JP4327512B2 - Connection structure of radiator support - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a coupling structure of a radiator support that is disposed at a front portion of a vehicle body and supports a radiator.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A radiator support formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape when viewed from the front is disposed at the front of the vehicle body. The radiator support is divided into a radiator support upper and a radiator support lower, and there are generally two types of assembly structures, which are assembled by bolting and welding structures, which are assembled by welding.
[0003]
FIG. 4 shows an example of coupling of a radiator support upper and a radiator support lower of the assembly structure type assembled by conventional bolting. As shown in this figure, conventionally, a bracket 106 in which a plurality of weld nuts 104 are welded on the same plane is fixed to a lower end portion of a column portion 102 of a radiator support upper 100 by welding in advance. In addition, a reinforcement reinforcement 110 formed in a lid shape is fixed in advance to the end of the radiator support lower 108 in the longitudinal direction by welding. The radiator support upper 100 and the radiator support lower 108 are coupled by fastening the reinforcement 110 and the bracket 106 on the same plane with a bolt (not shown) and the weld nut 104.
[0004]
Supplementing the above configuration, if the end in the longitudinal direction of the radiator support lower is configured in a flat plate shape, the flat plate end is bolted to the lower end portion of the pillar portion of the radiator support upper in the same plane. The coupling rigidity cannot be ensured only by coupling them together. Therefore, in the conventional structure, a reinforcement reinforcement 110 formed in a lid shape is attached to the longitudinal end portion of the radiator support lower 108, and after securing the rigidity of this portion, the column portion of the radiator support upper 100 is provided. The bracket 106 and the radiator support lower 108 arranged at the lower end portion of 102 are fastened.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2001-213353 [0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Incidentally, the radiator support is required to have a function of protecting the engine from road surface interference in addition to the original function of supporting the radiator. Furthermore, in recent years, it has also been required to ensure rigidity for pedestrian protection (input of leg portions).
[0007]
In the above-described conventional structure, a reinforcement reinforcement 110 is separately provided at a joint portion between the radiator support upper 100 and the radiator support lower 108, so that the rigidity is ensured so as to ensure the above function. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the number of parts increases and the weight also increases.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to obtain a radiator support coupling structure that can increase the coupling rigidity between the upper side and the lower side with a small number of parts and contribute to weight reduction.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radiator support coupling structure including a first radiator support member disposed at a front portion of a vehicle body and having a pair of pillars disposed upright on both sides, and a front portion of the vehicle body. And a second radiator support member having a longitudinal end portion coupled to a lower end portion or an upper end portion of the pair of column portions of the first radiator support member. A coupling structure, wherein a bracket extending in the vehicle front-rear direction and having a step in a height direction is provided at a lower end or an upper end of the pair of column portions, and ends of the bracket and the second radiator support member in the longitudinal direction Are combined at at least two locations on the upper and lower sides of the bracket.
[0010]
A radiator support coupling structure according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect of the present invention, the stepped portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle has a stepped shape .
[0011]
The radiator support coupling structure according to the present invention as set forth in claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second radiator support member has a bolt from the lower side or the upper side thereof. It is characterized in that it is connected to the lower end or the upper end of the column portion by being screwed into the weld nut.
[0012]
According to this invention of Claim 1, the bracket is provided in the lower end part or upper end part of a pair of pillar part of a 1st radiator support member, The longitudinal direction of a 2nd radiator support member is provided in this bracket. By joining the ends, the first radiator support member and the second radiator support member are joined.
[0013]
Here, in the present invention, the bracket extends in the vehicle front-rear direction and has a step in the height direction, and the end of the second radiator support member is at least two places on the upper stage side and the lower stage side of the bracket. Compared to the structure in which the column portion of the first radiator support member and the end portion of the second radiator support member are coupled on the same plane, the coupling rigidity in the vehicle vertical direction and the vehicle longitudinal direction are compared with each other. Can be increased. Furthermore, since the bracket has a step, a resistance moment with respect to the vehicle width direction can be obtained. Such a moment of resistance works on both the coupling rigidity in the vehicle vertical direction and the coupling rigidity in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and further increases the respective coupling rigidity.
[0014]
Therefore, according to the present invention, the deformation of the radiator support at the time of road surface interference can be prevented or suppressed, and the rigidity of the body side (radiator support) from the viewpoint of pedestrian protection is also ensured.
[0015]
Moreover, since the rigidity of the coupling between the first radiator support member and the second radiator support member can be ensured by using a bracket having a step, the reinforcement reinforcement that has been conventionally required is eliminated. Can do. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced and the weight can be reduced.
[0016]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the step portion extending in the vehicle front-rear direction has a staircase shape , so that the bracket structure is simplified.
[0017]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the weld nut is welded to the bottom wall portion of the bracket in advance, and the bolt is screwed into the weld nut from the lower side or the upper side of the end portion of the second radiator support member. By being inserted, the first radiator support member is coupled to the lower end portion or the upper end portion of the pillar portion of the first radiator support member, so that the assembly operation of the radiator support is completed by the bolt fastening operation.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a radiator support coupling structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In these drawings, an arrow FR appropriately shown indicates the vehicle front side, an arrow UP indicates the vehicle upper side, and an arrow OUT indicates the vehicle width direction outer side.
[0019]
FIG. 3 shows a front view of the overall configuration of the radiator support 10. As shown in this figure, the radiator support 10 is formed in a substantially U-shape with the lower side open, and constitutes an upper portion of the radiator support 10, and a radiator support upper 12 as a “first radiator support member”; A radiator support lower 14 serving as a “second radiator support member” that is arranged with the vehicle width direction as a longitudinal direction and that forms the lower part of the radiator support 10, has a substantially rectangular frame as a whole in the assembled state. It is formed in a shape. The radiator support 10 is disposed in a standing state near the front end portion of the front portion of the vehicle body so as to support a radiator (not shown).
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 1, on both sides of the radiator support upper 12, a pair of left and right column portions 16 having a longitudinal direction in the vehicle vertical direction are arranged in parallel, and a press portion is disposed on the lower end portion of the column portion 16. A bracket 18 manufactured by molding is welded. Then, the radiator support upper 12 and the radiator support lower 14 are coupled to each other by bolting the longitudinal end portion of the radiator support lower 14 having a hat-shaped cross section to the bracket 18.
[0021]
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the bracket 18 is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross-section with the upper side open, and the front flange 18B raised from the bottom wall 18A and the peripheral edge thereof. The rear flange portion 18C and the inner flange portion 18D are provided. Among these, the front flange portion 18B, the rear flange portion 18C, and the inner flange portion 18D are welded to the inner surface of the column portion 16, respectively, so that the bracket 18 is attached to the lower end portion of the column portion 16.
[0022]
Further, the bottom wall portion 18A of the bracket 18 is formed in a substantially step shape when viewed from the front, and a predetermined step 20 is provided. The upper step portion 20A located on the inner side is positioned higher than the lower step portion 20B located on the outer side, and the offset amount of the upper step portion 20A and the lower step portion 20B with respect to the vehicle vertical direction is the inclination angle and inclination direction of the middle step portion 20C. It is defined (adjusted) according to the dimensions.
[0023]
Furthermore, bolt insertion holes (not shown) are formed in two places on the upper surface of the upper step portion 20A and one place on the upper surface of the lower step portion 20B (a total of three places), and a weld nut 22 is welded in advance on the same axis.
[0024]
Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.
[0025]
In the radiator support coupling structure according to the present embodiment, a bracket 18 is provided at the lower end portion of the pair of column portions 16 of the radiator support upper 12, and the longitudinal end portion of the radiator support lower 14 is a bolt. And the radiator support upper 12 and the radiator support lower 14 are connected by being connected by the weld nut 22.
[0026]
Here, in this embodiment, the bracket 18 is configured to have a step 20 in the height direction when viewed from the front, and a radiator support is provided at two locations on the upper surface of the upper step portion 20A of the bracket 18 and at one location on the upper surface of the lower step portion 20B. Since the end portion of the lower 14 is coupled, compared to a structure in which the column portion of the radiator support upper and the end portion of the radiator support lower are planarly coupled on the same plane, the coupling rigidity in the vehicle vertical direction and the vehicle longitudinal direction The joint rigidity with respect to can be increased. Further, since the bracket 18 has the step 20, a resistance moment M (see FIG. 2) centering on the vehicle width direction is obtained. Such a resistance moment M works on both the coupling rigidity in the vehicle vertical direction and the coupling rigidity in the vehicle front-rear direction, and further increases the respective coupling rigidity.
[0027]
Therefore, according to this embodiment, the deformation of the radiator support 10 at the time of road surface interference can be prevented or suppressed, and the rigidity of the body side (the radiator support 10) from the viewpoint of pedestrian protection is also ensured. Supplementing the latter, in recent years, from the viewpoint of protecting pedestrians, a buffer device for absorbing energy at the time of contact with the pedestrian is often installed in the portion from the radiator support 10 and the front bumper cover. Yes. Such a shock absorbing device is configured to absorb energy by making a predetermined deformation upon contact with a pedestrian, but if the rigidity on the body side (that is, the radiator support 10 side) is low at that time, The buffer device will not be able to crash as set. Therefore, securing the rigidity on the body side (the radiator support 10 side) is essential for causing the deformation as set in the shock absorbing device, and by doing so, pedestrian protection can be achieved.
[0028]
In addition, in the present embodiment, by using the bracket 18 having the step 20, it is possible to secure the coupling rigidity between the radiator support upper 12 and the radiator support lower 14, so that reinforcement reinforcement that has been conventionally required is provided. Can be abolished. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, and the weight can be reduced accordingly.
[0029]
Further, in the radiator support coupling structure according to the present embodiment, the bracket 18 has a staircase shape when viewed from the front, so that the structure of the bracket 18 can be simplified. As a result, the radiator support 10 can also be reduced in size and weight from this point.
[0030]
Further, in the radiator support coupling structure according to this embodiment, a weld nut 22 is welded to the bottom wall portion 18A of the bracket 18 in advance, and the bolt of the end of the radiator support lower 14 is welded from the lower side. By being screwed into the radiator support upper 12, the radiator support 10 is coupled to the lower end portion of the column portion 16, so that the assembly operation of the radiator support 10 is completed by the bolt fastening operation. As a result, workability can be improved.
[0031]
In particular, as in the present embodiment, the radiator support upper 12 is formed in a U shape with the lower side open, and the radiator support lower 14 connects the lower ends of the pair of pillars 16 to form a rectangular frame-shaped radiator. In the case of the type in which the support 10 is formed, the body is lifted above the operator's head when the vehicle is assembled, and in this state, the bolt is fastened to the weld nut 22 from the lower side of the body and assembled. Therefore, if the coupling structure of the radiator support according to the present embodiment is applied to such a vehicle type, it is not forced to change the work process or the work posture, so that the improvement in workability is realized particularly. Can do.
[0032]
In addition, in this embodiment mentioned above, although the structure which fastens the bracket 18 and the edge part of the longitudinal direction of the radiator support lower 14 with fasteners, such as a volt | bolt and the weld nut 22, not only this but a bracket and it is welded. You may take the structure which couple | bonds the edge part of the longitudinal direction of a radiator support lower. Even in this case, if the bracket has a predetermined step shape when viewed from the front, the same action and effect can be obtained.
[0033]
Moreover, in this embodiment mentioned above, the radiator support upper 12 is formed in the U-shape by which the lower side was open | released, and when the radiator support lower 14 connects the lower end parts of a pair of pillar part 16, rectangular frame shape is formed. Although the present invention is applied to the type in which the radiator support 10 is formed, the present invention is not limited to this, and the radiator support lower is formed in a U-shape with the upper side open, and the upper ends of the pair of column portions are connected to each other. The present invention may be applied to a type in which a radiator support having a rectangular frame shape is formed by connecting linear radiator support uppers.
[0034]
In this case, since the bracket 18 is attached to the upper ends of the pair of pillars of the radiator support lower, the effects of preventing the body deformation due to road surface interference and ensuring the rigidity from the viewpoint of protecting the pedestrian are diminished. Since the effect that the radiator support can be configured with a simple configuration can be obtained in the same manner, the effect that the weight can be reduced while securing the coupling rigidity can be obtained as it is.
[0035]
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the weld nut 22 is welded to the bracket 18 in advance and bolted. However, conversely, the weld bolt may be welded in advance and tightened with the nut. .
[0036]
Moreover, in this embodiment, although the bracket 18 was formed in the staircase shape by side view, it is not restricted to this, What is necessary is just a shape which has a level | step difference.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the radiator support coupling structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, a bracket extending in the vehicle front-rear direction and having a step in the height direction is provided at the lower ends of the pair of pillars, Since the end portions in the longitudinal direction of the radiator support member 2 are joined at at least two places on the upper and lower sides of the bracket, the coupling rigidity between the upper side and the lower side can be increased with a small number of parts, and It has an excellent effect that it can contribute to weight reduction.
[0038]
In the radiator support coupling structure according to the second aspect of the present invention, the stepped portion extending in the vehicle front-rear direction is stepped in the first aspect of the invention, so that the bracket structure can be simplified. As a result, it has an excellent effect that the radiator support can be reduced in size and weight.
[0039]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radiator support coupling structure according to the first or second aspect, wherein a weld nut is pre-welded to the bottom wall portion of the bracket, and the second radiator support member Since the end portion of the radiator is coupled to the lower end portion of the column portion of the first radiator support member by screwing the bolt into the weld nut from the lower side or the upper side, the assembly work of the radiator support Can be completed by the fastening operation of the bolt, and as a result, the workability can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion indicated by an arrow 1 in FIG. 3 showing a radiator support coupling structure according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the bracket shown in FIG. 1 as a single item;
FIG. 3 is a front view showing an overall configuration of a radiator support according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a coupling structure of a conventional radiator support.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Radiator support 12 Radiator support upper (first radiator support member)
14 Radiator support lower (second radiator support member)
16 Column 18 Bracket 18A Bottom wall 20 Step 20A Upper step 20C Lower step 22 Weld nut

Claims (3)

A first radiator support member disposed at the front of the vehicle body and having a pair of pillars disposed upright on both sides;
A second radiator support member disposed at the front of the vehicle body and having both ends in the longitudinal direction coupled to the lower end or upper end of the pair of pillars of the first radiator support member;
A radiator support coupling structure comprising:
A bracket extending in the vehicle front-rear direction and having a step in the height direction is provided at a lower end portion or an upper end portion of the pair of column portions, and the bracket and the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the second radiator support member are connected to the upper stage of the bracket. Combined in at least two places on the side and lower side,
A radiator support coupling structure characterized by that. The step portion extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction has a staircase shape ,
The radiator support coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein: A weld nut is pre-welded to the bottom wall of the bracket,
The end portion of the second radiator support member is coupled to the lower end portion or the upper end portion of the column portion by screwing a bolt into the weld nut from the lower side or the upper side thereof,
3. The radiator support coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein the radiator support is coupled.

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