar 2 as seen from the outside of the vehicle, FIG. 4 is a view of the connecting portion of the front pillar 2 and the roof side portion 3 as seen from the inside of the vehicle, and FIG. It is the figure which looked at the connection part of the front body side part 4 through the outer panel 20 from the vehicle outer side.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outer panel 20 of the front pillar 2 includes a substantially flat first base portion 21 that is in surface contact with the front surface 11 of the hollow member 10, and a substantially U-shape outward from the first base portion 21. A projecting projection 22; a second base portion 23 that is in surface contact with the side surface 13 of the hollow member 10 that is spaced from the front surface 11; a flange portion 24 that extends outward from the second base portion 23 at a substantially right angle; A step portion 25 provided between the second base portion 23 and the second base portion 23 is formed.
The outer panel 20 of the front pillar 2 is fixed to the hollow member 10 by welding the first base portion 21 to the front surface 11 of the hollow member 10 and welding the second base portion 23 to the side surface 13 of the hollow member 10. Has been. The outer panel 20 of the front pillar 2 engages the step portion 25 with the corner portion 14 of the side surface 13 of the hollow member 10 and causes the second base portion 23 to abut the surface 13 of the hollow member 10. Thus, the positioning with respect to the hollow member 10 can be easily performed.

  The door seal 30 is attached to the flange portion 24 of the outer panel 20. In other words, the door seal 30 is attached to the side surface 13 of the hollow member 10 via the flange portion 24 of the outer panel 20. The door seal 30 seals closely to the door sash 5a when the front door 5 is closed. Further, when the front door 5 is closed, the seal member 5 b attached to the door sash 5 a of the front door 5 seals closely with the step portion 25 of the outer panel 20.

The end of the windshield 6 is attached to the first base portion 21 with an adhesive 8. That is, the front surface 11 of the hollow member 10 supports the windshield 6 via the first base portion 21 of the outer panel 20.
The garnish 40 is attached between the protrusion 22 of the outer panel 20 and the windshield 6. In this embodiment, the outer panel 20 and the garnish 40 constitute an outer member that covers the hollow member 10 from the door seal 30 to the windshield 6.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 9 denotes a door windshield of the front door 5.

In the front pillar 2, the first base portion 21 of the outer panel 20 is joined to the front surface 11 of the hollow member 10, and the front surface 11 supports the windshield 6 via the first base portion 21. In addition, the flange portion for attaching the windshield does not protrude from the hollow member 10. Further, the horizontal width dimension A (see FIG. 2) of the hollow member 10 is kept small, and the dimension B (see FIG. 2) along the line-of-sight direction at the portion where the hollow member 10 and the protrusion 22 of the outer panel 20 are combined. By setting to a predetermined value, a cross-sectional area necessary to satisfy the vehicle body rigidity and the collision performance of the front pillar 2 is secured.
Therefore, the blind spot range by the front pillar 2 can be narrowed while satisfying the vehicle body rigidity and the collision performance.

  By the way, the mechanism of the blind spot by the front pillar 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The overlapping part of the chain line (hatched part in FIG. 6) is a blind spot that cannot be seen by both eyes. Therefore, theoretically, it is possible to set the width dimension of the front pillar 2 so as to completely eliminate the blind spot in both eyes. However, if the blind spot of the front pillar 2 is completely eliminated, the driver will feel a sense of incongruity on the contrary and it will be difficult to grasp the vehicle interval. Therefore, when the blind spot is slightly left when viewed with both eyes, a boundary between the vehicle front view and the vehicle side view is formed, and the driver can easily control the vehicle.

Therefore, in the front pillar 2, the horizontal width dimension A of the hollow member 10 is set so that the blind spot of the front pillar 2 exists at a minimum when viewed with both eyes. Thereby, since the blind spot of the front pillar 2 exists, the visual discomfort is eliminated and the vehicle is easily controlled, and since the blind spot is minimized, the visual target is easily visible and the visibility is improved.
In this embodiment, the outer panel 20 is made of a metal molded product, but it may be replaced with a resin garnish.

1 is a perspective view of a vehicle provided with a front pillar structure according to the present invention. It is XX sectional drawing of FIG. It is the perspective view which looked at the front pillar from the vehicle outer side. It is the figure which looked at the connection part of a front pillar and a roof side part from the vehicle inside. It is the figure which looked at the connection part of a front pillar and a front body side part through the outer panel from the vehicle outer side. It is a figure which shows the blind spot of a front pillar. It is sectional drawing of the conventional front pillar.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 2 Front pillar 6 Wind shield 10 Hollow member 11 Front surface 12, 13 Side surface 14 Corner part 20 Outer panel (outer member)
30 Door seal 40 Garnish (outer member)

Claims (4)

A pair of side surfaces and a direction along the line of sight of the OPERATION's width direction (12, 13), for supporting the windshield (6) continuous with the front end of one side of the pair of side surfaces (12) front ( 11) and a rear surface connecting both rear ends of the pair of side surfaces (12, 13), are integrally formed in a closed cross section , and the depth dimension in the direction along the driver's line of sight is the horizontal width dimension. A hollow member (10) set larger than ,
A door seal (30) attached to the side surface (13) on the side located away from the front surface (11) ;
An outer member (20, 40) for covering the front face the door seal be attached to (11) (30) wherein the hollow member over the windshield (6) from (10) of said hollow member (10),
A front pillar structure for a vehicle, comprising: The outer member includes an outer panel (20) supported by a corner portion (14) of the side surface (13) to which the front surface (11 ) of the hollow member (10) and the door seal (30) are attached. The front pillar structure for a vehicle according to claim 1. The vehicle front pillar structure according to claim 2, wherein the outer member includes a garnish (40) mounted between the outer panel (20) and the windshield (6) . One end (10a) in the longitudinal direction of the hollow member (10) is formed between a roof side outer (3a) and a roof side inner (3b) disposed on the inner side of the outer panel (20) in the roof side (3). The other end portion (10b) in the longitudinal direction of the hollow member (10) is arranged on the inner side and welded thereto, and the outer panel (20) of the front body side portion (4) and the front body side inner (4a) ) Between the front body side inner (4a) and the stiffener (7) welded to the front body side inner (4a). The vehicle front pillar structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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