JP4755892B2 - Deck cross member fixing structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a structure for fixing, for example, a deck cross member that supports a steering shaft to a vehicle body.

  In an automobile, the steering shaft is generally supported by a deck cross member that is passed between front pillars facing each other in the vehicle width direction. The deck cross member is fixed to the front pillar via a bracket.

As such a bracket, there is a steering member support structure for fixing an end portion of a steering member to a pillar inner via a bracket as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. In order to improve the support rigidity of the steering member, this bracket reinforces the pillar inner by providing a patch and a brace inside the pillar inner.
JP-A-7-81614

  However, in the bracket disclosed in Patent Document 1, the rigidity of the pillar supporting the bracket is improved by providing a patch and a brace, but the support rigidity of the fixing portion of the bracket and the steering member is not improved. Moreover, the number of parts for improving the support rigidity of a bracket will increase.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a deck cross member fixing structure capable of improving the support rigidity of the deck cross member by the bracket and suppressing the increase in the number of parts.

The deck cross member fixing structure of the present invention includes a deck cross member extending in a vehicle width direction, a bracket fixed to a front pillar of a vehicle body and an end of the deck cross member in the vehicle width direction, and the bracket. And three fixed seats that are separately formed and fixed to the bracket and abut against the front pillar. The bracket includes a surface facing the end portion of the deck cross member, and a flange portion that is formed in a pair so as to protrude from the surface and face each other and to which the end portion is fixed. The end portion is formed with a pair of flat surfaces corresponding to the pair of flange portions. The three fixing member portions are arranged so as to surround the cross member on the surface of the bracket facing the front pillar and to be positioned on both sides of each flange portion.

  According to this configuration, the deck cross member is fixed to the flange portion formed so as to protrude from the surface of the bracket and face each other, so that the support rigidity of the bracket and the deck cross member can be improved.

Further , according to this configuration, by adjusting the height of the fixed seat portion, the posture of the bracket can be stably fixed to the wall portion of the vehicle body even if the front pillar of the vehicle body is not flat. Further, the bracket can be fixed to the front pillars having different vehicle body shapes by adjusting the height of the fixed seat portion.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flange portion is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.

  According to this configuration, the length of the bracket in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body can be reduced, and the bracket can be easily attached to the front pillar having a small length in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the support rigidity of the deck cross member by the bracket and to suppress an increase in the number of parts.

  A deck cross member fixing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the deck cross member fixing structure 10 is used in, for example, an automobile 20. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a front part of a vehicle body 21 of an automobile 20 with a part cut away. FIG. 1 shows a deck cross member fixing structure 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the deck cross member fixing structure 10 includes a front pillar 30, a deck cross member 40, and a bracket 50.

  The front pillars 30 are arranged one by one on the left and right sides at the front side of the vehicle body 21 in the vehicle width direction. The structure of the front pillar 30 arranged on the right side in the vehicle width direction and the structure of the front pillar 30 arranged on the left side in the vehicle width direction may be symmetrical to each other in the vehicle width direction. The front pillar 30 disposed on the left side in the vehicle width direction is partially omitted.

  The front pillar 30 includes an outer panel 31 and an inner panel 32. The front pillar 30 is configured by welding an outer panel 31 and an inner panel 32 to each other. The outer panel 31 is disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the inner panel 32.

  In order to increase the rigidity of the front pillar 30, the inner panel 32 includes a wall portion 32a and a closed cross-sectional portion 32b. The closed cross-section portion 32b protrudes toward the inside of the vehicle with respect to the wall portion 32a. The closed cross section 32b is stepped toward the inside of the vehicle.

  Similarly, the outer panel 31 has a wall portion 31a and a closed cross-section portion 31b. The closed cross section 31b protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the wall 31a.

  The outer panel 31 and the inner panel 32 have wall portions 32a and 31a welded to each other. A closed section 33 is formed by the closed section 31b and the closed section 32b. Therefore, since the cross section of the front pillar 30 is a closed cross section, the rigidity of the front pillar 30 is improved.

  The deck cross member 40 is fixed to a front pillar 30 disposed on the left side in the vehicle width direction and a front pillar 30 disposed on the right side in the vehicle width direction via a bracket 50 described later.

  A steering shaft 41 is supported on the deck cross member 40. A steering wheel 42 is attached to the steering shaft 41.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded partial cross-sectional view showing a fixing structure between the front pillar 30 and the deck cross member 40 arranged on the right side in the vehicle width direction. The fixing structure between the front pillar 30 and the deck cross member 40 arranged on the left side in the vehicle width direction may be the same as the fixing structure between the front pillar 30 and the deck cross member 40 arranged on the right side in the vehicle width direction. . FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view across the longitudinal direction of the deck cross member 40. As shown in FIG. 5, the cross-sectional shape of the deck cross member 40 is substantially rectangular.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the deck cross member 40 includes an upper wall portion 43, a lower wall portion 44, a front wall portion 45, and a rear wall portion 46. In FIG. 5, the upper side in the drawing indicates the upper side of the vehicle body, and the lower side in the drawing indicates the lower side of the vehicle body. The right side in the figure shows the rear of the vehicle body. The left side of the figure shows the front of the vehicle body.

  The upper wall portion 43 is a wall portion facing the upper side of the vehicle body 21 when the deck cross member 40 is fixed to the front pillar 30 via the bracket 50. The lower wall portion 44 is a wall portion facing downward of the vehicle body 21 when the deck cross member 40 is fixed to the front pillar 30 via the bracket 50.

  The upper surface 43a of the upper wall portion 43 and the lower surface 44a of the lower wall portion 44 are parallel to each other. The upper surface 43a and the lower surface 44a are planes corresponding to the flange portion of the bracket referred to in the present invention.

  The front wall 45 is a wall facing the front of the vehicle body when the deck cross member 40 is fixed to the front pillar 30 via the bracket 50. The rear wall portion 46 is a wall portion facing the rear of the vehicle body when the deck cross member 40 is fixed to the front pillar 30 via the bracket 50.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the bracket 50. The bracket 50 is described here as an example of being formed by extrusion molding, but is not limited thereto, and can be formed by forging or die casting.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bracket 50 includes a surface 52 formed by extrusion, a first flange portion 53, a second flange portion 54, a first fixed seat portion 61, A second fixed seat 62 and a third fixed seat 63 are provided.

  The bracket 50 is formed by extrusion molding. By changing the die (not shown) for molding the bracket 50, the thickness of the surface 52, the first flange portion 53, and the second flange portion 54 is arbitrarily changed according to the required strength and shape. be able to.

  The surface 52 is a surface facing inward in the vehicle width direction in the bracket 50, and is a plane extending in the vertical direction. A first flange portion 53 and a second flange portion 54 protrude from the surface 52. The surface 52 has a size that covers the end surface 47 of the deck cross member 40. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bracket 50 viewed from the second surface 51 side. The second surface 51 is a surface facing the front pillar 30 in the bracket 50.

  The first flange portion 53 is formed integrally with the bracket 50. The first flange portion 53 protrudes inward in the vehicle width direction from the surface 52 and extends in an extrusion direction (vehicle body longitudinal direction) by extrusion molding.

  The second flange portion 54 is formed in the same manner as the first flange portion 53, and is disposed below the vehicle body from the first flange portion 53.

  4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line F4-F4 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the bracket 50 and the first and second flange portions 53 and 54 along the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the first and second flange portions 53 and 54 have a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line F5-F5 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the lower surface 53a of the first flange portion 53 is a plane parallel to a plane defined by, for example, the vehicle body front-rear direction and the vehicle width direction. The upper surface 54a of the second flange portion 54 is parallel to the lower surface 53a.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first to third fixed seat portions 61, 62, 63 protrude from the second surface 51 toward the vehicle width direction outer side. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first to third fixed seat portions 61, 62, 63 are disassembled. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the first to third fixed seat portions 61, 62, and 63 are formed by first to third fixed seat members 71, 72, and 73 formed separately from the bracket 50. It is formed by being fixed to 50.

  The first fixed seat portion 61 is formed by fixing the first fixed seat member 71 to the second surface 51 by, for example, welding. The first fixed seat member 71 has, for example, a cylindrical shape, and a first female screw portion 71a is formed on the inner surface thereof. A first through hole 56 that communicates with the inside of the first fixed seat member 71 is formed in the surface 52.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the first fixed seat 61. The position at which the first fixed seat member 71 is disposed on the second surface 51 is a position facing a portion of the closed cross section 32b of the inner panel 32 that is located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The first fixed seat member 71 has a length that reaches the closed cross section 32 b of the inner panel 32 from the second surface 51.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the second fixed seat portion 62 is formed by fixing the second fixed seat member 72 to the surface 51 by, for example, welding. The second fixed seat member 72 has a cylindrical shape, for example, and has a second female screw portion 72a formed on the inner surface thereof. A second through hole 57 that communicates with the inside of the second fixed seat member 72 is formed in the surface 52.

  The second fixed seat 62 is located above the first fixed seat 61 and in front of the vehicle body. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line F7-F7 shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along the vertical direction of the front pillar 30, the bracket 50, and the deck cross member 40 that passes through the second fixed seat 62 and the third fixed seat 63. As shown in FIG. 7, the second fixed seat member 72 has a length that reaches the closed section 32 b of the inner panel 32 from the second surface 55.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the third fixed seat portion 63 is formed by fixing the third fixed seat member 73 to the surface 51 by, for example, welding. The third fixed seat member 73 has, for example, a cylindrical shape, and a third female screw portion 73a is formed on the inner surface thereof. A third through hole 58 that communicates with the inside of the third fixed seat member 73 is formed in the surface 52.

  The position of the third fixed seat portion 63 is a position below the first fixed seat portion 61 and overlapping the second fixed seat portion 62 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.

  The bracket 50 configured as described above is fixed to the front pillar 30 by bolts 80 as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a cylindrical first communicating with the second fixed seat portion 62 is provided between a portion of the closed cross-sectional portion 32 b of the inner panel 32 that protrudes inside the vehicle and the closed cross-sectional portion 31 b of the outer panel 31. One spacer 81 is provided. Both end surfaces of the first spacer 81 are fixed to the inner panel 32 and the outer panel 31 by welding, for example. A fourth through hole 82 and a fifth through hole 83 are formed in the outer panel 31 and the inner panel 32 so as to communicate with the inside of the first spacer 81. The fourth through hole 82 passes through the outer panel 31. The fifth through hole 83 passes through the inner panel 32.

  Similarly, a cylindrical second spacer 84 communicating with the third fixed seat portion 63 is provided between a portion of the closed cross-section portion 32b of the inner panel 32 that protrudes inward in the vehicle and the closed cross-section portion 31b of the outer panel 31. Is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an eighth through hole 87 and a ninth penetration that communicate with the inside of the first fixed seat 61 are formed in the closed section 32 b of the inner panel 32 and the closed section 31 b of the outer panel 31. A hole 88 is formed. The eighth through hole 87 passes through the inner panel 32. The ninth through hole 88 passes through the outer panel 31. A cylindrical third spacer 85 that communicates with the first fixed seat portion 61 is provided between the closed cross-sectional portion 32 b of the inner panel 32 and the closed cross-sectional portion 31 b of the outer panel 31.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the bolt 80 passes through the first spacer 81 and the second fixed seat member 72 or the second spacer 84 and the third fixed seat member 73, respectively, and fastens the bracket 50 to the front pillar 30. ing. The bolts 80 are respectively screwed with the second female screw portion 72a or the third female screw portion 73a. As shown in FIG. 4, another bolt 80 passes through the first fixed seat member 71 and is screwed into the first female screw portion 71 a to fix the bracket 50 to the front pillar 30.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle width direction end portion 40 a of the deck cross member 40 is inserted between the first flange portion 53 and the second flange portion 54. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the deck cross member 40 has an end portion 40 a in which the upper surface 43 a of the upper wall portion 43 faces the lower surface 53 a of the first flange portion 53 and is in surface contact with each other. The lower surface 44a of the lower wall portion 44 at 40a is disposed so as to face the upper surface 54a of the second flange portion 54 and come into surface contact with each other.

  As described above, the upper surface 43a, the lower surface 44a, the lower surface 53a of the first flange portion 53, and the upper surface 54a of the second flange portion 54 are parallel to a plane defined by the vehicle body longitudinal direction and the vehicle width direction. It is a flat surface.

  Here, the arrangement of the end surface 47 of the deck cross member 40 and the first to third fixed seats 61 to 63 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the second and third fixed seat portions 62 and 63 are located outside the range surrounded by the first and second flange portions 53 and 54 (the range in which the end portion 40 a is inserted).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the end surface 47 is located in front of the vehicle body with respect to the first fixed seat portion 61. That is, the end surface 47 is surrounded by the first to third fixed seat portions 61 to 63.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the entire region where the tip edge 53 b of the first flange portion 53 and the upper surface 43 a are in contact with each other is welded. Similarly, a range where the tip edge 54b of the second flange portion 54 and the lower surface 44a are in contact with each other is entirely welded. In the figure, P indicates a welded portion.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the surface 52 and the first and second flange portions 53 and 54 are integrally extruded along the extrusion direction A. Therefore, the lower surface 53a and the upper surface 54a extend in the extrusion direction A. The bracket 50 is made of, for example, a magnesium alloy or an aluminum alloy.

  The bracket 50 is formed by being cut in a direction B substantially perpendicular to the extrusion direction. The size (length) of the bracket 50 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body is adjusted when the bracket 50 is cut.

  In the deck cross member fixing structure 10 configured as described above, the deck cross member 40 is fixed to the first and second flange portions 53 and 54, thereby improving the support rigidity of the bracket 50 and the deck cross member 40. be able to.

  Furthermore, since only the bracket 50 is used to fix the deck cross member 40 and the first and second flange portions 53 and 54, an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed.

  Further, the bracket 50 includes the first to third fixed seat portions 61 to 63 and adjusts the height of the first to third fixed seat portions 61 to 63, so that the bracket 50 is front pillar as in the present embodiment. Even when it is fixed over the closed cross-section portion 32b and the wall portion 32a of the bracket 30, the posture of the bracket 50 can be stably fixed to the front pillar 30.

  Further, by using the first to third fixed seat members 71 to 73 adjusted for different automobiles, the bracket 50 can be commonly used for different automobiles. Therefore, the cost of the deck cross member fixing structure 10 can be reduced by using the bracket 50 in common.

  Further, the bracket 50 can be stably fixed to the front pillar 30 by providing at least three places (first to third fixed seat portions 61 to 63) so that the fixed seat portion surrounds the deck cross member 40. .

  Further, the first and second flange portions 53 and 54 as the fixing portions are formed on the bracket 50, whereby the deck cross member 40 is firmly fixed to the bracket 50.

The first flange portion 53 has a lower surface 53a, and the second flange portion 54 is an upper surface 54a.
a, the deck cross member 40 has an upper surface 43a and a lower surface 44a, and the surfaces 53a, 54a, 43a, 44a are flat, and the lower surface 53a and the upper surface 43a are in surface contact with each other. When the upper surface 54a and the lower surface 44a are in surface contact with each other, the contact area between the deck cross member 40 and the bracket 50 is increased. Therefore, the deck cross member 40 and the bracket 50 are firmly fixed to each other, and the support rigidity of the deck cross member 40 is improved.

  The surfaces 53a, 54a, 43a, and 44a where the deck cross member 40 and the bracket 50 are in contact with each other need only be parallel to each other, and may be any plane. In short, the surface 53a and the surface 43a may be in surface contact with each other, and the surface 54a and the surface 44a may be in surface contact with each other. Further, the upper surface 43a and the lower surface 44a of the deck cross member do not need to be flat across the entire area. In short, it is only necessary to have a flat surface as long as it is in surface contact with the first and second flange portions 53 and 54.

  Further, since the first and second flange portions 43 and 44 are along the vehicle body longitudinal direction, the load acting on the deck cross member 40 in the vehicle longitudinal direction is affected by the lower surface 53a of the first flange portion 53 and the deck cross member. 40 acts as a shearing load between the upper surface 43a of 40 and between the upper surface 54a of the second flange portion 54 and the lower surface 44a. Since the shear load is supported by the flange portions 43 and 44 along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, it is possible to improve the support rigidity of the steering 42 that causes the shear load to be generated.

  Moreover, the length along the vehicle body front-rear direction of the bracket 50 can be adjusted by the first and second flange portions 43, 44 being along the vehicle body front-rear direction, that is, by extending the pushing direction of the bracket 50 along the vehicle body front-rear direction. It becomes like this. Therefore, the length of the bracket 50 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body can be reduced. Therefore, the bracket 50 can be easily attached to the front pillar 30 even when the length of the front pillar 30 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body is small.

  Moreover, the 1st-3rd fixed seat parts 61-63 are brackets by forming the 1st-3rd internal thread parts 71a-73a in each inner peripheral part of the 1st-3rd fixed seat parts 61-63. In addition to the function of adjusting the posture of 50, it has a function as a nut that engages with the bolt 80. Therefore, since a nut is not required separately, the number of parts of the deck cross member fixing structure 10 is reduced. If necessary, a nut may be used separately without forming the female thread portion in the fixed seat portion. Further, the number and position of the fixed seats can be changed as appropriate according to the shape of the vehicle body and the required strength.

  Moreover, since the 1st, 2nd flange parts 53 and 54 function also as a rib for improving the rigidity of the bracket 50 in addition to the function as a fixing | fixed part, the rigidity of the bracket 50 improves.

  Further, by inserting the deck cross member 40 between the first and second flange portions 53 and 54, the deck cross member fixing structure 10 can absorb an error in the length of the deck cross member 40. For example, even if there is a dimensional error in the deck cross member 40, the upper surface 43a and the lower surface 53a of the first flange portion 53 need only be in surface contact. An error in the length of the deck cross member 40 can be absorbed by the length of the protrusion to the side. The same applies to the second flange portion 54.

  The direction of extrusion molding and the mounting direction of the bracket 50 can be appropriately set according to the shapes of the deck cross member 40 and the front pillar 30. For example, a bracket that is extruded in a direction along the vertical direction of the vehicle body in accordance with the shape of the front pillar may be attached to the front pillar.

1 is a schematic view showing a front part of a vehicle body of an automobile provided with a deck cross member fixing structure according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a fixing structure between a front pillar and a deck cross member arranged on the right side in the vehicle width direction shown in FIG. The perspective view which shows the bracket shown by FIG. Sectional drawing which follows the F4-F4 line | wire shown by FIG. Sectional drawing which follows the F5-F5 line | wire shown by FIG. The perspective view which shows the state by which the bracket shown by FIG. 3 was decomposed | disassembled. Sectional drawing which follows the F7-F7 line | wire shown by FIG. The perspective view which shows the direction where the bracket shown by FIG. 1 is extruded.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fixed structure of deck cross member, 21 ... Vehicle body, 30 ... Front pillar, 40 ... Deck cross member, 40a ... End part in the vehicle width direction, 43a ... Upper surface (plane), 44a ... Lower surface (plane), 47 ... End surface, 50 ... Bracket, 51 ... Second surface (surface facing the front pillar), 52 ... Surface, 53 ... First flange portion (flange portion), 54 ... Second flange portion (flange portion), 61 ... 1st fixed seat part, 62 ... 2nd fixed seat part, 63 ... 3rd fixing material part.

Claims (2)

A deck cross member extending in the vehicle width direction;
A bracket fixed to the front pillar of the vehicle body and fixed to the end of the deck cross member in the vehicle width direction;
Three fixed seats formed separately from the bracket and fixed to the bracket and abutting against the front pillar;
The bracket is
A surface facing the end of the deck cross member;
A pair of flanges that protrude from the surface and face each other and to which the ends are fixed;
The end portion is formed with a pair of planes corresponding to the pair of flange portions,
The three fixed seats are arranged so as to surround the cross member on the surface of the bracket facing the front pillar, and to be arranged at positions on both sides of the flanges. Cross member fixing structure. The deck cross member fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the flange portion is disposed along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body .

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