JP4651838B2 - Automobile center pillar structure - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a center pillar structure of an automobile, and more particularly to a center pillar structure when a tubular molded member by tube forming is applied to a stiffening member of a center pillar.
[0002]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventionally, the structural members that make up the car body are made by pressing a steel plate into a desired shape and combining them into a U-shaped cross section or a hat-shaped cross section, or by welding the flanges in a state of being overlapped, A structure was formed to provide the necessary strength. Particularly, in the center pillar structure of an automobile, due to the recent demand for improving the rigidity of the vehicle body, the outer panel member that forms the outermost shell of the center pillar and the inner panel member that forms the innermost shell are made of a large number of steel plates. In a state where the reinforcing member is fitted and inserted, they are welded to each other so as to maintain high strength and suppress deformation in the vehicle upon receiving an impact.
By the way, in recent years, the momentum of changing the components of automobiles from steel plate to steel pipe has been increasing, and among such tube forming, in particular, hydraulic forming that forms the desired shape by inflating the steel pipe with hydraulic pressure An increasing number of manufacturers are adopting molded members made of (hydroform) as components for automobiles.
In this hydroform, it is possible to integrally form a cylindrical member having a complicated and different cross-sectional shape, and the cross-sectional shape in the same space can be expanded with a smaller number of parts than the constituent members made of steel plates, and the This is because weight reduction and high rigidity can be obtained. And the example which applied the member shape | molded by this hydroforming as a stiffening member of a center pillar is disclosed by Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2000-95146.
[0003]
However, with tube forming like this hydroform, it is possible to obtain a complicated cross-sectional shape, but when using a steel pipe with a particularly hard material, the outer peripheral length (tube circumference) of the steel pipe before molding and after molding It is difficult to provide a large difference between the outer peripheral length of the steel pipe, and especially the difference in outer peripheral length between the thin upper end side and the thick lower end side is large, as in the stiffening member of the center pillar described in the preceding example. When trying to adapt to molded parts, steel pipes must be pre-formed into a tapered shape in advance, or the wall thickness may not be targeted, which hinders productivity improvement. is there.
Furthermore, since it is preferable that the general structural member of the vehicle body has a small difference in strength due to its shape, a molded member with a large cross-sectional shape, such as a center pillar stiffening member, requires a reinforcing member at the small-diameter portion. There is also a possibility that the effect of reducing the number of parts may be reduced.
[0004]
Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the problems of the conventional automobile center pillar structure as described above, and a tube forming molded member using a hard steel pipe is formed as a center pillar. When it is applied to a stiffening member, it is possible to form a complex cross-sectional shape without making a large difference between the outer perimeter of the steel pipe before molding and the outer perimeter of the steel pipe after molding. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automobile center pillar structure that can achieve the same distribution as the above and can simultaneously achieve weight reduction, simplification, low cost, and high rigidity.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a tubular phosphorus hose member is disposed on the vehicle interior side of an outer panel member of a center pillar that extends along the vertical direction of the vehicle body and forms the rear edge of the front door opening. In the center pillar structure of automobiles
The tubular phosphorus hose member has a cross-sectional shape in which one end side is reduced in diameter from the other end side, and a recessed portion formed so as to be recessed by a predetermined distance toward the inside of the tube along the longitudinal direction. It is formed by a predetermined distance.
[0006]
The indentation formed in the tubular phosphorus hose member has an indentation depth so that the outer peripheral length on one end side that is reduced in diameter from the other end side and the outer peripheral length on the other end side are substantially the same outer peripheral length. It is characterized by being.
[0007]
The indented portion is formed from an upper end portion on one end side of the tubular phosphorus hose member to a substantially intermediate portion, and the indentation depth is the deepest at the upper end side of the tubular phosphorus hose member and toward the intermediate portion. is formed to gradually become shallower gradually dent depth Rutotomoni, as the outer peripheral length of each section is a substantially equal circumferential length, characterized in that it is continuously formed.
[0009]
A seat anchor shoulder anchor mounting portion is provided in the indented portion .
[0010]
The tubular phosphorus hose member is directly bonded and fixed to the outer panel member.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Embodiments that are considered to be most suitable for the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an example of an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a center pillar structure of an automobile, and FIG. 2 is a side view when the vehicle body in FIG. 1 is viewed from one side. 3A is an exploded perspective view when the center pillar structure in FIG. 1 is viewed from the outside of the vehicle body, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view when the center pillar structure in FIG. (A)-(d) has shown the arrow view for every cross section shown in FIG.3 (b). Here, since the center pillars are equally provided on both the left and right sides of the vehicle body, the center pillar structure on the left side of the vehicle body will be described.
[0012]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the center pillar 10 in the embodiment of the present invention is mainly composed of a center pillar outer 11 and a tubular inner hose 12.
[0013]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the center pillar 10 is a side member that is erected on the left and right sides of the vehicle body so as to separate the front seat and the rear seat of the vehicle, and the upper end thereof is on the side of the roof side rail 13. The end portion and the lower end are respectively joined to the upper end portion of the side sill 14 to ensure the lateral rigidity of the vehicle body.
The center pillar outer 11 that forms the outermost shell of the center pillar 10 is a plate-like member that extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle body, and is shorter in the shorter direction from the upper side to the lower side of the center pillar outer 11. The central portion 11a is formed in a divergent shape that gradually increases in width, and protrudes by a predetermined distance to the left side of the vehicle body (the outer side in FIG. 2). The front side portion 11b and the rear side portion 11c sandwiched from the direction are integrally bent along the vertical direction, that is, the longitudinal direction, and at the front and rear vehicle body edges of the front side portion 11b and the rear side portion 11c Since the front and rear flanges 11d and 11e, which are bent toward the front and rear of the vehicle body, are formed along the longitudinal direction, the center pillar outer 11 is (That of the inner side. In FIG. 2, depth of the page surface) has an approximately hat-shaped cross section which opens toward the.
[0014]
A tubular inner hose 12 arranged along the inner side of the center pillar outer 11 is a stiffening member arranged in place of a conventional phosphorus hose member made of a plurality of steel plate materials. It is processed and molded so that the cross-sectional shape on the upper end side is greatly reduced by the foam.
The longitudinal distance of the tubular inner hose 12 is set such that the upper end of the tubular inner hose 12 is aligned with the upper end of the central portion 11a of the center pillar outer 11 so that the tubular inner hose 12 The lower end portion is set so as to be positioned between the upper rear door hinge mounting portion 15 and the lower rear door hinge mounting portion 16 formed at a predetermined position of the center pillar outer 11. The window shoulder facing portion of the outer 11 is stiffened. The lateral width of the inner hose 12 in the short direction is formed in a divergent shape that is gradually widened from the top to the bottom, like the center pillar outer 11.
[0015]
The outer side surface of the tubular inner hose 12 is formed by hydraulic pressure so as to protrude in a substantially mountain shape toward the center pillar outer side, that is, the tube outer direction. The tubular inner hose 12 is formed into the inner side of the center pillar outer 11. And a projecting portion 12a projecting a predetermined distance so as not to come into contact with the center portion 11a of the center pillar outer 11, and the projecting portion 12a is sandwiched from the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and the front side portion of the center pillar outer 11 is disposed. 11b, front and rear side portions 12b and 12c, which are opposed to the rear side portion 11c, are integrally formed along the longitudinal direction.
[0016]
On the inner side surface of the tubular inner hose 12, an opposing outer side surface, that is, a recessed portion 12d that is hydroformed so as to be recessed by a predetermined distance toward the inside of the tube is formed by a predetermined distance along the longitudinal direction. . The indented portion 12d is formed from the upper end portion of the tubular inner hose 12 to a substantially intermediate portion, and has a bead shape that reinforces the inner side surface, and the indented depth is a small diameter of the tubular inner hose 12. The upper end side of the tubular inner hose 12 is the deepest so that the outer peripheral length of the upper end portion that is the portion, the outer peripheral length of the intermediate portion that is the large diameter portion, and the outer peripheral length of the lower end portion are substantially the same outer peripheral length. It is formed so that the dent depth gradually becomes shallower toward the middle part.
[0017]
Further, two mounting holes 17 having a predetermined diameter are formed at predetermined positions on the inner side surface of the tubular inner hose 12, and a shoulder anchor bolt 18 of a seat belt is fixed to one mounting hole 17. A welding nut 19 is attached. The mounting hole 17 is formed in a deep portion of the recessed portion 12d, and when the shoulder anchor bolt 18 is attached to the welding nut 19, the bolt head 18a of the shoulder anchor bolt 18 is substantially contained in the recessed portion 12d. It is considered as such a position. The other mounting hole 17 is provided in the vicinity of a substantially intermediate portion where the recess portion 12d is not formed.
[0018]
As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D, the tubular inner hose 12 disposed on the inner side of the center pillar outer 11 includes a part of the inner side surface of the center pillar outer 11 and the outer of the tubular inner hose 12. A part of the side surface is in contact with the longitudinal direction, and a desired position of the contact portion is joined and fixed by welding to form a coupling portion 20, so that the tubular inner hose 12 is a center pillar. It will be firmly fixed directly to the outer 11.
[0019]
Further, on the inner side of the center pillar 10 configured as described above, a center pillar inner (which is a plate-like member having a substantially hat-shaped cross-sectional shape that extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle body and opens toward the outer side ( (Not shown) is arranged. At the front and rear end edges of the center pillar inner, flanges that are joined and fixed to the front and rear flanges 11d and 11e of the center pillar outer 11 are formed, and each flange of the center pillar inner and the center pillar outer 11 is formed. Are joined to form a closed cross-sectional structure of the center pillar 10.
[0020]
As described above, the tubular inner line hose 12 is arranged on the inner side of the center pillar outer 11 constituting the center pillar 10, thereby increasing the drag of the window shoulder facing portion of the center pillar outer 11 and welding. There is no seam, and the outer side surface of the integrally formed tubular inner hose 12 is formed so as to protrude outwardly from the tube, and the inner side surface is protruded toward the inside of the tube, thereby further improving the rigidity. Therefore, when an impact is applied from the side of the vehicle body and the center pillar 10 is deformed and entered toward the inner side together with structures such as the side door and the side sill 14, the center pillar outer 11 starts to deform first. Since the crushing margin is formed with the inner hose 12, a space for sufficiently absorbing the impact force is secured, and the deformation of the window shoulder facing portion is minimized. Then, when the center pillar outer 11 itself in which the deformation of the window shoulder facing portion is prevented from entering the inner side, the projecting portion 12a and the recessed portion 12d are formed, and the tubular inner hose 12 having higher rigidity is formed. The cross-section of the center pillar outer 11 and the center pillar inner is not changed in the conventional structure, so that the center pillar 10 is positioned on the inner side while preventing the deformation of the window shoulder facing portion of the center pillar outer 11. It will be possible to enter stably.
[0021]
As described above, according to the center pillar structure of the present invention, the center pillar outer 11 of the center pillar 10 has a substantially cross-sectional hat shape that opens toward the inner side, and gradually increases from the top to the bottom. It is formed into a widening shape that is widened. In the tubular inner hose 12 that is hydraulically formed so as to be arranged along the inner longitudinal direction of the center pillar outer 11, as with the center pillar outer 11, the upper end portion has a small diameter portion and the lower end portion is large. It is formed in the diameter part. Since the outer peripheral length of the upper end portion of the tubular inner hose 12 and the outer peripheral length of the intermediate portion and the outer peripheral length of the lower end portion are substantially the same outer peripheral length, the inner side surface is recessed toward the inner tube direction. The recessed portion 12d is provided, and the recessed shape of the recessed portion 12d is such that the upper end side of the tubular inner hose 12 is deepest, and the recessed depth gradually decreases toward the intermediate portion. It is formed to go. As a result, even when a hard steel pipe is used as the tubular inner hose 12, the outer circumferential length of the steel pipe before molding and the outer circumferential length of the tubular inner hose 12 after molding remain substantially the same. Appearance can be realized, and it becomes possible to mold a complicated cross-sectional shape without preforming the steel pipe into a taper shape in advance, as well as aiming for the wall thickness after molding Distribution can be achieved, and intensity differences due to complex shapes can be reduced. Further, since the recess 12d is provided along the longitudinal direction of the small diameter portion at the upper end portion of the tubular inner hose 12, the bead shape that reinforces the small diameter portion is also provided, so that the reinforcing member that reinforces the small diameter portion is provided. This eliminates the need to reduce the number of parts, and even if the shoulder anchor bolt 18 is attached to the indented portion 12d, it is possible to exert a sufficient resistance to the tensile force from the seat belt, It becomes unnecessary. In addition, since the bolt head 18a is almost housed in the recess 12d, the amount of protrusion to the indoor side can be minimized, and the indoor space can be utilized to the maximum.
[0022]
As a result, by using a tubular member formed of tube forming as a stiffening member for the center pillar, the center pillar can be reduced in weight and simplified in accordance with the reduction in the number of parts, and from the side of the vehicle body. It is possible to effectively suppress the deformation in the vehicle from the impact force of the vehicle and realize high rigidity that further improves the safety of the occupant at a low cost.
[0023]
Note that the center pillar structure of an automobile of the present invention is not only applied to the center pillar, but can also be applied to a body frame member such as a front pillar, a rear quarter pillar, or a side sill.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the center pillar structure of an automobile of the present invention, when a tube forming molding member using a hard steel pipe is applied to the stiffening member of the center pillar, the outer peripheral length of the steel pipe before molding and the molding It is possible to mold a complicated cross-sectional shape without making a big difference with the outer circumference of the steel pipe later, and it is possible to make the distribution as intended for the wall thickness, making the center pillar lighter and simpler. Thus, it is possible to provide a vehicle center pillar structure capable of simultaneously achieving low cost and high rigidity. In addition, since the shoulder anchor bolt is attached to the indented portion, it becomes possible to exert a sufficient resistance against the tensile force from the seat belt, and the brackets are unnecessary.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an example of an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a center pillar structure of an automobile.
2 is a side view when the vehicle body in FIG. 1 is viewed from one side. FIG.
3A is an exploded perspective view when the center pillar structure in FIG. 1 is viewed from the outside of the vehicle body, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view when the center pillar structure in FIG. 1 is viewed from the inside of the vehicle body. It is.
4A to 4D are arrow views of each cross section shown in FIG. 3B.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Center pillar 11 Center pillar outer 11a Center part 11b Front side part 11c Rear side part 12 Tubular inner hose 12a Protrusion part 12b Front side part 12c Rear side part 12d Dented part 17 Mounting hole 18 Shoulder anchor bolt 19 Welding nut

Claims (3)

In a vehicle center pillar structure in which a tubular phosphorus hose member is disposed on the vehicle interior side of an outer panel member of a center pillar that extends along the vertical direction of the vehicle body and forms a rear edge portion of a front door opening,
The tubular phosphorus hose member has a cross-sectional shape in which one end side is reduced in diameter from the other end side, and a recessed portion formed so as to be recessed by a predetermined distance toward the inside of the tube along the longitudinal direction. It is formed for a predetermined distance,
The indentation depth is set so that the outer peripheral length on one end side that is reduced in diameter from the other end side and the outer peripheral length on the other end side are substantially the same outer peripheral length,
The indentation depth is formed so as to gradually become shallower from the upper end side of the tubular phosphorus hose member toward the intermediate portion, and continuously formed so that the outer peripheral length in each cross section is substantially the same outer peripheral length,
A shoulder anchor bolt mounting part of a seat belt is provided in the indented part, and the indented part is arranged in a direction protruding from the vehicle body inner side toward the outer side when the tubular phosphorus hose member is arranged in the center pillar. The center pillar structure of an automobile characterized by The indented portion is formed from the upper end portion on one end side of the tubular phosphorus hose member to a substantially intermediate portion, and the indentation depth is formed so that the upper end side of the tubular phosphorus hose member is deepest. The center pillar structure of an automobile according to claim 1, wherein   The center pillar structure for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the tubular phosphorus hose member is directly bonded and fixed to the outer panel member.

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