JP5103959B2 - Front pillar structure for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle front pillar structure.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a reinforcement formed in a front pillar of an automobile that includes two members, an appli-in reinforcement and a lower reinforcement (for example, see Patent Document 1). An extension portion extending toward the vehicle rear side is provided at the lower end portion of the lower reinforcement, and a joint area between the lower reinforcement and the rocker reinforcement is secured by the extension portion.
JP 2000-85619 A

  By the way, in order to achieve both weight reduction and collision performance of the vehicle, the reinforcement as described above may be manufactured with a steel plate of high-tensile steel. However, a high-tensile steel steel sheet has poor press workability, and therefore, when the shape of the molded product is complicated, it may be difficult to form a predetermined shape by a single press work.

  For example, although the above-described lower reinforcement is set to have a long vertical dimension, an R portion that is deeply squeezed is provided in the vicinity of the extended portion on the lower end side. For this reason, when shape | molding the above-mentioned lower reinforcement by one press work, the length of the extension part (joint part to rocker reinforcement) is because the steel plate of the extension part side will be drawn in to the curved part side. The dimension may be shorter than the set value. For this reason, it is necessary to take measures such as increasing the number of press working steps or adding another part, which may deteriorate productivity.

  In view of the above facts, the present invention has an object to obtain a vehicle front pillar structure that can improve the productivity of reinforcement even when the reinforcement is manufactured using a steel plate of high-tensile steel.

A front pillar structure for a vehicle according to an invention of claim 1 includes a front pillar body having a closed cross-section structure, and a reinforcement provided in the closed section to reinforce the front pillar body, wherein the reinforcement is The upper part, the center part, and the lower part formed separately by pressing, the center part being joined to the lower side of the upper part, and the lower part being joined to the lower side of the center part. In addition , the bonding strength between the center portion and the lower portion is characterized in that the vehicle front side is set lower than the vehicle rear side .

  In the vehicle front pillar structure according to the first aspect, the upper portion, the center portion, and the lower portion are joined together to constitute the reinforcement. That is, since the reinforcement has a three-part structure of the upper part, the center part, and the lower part, the single product shape of the upper part, the center part, and the lower part can be simplified. Therefore, even when reinforce is manufactured using a steel plate of high strength steel, the formability of each of the upper part, the center part, and the lower part can be improved, and as a result, the productivity of the reinforce can be improved. it can.

Moreover, in the front pillar structure for a vehicle of this, during a frontal collision of the vehicle, even when the front tire has collided with the vehicle front side at the junction of the center portion and the lower portion, the bonding strength of the vehicle front side of the joint portion is low Since it is set, the energy of the collision can be absorbed efficiently.

A vehicle front pillar structure according to a second aspect of the present invention is the vehicle front pillar structure according to the first aspect , wherein the lower portion is joined to the center portion in a state of being overlapped in the plate thickness direction. In addition, a fragile part is provided on the vehicle front side of the overlapping part.

In the vehicle front pillar structure according to claim 2 , even when the front tire collides with the vehicle front side in the overlapping portion of the center portion and the lower portion at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, the fragile portion is on the vehicle front side of the overlapping portion. Therefore, collision energy can be efficiently absorbed.

A vehicle front pillar structure according to a third aspect of the present invention is the vehicle front pillar structure according to the first or second aspect , wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are thicker than the center portion. It joins in the state which overlap | superposed to the direction, and a door hinge is attached to each said superimposition part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

In the vehicle front pillar structure according to the third aspect , the door hinge is attached to the overlapping portion of the upper portion and the center portion and the overlapping portion of the center portion and the lower portion. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the need to apply special reinforcement to the reinforcement for attaching the door hinge.

  As described above, the vehicle front pillar structure according to the first aspect of the present invention can improve the productivity of the reinforcement even when the reinforcement is manufactured using a steel plate of high-tensile steel.

Moreover, in the vehicle front pillar structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, the collision energy of the front tire can be efficiently absorbed.

In the vehicle front pillar structure according to the second aspect of the present invention, the collision energy of the front tire can be efficiently absorbed.

In the vehicle front pillar structure according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the need to reinforce the reinforcement for attaching the door hinge.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the figure, an arrow FR indicates the front direction of the vehicle, an arrow UP indicates the upward direction of the vehicle, and an arrow IN indicates the inner side of the vehicle width.

  FIG. 1 is a side view showing a configuration of a side panel 14 of an automobile 12 configured by applying the vehicle front pillar structure according to the present embodiment. The side panel 14 of the automobile 12 includes a rocker 16 that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction. A lower end portion of a front pillar 18 extending in the vehicle vertical direction is connected to the front end portion of the rocker 16, and a lower end portion of a center pillar 20 extending in the vehicle vertical direction is connected to a middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the rocker 16. Yes. The upper end portion of the front pillar 18 and the upper end portion of the center pillar 20 are connected by a roof side rail 22 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the front door is formed by the roof side rail 22, the center pillar 20, the front pillar 18, and the rocker 16. An opening 24 is formed.

  The above-described front pillar 18 includes a front pillar body 26 having a closed cross-sectional structure. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front pillar main body 26 includes an outer panel 28 disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and an inner panel 30 disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the outer panel 28. And the closed cross section is comprised by joining both. A front pillar outer reinforcement 32 (hereinafter referred to as an outer R / F 32) that reinforces the front pillar body 26 is disposed in the closed cross section of the front pillar body 26.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the outer R / F 32 includes an upper portion 34 (Upper reinforcement) disposed at an upper portion in the closed cross section. A center portion 36 (center reinforcement) formed separately from the upper portion 34 is joined to the lower side of the upper portion 34. Further, a lower portion 38 (lower reinforcement) formed separately from the center portion 36 is joined to the lower side of the center portion 36. Each of the upper part 34, the center part 36, and the lower part 38 is formed by pressing a steel plate of high-tensile steel, and each has a substantially hat-shaped cross section. Has been.

  The lower end portion of the upper portion 34 is disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the upper end portion of the center portion 36 and overlaps in the plate thickness direction. A plurality of overlapping portions 40 of the upper portion 34 and the center portion 36 are joined by spot welding, whereby the upper portion 34 and the center portion 36 are integrally coupled.

  Further, the upper end portion of the lower portion 38 is disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the lower end portion of the center portion 36 and overlaps in the plate thickness direction. A plurality of overlapping portions 42 of the lower portion 38 and the center portion 36 are joined by spot welding, whereby the center portion 36 and the lower portion 38 are integrally coupled.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the joint portion (the portion marked with “X” in FIG. 2) between the center portion 36 and the lower portion 38 is set to one location (one hit point) on the vehicle front side. In addition, two locations (two hit points) are set on the vehicle rear side. For this reason, the joint strength between the center portion 36 and the lower portion 38 is set lower on the vehicle front side than on the vehicle rear side. Further, a notch 44 is formed at the vehicle front side end portion of the lower end portion of the center portion 36 (the portion overlapping the upper end portion of the lower portion 38), and the fragile portion 45 ( (A single plate portion) is provided (the vehicle front side of the overlapping portion 42 is weakened).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the overlapping portion 40 of the upper portion 34 and the center portion 36 is disposed in contact with the inner side surface of the outer panel 28 in the vehicle width direction. An upper door hinge 48 for rotatably connecting the front door 46 to the front pillar 18 is disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the outer panel 28. The upper door hinge 48 is disposed at a position facing the overlapping portion 40, and a pair of front and rear bolt insertion holes 50 for attaching the upper door hinge 48 are formed in the overlapping portion 40. Bolts 52 penetrating the upper door hinge 48 and the outer panel 28 are inserted into these bolt insertion holes 50, and nuts 54 are screwed into these bolts 52. Thereby, the upper door hinge 48 is fastened to the outer panel 28 and the outer R / F 32.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the overlapping portion 42 of the center portion 36 and the lower portion 38 is disposed in contact with the inner side surface of the outer panel 28 in the vehicle width direction. A lower door hinge 56 for rotatably connecting the front door 46 to the front pillar 18 is disposed on the outer side of the outer panel 28 in the vehicle width direction. The lower door hinge 56 is disposed at a position facing the overlapping portion 42, and a pair of upper and lower bolt insertion holes 58 for attaching the lower door hinge 56 is formed in the overlapping portion 42. Bolts 60 penetrating the lower door hinge 56 and the outer panel 28 are inserted into these bolt insertion holes 58, and nuts 62 are screwed into these bolts 60. Thereby, the lower door hinge 56 is fastened to the outer panel 28 and the outer R / F 32.

  In the outer R / F 32 configured as described above, the lower end side of the lower portion 38 is joined to the outer panel 64 of the rocker 16. An extension portion 38A extending toward the vehicle rear side is provided on the lower end side of the lower portion 38, and the joint area between the lower portion 38 and the outer panel 64 (rocker 16) is expanded by the extension portion 38A. ing. An arc-shaped R portion 38B that is deeply drawn when the lower portion 38 is pressed is provided in the immediate vicinity of the extending portion 38A on the vehicle front side.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  In the front pillar 18 having the above-described configuration, the outer R / F 32 has a three-part structure of the upper portion 34, the center portion 36, and the lower portion 38, and the single-piece shape of the upper portion 34, the center portion 36, and the lower portion 38 has a single shape. It has been simplified. Therefore, even when the outer R / F 32 is manufactured by press forming of a high-strength steel plate, the formability of the upper portion 34, the center portion 36, and the lower portion 38 can be improved. As a result, the outer R / F The productivity of F32 can be improved.

  In particular, the lower portion 38 is provided with an R portion 38B that is deeply narrowed in the vicinity of the extending portion 38A. In this embodiment, the length of the lower portion 38 in the vertical direction is set short. For this reason, even when the lower portion 38 is formed by a single press process, the length L of the extending portion 38A can be sufficiently secured. Therefore, the productivity of the lower portion 38 can be improved, and a sufficient bonding area between the lower portion 38 (outer R / F 32) and the rocker 16 can be secured. For this reason, the load input from the front tire 66 to the front pillar 18 at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle can be distributed over a wide range of the rocker 16. Thereby, since the deformation | transformation of the rocker 16 at the time of a frontal collision and the fall of the front pillar 18 accompanying this can be suppressed, a high performance collision performance is securable.

  Moreover, in the front pillar 18, the bonding strength between the center portion 36 and the lower portion 38 is set lower on the vehicle front side than on the vehicle rear side. For this reason, even when the front tire 66 collides with the front side of the vehicle at the joint between the center portion 36 and the lower portion 38 at the time of the frontal collision of the vehicle, the collision energy is caused by the deformation of the front side of the joint (the overlapping portion 42). Can be efficiently absorbed. Further, the joint strength at the vehicle rear side at the joint portion between the center portion 36 and the lower portion 38 is set higher than that at the vehicle front side. For this reason, deformation of the rear side wall 32A of the outer R / F 32 can be suppressed, so that deformation of the front door opening 24 can be suppressed.

  Further, in the front pillar 18, the notch 44 is formed at the vehicle front side end portion at the lower end portion of the center portion 36, so that the fragile portion 45 is provided on the vehicle front side of the overlapping portion 42. For this reason, even when the front tire 66 collides with the vehicle front side of the overlapping portion 42 at the time of the frontal collision of the vehicle, the collision energy can be efficiently absorbed by the deformation of the vehicle front side of the overlapping portion 42.

  Further, in the front pillar 18, the upper door hinge 48 is attached to the overlapping portion 40 of the upper portion 34 and the center portion 36, and the lower door hinge 56 is attached to the overlapping portion 42 of the center portion 36 and the lower portion 38. . Therefore, it is not necessary to apply special reinforcement to the outer R / F 32 in order to attach the upper door hinge 48 and the lower door hinge 56.

  That is, in the case of the integrated outer R / F 68 as shown in FIG. 5, it is necessary to attach the reinforcing members 70 and 72 (hinge reinforcement) to the places where the upper door hinge 48 and the lower door hinge 56 are attached, respectively. For this reason, the number of parts is the same as that of the outer R / F 32 according to the present embodiment (see FIG. 7). In addition, in the case of such an integrated outer R / F 68, since the shape of a single product is complicated, the number that can be manufactured from a single steel sheet is reduced. For this reason, there exists a problem that a yield is bad and manufacturing cost becomes high. Further, when such an integrated outer R / F 68 is manufactured from a high-strength steel plate, in order to sufficiently secure the length L of the extending portion 68A, the press work is divided into a plurality of processes. There is a problem that productivity is low.

  On the other hand, in the case of an outer R / F 74 (described in the background art section) having a two-part structure of an upper portion 76 and a lower portion 78 as shown in FIG. 6, a reinforcing member 72 is provided at a position where the lower door hinge 56 is attached. It is necessary to install. For this reason, the number of parts is the same as that of the outer R / F 32 according to the present embodiment. Moreover, even in the outer R / F 74 having such a two-part structure, since the single part shape of the lower portion 38 is complicated, the yield is poor and the manufacturing cost is increased. Furthermore, when manufacturing such an outer R / F 74 having a two-part structure with a steel plate of high-tensile steel, as described in the background art section, in order to sufficiently secure the length L of the extending portion 78A. However, there is a problem in that productivity is low because the press work must be divided into a plurality of processes.

  On the other hand, the outer R / F 32 according to the present embodiment can improve the yield and productivity with the same number of parts as the outer R / F 68 and 74 described above, resulting in a significant reduction in manufacturing cost. be able to.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the superposition | polymerization part 42 of the center part 36 and the lower part 38 was set as the structure where one place of the vehicle front side was spot-welded and two places of the vehicle rear side were spot-welded, Not limited to this, the number of spot welding points can be appropriately changed on the vehicle front side and the vehicle rear side of the overlapping portion 42.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the notch 44 was formed in the center part 36, it was set as the structure by which the weak part 45 was provided in the vehicle front side of the superposition | polymerization part 42, However, this invention is not limited to this, The lower part 38 By forming the notch in the vehicle, the weakened portion may be provided on the vehicle front side of the overlapping portion 42, or by forming the notch in both the center portion 36 and the lower portion 38, the overlapping portion 42 is formed. The vehicle front side may be weakened. Moreover, you may make it the structure by which a weak part is provided in the vehicle front side of the superposition | polymerization part 42 by forming a hole instead of a notch. Furthermore, the above-described notch and hole may be omitted.

  In the above-described embodiment, the upper portion 34 and the lower portion 38 are joined to the center portion 36 in a state of being overlapped in the plate thickness direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the upper portion 34, the center portion, and the center portion 36 are joined. The portion 36 and the lower portion 38 may be joined in a state where the end portions are butted. However, in this case, it is necessary to attach a reinforcing member (hinge reinforcement) to the place where the upper door hinge 48 and the lower door hinge 56 are attached.

It is a side view showing composition of a side panel of a car by which a front pillar structure for vehicles concerning an embodiment of the present invention was applied. It is a side view which shows the structure of outer R / F which is a structural member of the front pillar structure for vehicles which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the front pillar of the motor vehicle shown by FIG. 1 in the position corresponded to the 3-3 line of FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the front pillar of the automobile shown in FIG. 1 cut at a position corresponding to line 4-4 in FIG. It is a side view which shows the structure of integral outer R / F. It is a side view which shows the structure of outer R / F of 2 division structure. It is a figure for comparing outer R / F of integral type, outer R / F of 2 division structure, and outer R / F of 3 division structure.

Explanation of symbols

12 Car (vehicle)
18 Front Pillar 26 Front Pillar Body 32 Outer R / F (Reinforce)
34 Upper part 36 Center part 38 Lower part 40, 42 Superposition part 48 Upper door hinge 56 Lower door hinge

Claims (3)

A front pillar body with a closed cross-sectional structure;
Reinforce which is provided in the closed cross section and reinforces the front pillar body,
The reinforcement has an upper part, a center part, and a lower part that are separately formed by pressing, and the center part is joined to the lower side of the upper part, and the lower side of the center part The front pillar structure for a vehicle is characterized in that the lower part is joined to each other, and the joining strength between the center part and the lower part is set lower on the vehicle front side than on the vehicle rear side .   The lower portion is joined to the center portion in a state of being overlapped in the plate thickness direction, and a fragile portion is provided on the vehicle front side of the overlap portion. The vehicle front pillar structure as described.   3. The upper part and the lower part are joined to the center part in a state of being superposed in the plate thickness direction, and a door hinge is attached to each superposed part. The vehicle front pillar structure as described.

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