JP6897115B2 - Reinforced structure of tailgate spoiler - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a reinforcing structure of a tailgate spoiler mounted on the upper part of the tailgate of a vehicle having a tailgate.

The tailgate spoiler installed on the upper part of the tailgate of a vehicle that has a tailgate (sometimes called a back door or rear gate) at the rear of the vehicle body is a so-called aero part that is retrofitted with a resin or the like that is separate from the vehicle body. It is known that the component is mounted on the upper part of the tailgate. In addition, a sheet metal tailgate spoiler in which a part of the outer panel constituting the tailgate is projected rearward has also been proposed. An example of this type of tailgate spoiler (sheet metal spoiler) is known as WO2015 / 037132A1 (Patent Document 1).

In the vehicle door structure (tailgate spoiler) described in Patent Document 1, a spoiler-shaped portion (convex-shaped portion) having a shape protruding rearward is formed on an upper portion of an outer panel forming a part of a sheet metal constituting the tailgate. doing. It has also been proposed to provide reinforcing materials at the hinges near both ends of the spoiler shape. For example, the hinge reinforcing material of Patent Document 1 has a closing portion for closing the gap between the outer panel and the inner panel.

International release WO2015 / 037132 A1

When opening and closing the tailgate, a downward force or an upward impact load (bounce / rebounce force) is momentarily applied to the spoiler shape, so it is inevitable that the spoiler shape will bend. Moreover, on the lower end side of the spoiler-shaped portion, there is a sudden change in cross section in which the sheet metal is bent at an angle when viewed from the side of the vehicle body. Therefore, the spoiler shape is deformed by the impact load applied to the spoiler shape when the tailgate is opened and closed. When the spoiler-shaped portion is repeatedly deformed by such an impact load, the vicinity of the sudden change in cross section may become a weak point of durability strength. Especially in a vehicle in which a high mount stop lamp is arranged in the spoiler shape part, the weight of the high mount stop lamp is added to the weight of the spoiler shape part, so that the deformation of the spoiler shape part that occurs at the moment when the tailgate is closed can be further increased. There is sex.

In the sheet metal spoiler of Patent Document 1, both ends of the spoiler shape portion are reinforced by hinge reinforcing materials, but since there is no hinge reinforcing material in the intermediate portion between the pair of hinge portions (intermediate portion in the width direction of the vehicle body), there is no hinge reinforcing material. Most of the spoiler shape cannot be reinforced. If the reinforcing material is arranged between the pair of hinge portions, the reinforcing material becomes an obstacle in arranging the harness of the high mount stop lamp in the vehicle in which the high mount stop lamp is arranged in the spoiler shape portion.

When a reinforcing material with high rigidity is attached to the spoiler shape part made of sheet metal, the reinforcing material and spoiler are caused by the vertical impact load (force generated by bounce and rebounce) that is repeatedly generated on the spoiler shape part due to the opening and closing of the tailgate. It is conceivable that excessive stress may be generated at the joint with the shape portion (for example, a spot weld), causing problems such as peeling of the joint during the useful life of the vehicle.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a reinforcing structure for a tailgate spoiler capable of increasing the strength of the spoiler-shaped portion (the strength of opening and closing the tailgate) in a vehicle provided with the spoiler-shaped portion made of sheet metal.

The reinforcing structure of the tailgate spoiler according to one embodiment of the present invention is formed on an outer panel made of sheet metal, a tailgate having an inner panel that can be opened and closed in the vertical direction with respect to the vehicle body, and an upper portion of the outer panel. A spoiler-shaped portion having a wall, a rear wall, and a spoiler-shaped portion having a shape in which the sheet metal is bent at an angle when viewed from the side of the vehicle body on the lower end side, and a spoiler-shaped portion below the sudden cross-section portion of the spoiler-shaped portion. A joint portion for fixing the outer panel and the inner panel to each other, a reinforcing material mounting portion provided on the inner panel inside the spoiler shape portion, and the spoiler shape portion at an intermediate position in the vehicle body width direction of the spoiler shape portion. It has a reinforcing member provided between the lower end side of the spoiler and the reinforcing material mounting portion, and the reinforcing member includes an upper portion fixed to the reinforcing material mounting portion and a sudden change in cross section of the spoiler-shaped portion. It includes a lower portion fixed to the lower end side and an intermediate portion formed between the upper portion and the lower portion.

Further, an opening for a stop lamp for mounting the high mount stop lamp is formed on the rear wall of the spoiler-shaped portion, and the inner panel has a work opening at a position corresponding to the opening for the stop lamp, and the work opening is provided. The reinforcing material mounting portion may be arranged in the opening.

The lower portion of the reinforcing member has a shape in which the width widens toward the lower end, the intermediate portion has a shape narrower than the lower portion and is recessed toward the inner panel, and the bending rigidity of the intermediate portion is the lower portion. It may be smaller than the flexural rigidity of. Further, even if the outer panel is provided with an extending portion that protrudes toward the reinforcing material mounting portion inside the spoiler-shaped portion, and the extending portion and the lower portion of the reinforcing member are fixed to each other by a welded portion. Good. It may further have a bolt for fixing the upper portion of the reinforcing member to the reinforcing material mounting portion. It is preferable that a cover member for covering the work opening and the reinforcing material mounting portion from the vehicle interior side is further provided.

According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the durability of the spoiler-shaped portion in a vehicle provided with a sheet metal spoiler-shaped portion formed of a part of the outer panel.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a vehicle provided with a tailgate spoiler according to one embodiment. The rear view of the outer panel and the like of the tailgate of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the rear of the vehicle. The perspective view which shows a part of the outer panel of the tailgate. The perspective view which shows the inner panel and the reinforcing member of the tailgate. A cross-sectional view of the upper part of the tailgate along the vehicle front-rear direction. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a reinforcing material mounting portion of the inner panel shown in FIG. The perspective view which shows the reinforcing member enlarged. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before mounting the high mount stop lamp and the cover member on the tailgate shown in FIG. 7. The figure which shows typically the force generated in the spoiler shape part of the tailgate.

The reinforcing structure of the tailgate spoiler according to one embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.
FIG. 1 is an example of the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 has a tailgate 12 at the rear of the vehicle body 11. The tailgate 12 is sometimes called a back door, and can be opened and closed in the vertical direction (direction indicated by arrow A1 in FIG. 1) by a pair of hinge portions 15 and 16 arranged at the upper part of the rear end of the vehicle body 11. It is supported by the vehicle body 11. The arrow A2 indicates the front of the vehicle 10.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of a part of the outer panel 20 and the like constituting the tailgate 12 as viewed from the rear of the vehicle. The arrow A3 in FIG. 2 is the width direction of the vehicle 10. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the outer panel 20. The tailgate 12 includes an outer panel 20 shown in FIG. 3, an inner panel 21 shown in FIG. 4, and hinge reinforcements 22 and 23 for reinforcing the vicinity of the hinge portions 15 and 16.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer panel 20 includes a lower panel 20a having a window opening 25 on which the rear glass 24 (shown in FIG. 1) is arranged and an upper panel 20b having a spoiler-shaped portion 30. There is. The upper end of the lower panel 20a and the lower end of the upper panel 20b (the lower end side of the spoiler shape portion 30) are fixed to each other by fixing means such as spot welding, whereby the sheet metal outer panel 20 for the tailgate 12 is formed. Has been done.

A spoiler-shaped portion 30 is formed on the upper portion of the outer panel 20. The spoiler-shaped portion 30 includes an upper wall 31 and a rear wall 32 having a shape in consideration of aerodynamic characteristics and design during traveling, a frame portion 33 formed under the rear wall 32, and a joint portion 34 (FIGS. 5, 5). (Shown in FIG. 8) and the like. The joint portion 34 is fixed to a part of the inner panel 21 (window frame portion 21a) by fixing means such as spot welding. A stop lamp opening 36 for attaching the high mount stop lamp 35 is formed in the center of the rear wall 32 of the spoiler shape portion 30 in the vehicle body width direction.

FIG. 4 shows a part of the inner panel 21, hinge reinforcements 22, 23, end members 38, 39 that close both ends of the spoiler shape portion 30, a reinforcing member 40, a cover member 41, and the like. The reinforcing member 40 and the cover member 41 will be described in detail later. The inner panel 21 is arranged inside the tailgate 12 and is covered with an interior decorative material such as a trim.

As shown in FIG. 4, the inner panel 21 is formed with a window opening 45 at a position corresponding to the window opening 25 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) of the outer panel 20. A work opening 50 and a reinforcing material mounting portion 51 are formed in the center of the upper portion of the inner panel 21 in the vehicle body width direction. The work opening 50 extends in the width direction of the vehicle body 11. The reinforcing material mounting portion 51 is formed so as to cross the center of the work opening 50 in the vertical direction (vertical direction). A through hole 52 is formed in the reinforcing material mounting portion 51.

The work opening 50 and the reinforcing material mounting portion 51 are formed in the vicinity of the upper side of the window frame portion 21a. Moreover, the work opening 50 and the reinforcing material mounting portion 51 face each other in front of the vehicle body with respect to the stop lamp opening 36. The working opening 50 is used when mounting the high mount stop lamp 35, or when handling the harness of the high mount stop lamp 35. The inner panel 21 is formed with a recess 21b extending in the width direction of the vehicle body along the window frame portion 21a to increase the rigidity of the window frame portion 21a and the reinforcing material mounting portion 51.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the upper part of the tailgate 12 along the vehicle front-rear direction. The direction indicated by the arrow A4 in FIG. 5 is the rear of the vehicle body 11. A spoiler-shaped portion 30 is formed on the upper portion of the outer panel 20. At the boundary between the rear wall 32 of the spoiler-shaped portion 30 and the frame portion 33 below the spoiler-shaped portion 30, a sudden cross-sectional change portion 55 having a shape in which the sheet metal bends at an angle when viewed from the side of the vehicle body 11 is formed. .. The cross-section sudden change portion 55 has a shape in which the rear wall 32 and the frame portion 33 bend at an angle close to, for example, 90 °. Moreover, the cross-section sudden change portion 55 extends in the width direction of the vehicle body 11 along the lower frame portion 33 of the spoiler shape portion 30.

The front end of the spoiler-shaped portion 30, that is, the upper end 20c of the outer panel 20, is fixed to the upper end 21c of the inner panel 21 via a joint portion such as a hemming portion 58. The frame portion 33 on the lower end side of the spoiler shape portion 30 is fixed to the window frame portion 21a of the inner panel 21 via a joint portion 34 such as spot welding. In this way, a sheet metal tailgate spoiler 60 having a shape that protrudes relatively large to the rear of the vehicle body is configured above the tailgate 12. An internal space S1 having a closed cross section is formed inside the tailgate spoiler 60.

On the lower end side of the spoiler-shaped portion 30, an extending portion 20d protruding inward of the spoiler-shaped portion 30 is provided along the frame portion 33. The extending portion 20d projects toward the mounting seat 51a of the reinforcing material mounting portion 51 in the internal space S1 of the spoiler-shaped portion 30. The frame portion 33 is located below the sudden change in cross section 55. The frame portion 33, which is a part of the outer panel 20, and the window frame portion 21a, which is a part of the inner panel 21, are fixed to each other by the joint portion 34 with the extension portion 20d sandwiched between them.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing the reinforcing material mounting portion 51. The reinforcing material mounting portion 51 projects toward the rear of the vehicle body 11 in the internal space S1 of the spoiler-shaped portion 30. An inclined mounting seat 51a having a shape that lowers the rear side of the vehicle body is formed on the upper portion of the reinforcing material mounting portion 51. A bolt 70 for fixing the upper portion of the reinforcing member 40 is inserted into the through hole 52 formed in the mounting seat 51a.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the reinforcing member 40. The reinforcing member 40 is a press-molded product of sheet metal, and is provided between the reinforcing material mounting portion 51 and the lower end side of the spoiler-shaped portion 30 in the internal space S1 of the spoiler-shaped portion 30. The reinforcing member 40 is formed between the upper portion 40a fixed to the reinforcing material mounting portion 51, the lower portion 40b fixed near the lower side of the cross-section sudden change portion 55 of the spoiler-shaped portion 30, and the upper portion 40a and the lower portion 40b. It has an intermediate portion 40c in the vertical direction. Around the reinforcing member 40, a flange portion 40d that is substantially continuous over substantially the entire circumference and a shallowly recessed bottom portion 40e formed inside the flange portion 40d are provided.

The upper portion 40a of the reinforcing member 40 is provided with a nut portion 71 such as a welding nut into which the bolt 70 is screwed. The upper portion 40a of the reinforcing member 40 is fixed to the mounting seat 51a of the reinforcing material mounting portion 51 by the bolt 70 and the nut portion 71. The bolt 70 is inserted into the through hole 52 of the reinforcing material mounting portion 51 and screwed into the nut portion 71. Holes 75 and 76 used for positioning the reinforcing member 40 when the reinforcing member 40 and the outer panel 20 are fixed by the welded portion W1 are formed in the vicinity of the upper portion 40a and the lower portion 40b of the reinforcing member 40.

The lower portion 40b of the reinforcing member 40 has a divergent shape whose width widens toward the lower end 40f. The lower portion 40b of the reinforcing member 40 is fixed to the extending portion 20d of the outer panel 20 by a welded portion W1 such as spot welded. Instead of fixing the lower portion 40b of the reinforcing member 40 to the extending portion 20d, it may be directly fixed to the vicinity of the lower side of the cross-section sudden change portion 55 of the outer panel 20.

The width of the intermediate portion 40c of the reinforcing member 40 is smaller than that of the lower portion 40b. The intermediate portion 40c has a cross-sectional shape having a smaller bending rigidity than the upper portion 40a and the lower portion 40b. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5, the intermediate portion 40c has a shape that is recessed toward the recess 21b formed in the vicinity of the window frame portion 21a of the inner panel 21 when viewed from the side of the vehicle body, and further, the intermediate portion 40c. By reducing the height of the flange portion 40d near 40c, the intermediate portion 40c (low rigidity portion) having a relatively small bending rigidity is formed.

The intermediate portion (low-rigidity portion) 40c of the reinforcing member 40 can withstand the tensile load (force in the direction indicated by the arrow F1 in FIG. 5) acting between the upper portion 40a and the lower portion 40b, and is applied in the bending direction. It is possible to bend (elastically deform) to some extent with respect to a load (force in the direction indicated by the arrow F2). As shown in FIG. 5, the intermediate portion (low-rigidity portion) 40c is arranged so as to face substantially the front of the cross-section sudden change portion 55 in a state where the tailgate 12 is rotated and lowered to the closed position.

The cover member 41 is mounted so as to cover the working opening 50 at the upper part of the inner panel 21. The cover member 41 has a size sufficient to cover the work opening 50, and as shown in FIG. 5, not only the work opening 50 but also the reinforcing material mounting portion 51 and the bolt 70 are covered by the cover member 41. ing. The cover member 41 is fixed to the inner panel 21 from the vehicle interior side by the claw portion 41a or the fastener component.

FIG. 8 shows a state before the high mount stop lamp 35 and the cover member 41 are attached to the tailgate spoiler 60. The high mount stop lamp 35 is inserted into the stop lamp opening 36 formed in the rear wall 32 of the spoiler shape portion 30, and the high mount stop lamp 35 is fixed to the rear wall 32 by a screw member or a fastener component. The upper portion 40a of the reinforcing member 40 is previously fixed to the mounting seat 51a of the reinforcing material mounting portion 51 by a bolt 70.

When handling the harness or the like of the high mount stop lamp 35 from the vehicle interior side, the wiring work or the like is performed by inserting a finger into the work opening 50 as necessary. The high mount stop lamp 35 is fixed to the stop lamp opening 36, and after the wiring work is completed, the cover member 41 is attached to the inner panel 21, so that the work opening 50, the reinforcing material mounting portion 51, and the bolt 70 are connected. It is covered by the cover member 41. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the work opening 50, the reinforcing material mounting portion 51, the bolt 70, and the like from being visible from the vehicle interior side.

FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a force applied to the spoiler shape portion 30 at the moment when the tailgate 12 is closed. The tailgate 12 rotates in the vertical direction about the rotation center C1 of the hinge portions 15 and 16. G1 in FIG. 9 indicates the center of gravity of the spoiler-shaped portion 30. Since the amount of protrusion of the spoiler-shaped portion 30 toward the rear of the vehicle body is large, the distance L1 from the center of gravity G1 of the spoiler-shaped portion 30 to the rotation center C1 is considerably large. Therefore, the downward moment force F1 generated in the center of gravity G1 by the inertial force at the moment when the tailgate 12 is closed is also relatively large.

G2 in FIG. 9 indicates the center of gravity of the upper part of the outer panel of the tailgate having no spoiler-shaped portion. In the case of a tailgate having no spoiler-shaped portion, the distance L2 from the center of gravity G2 to the rotation center C1 is considerably smaller than the distance L1 from the center of gravity G1 of the spoiler-shaped portion 30 to the rotation center C1. Therefore, the downward moment force F2 generated at the moment when the tailgate is closed is not so large as to be a problem. Moreover, since the outer panel having no spoiler-shaped portion does not have the sudden change in cross section 55, the shear load acting on the joint portion of the lower edge of the outer panel is not so large even if the tailgate is repeatedly opened and closed.

On the other hand, in the tailgate 12 having the spoiler-shaped portion 30, not only the weight of the spoiler-shaped portion 30 is large, but also the distance L1 from the center of gravity G1 to the rotation center C1 is large, and the lower end side of the spoiler-shaped portion 30 Since the portion 55 having a sudden change in cross section is provided in the vicinity of the joint portion 34, the spoiler-shaped portion 30 tends to move downward due to the inertial force at the moment when the tailgate 12 is closed.

Therefore, as shown by the exaggerated broken line Z1 in FIG. 9, the spoiler-shaped portion 30 moves downward, so that a downward moment force F1 is generated at the center of gravity G1. Further, due to the recoil immediately after closing, the spoiler-shaped portion 30 jumps up as shown by the two-dot chain line Z2 exaggerated in FIG. That is, the component force M1 of the downward moment force F1 generated at the moment when the tailgate 12 is closed and the force applied in the opposite direction due to the reaction act as a shear load in the direction of shearing the joint portion 34. Therefore, when the tailgate 12 is repeatedly opened and closed, the durability of the joint portion 34 becomes a problem.

However, in the present embodiment, the shear load applied to the joint portion 34 at the moment when the tailgate 12 is closed is also input to the reinforcing member 40, and the reinforcing member 40 shares the load in the shearing direction to be input to the joint portion 34. Since the intermediate portion (low-rigidity portion) 40C of the reinforcing member 40 can be bent to some extent, the shear load is converted into the bending mode, so that excessive stress is suppressed in the joint portion 34, and the joint portion 34 becomes Problems such as peeling can be avoided.

If the rigidity of the reinforcing member 40 is too large, excessive stress acts near both ends of the reinforcing member 40, which may adversely affect the durability strength of the joint portion 34. On the other hand, in the reinforcing member 40 of the present embodiment, since the low-rigidity intermediate portion 40c is formed at a position corresponding to the sudden change in cross section 55 of the spoiler-shaped portion 30, the reinforcing member 40 is formed at the moment when the tailgate 12 is closed. The intermediate portion (low-rigidity portion) 40c bends (elastically deforms) to some extent with respect to the component force M2 (shown in FIG. 9) applied in the thickness direction and the force in the opposite direction due to the reaction, so that both ends of the reinforcing member 40 Excessive stress is avoided. Therefore, excessive stress generated in the welded portion W1 and the joint portion 34 of the lower portion 40b of the reinforcing member 40 can be reduced, and problems such as peeling of the welded portion W1 and the joint portion 34 can be avoided.

In carrying out the present invention, various specific aspects such as the shape and arrangement of each member constituting the tailgate spoiler, such as the tailgate, the spoiler shape portion, the outer panel and the inner panel, and the reinforcing member, are changed as necessary. Needless to say, it can be implemented. For example, in a vehicle in which a high-mount stop lamp is placed above the rear glass on the passenger compartment side of the tailgate, a cover member is unnecessary because it is not necessary to form a working opening in the inner panel. The head of the bolt for fixing the reinforcing member may be covered with a decorative decorative member or trim. Further, the reinforcing members may be arranged at a plurality of locations in the vehicle body width direction.

10 ... vehicle, 11 ... car body, 12 ... tailgate, 15, 16 ... hinge part, 20 ... outer panel, 20a ... lower panel, 20b ... upper panel, 20c ... upper end, 20d ... extension part, 21 ... inner panel, 30 ... Spoiler shape part, 31 ... Upper wall, 32 ... Rear wall, 33 ... Frame part, 34 ... Joint part, 35 ... High mount stop lamp, 36 ... Stop lamp opening, 40 ... Reinforcing member, 40a ... Upper part, 40b ... lower part, 40c ... intermediate part (low rigidity part), 40d ... flange part, 40e ... bottom part, 41 ... cover member, 50 ... work opening, 51 ... reinforcing material mounting part, 55 ... sudden change in cross section, 60 ... tailgate Spoiler, 70 ... Bolt, W1 ... Welded part.

Claims (7)

An outer panel made of sheet metal , an inner panel, and a tailgate that can be opened and closed vertically with respect to the vehicle body.
A spoiler-shaped portion formed on the upper part of the outer panel and having an upper wall, a rear wall, and a lower end side having a sudden change in cross section in which the sheet metal is bent at an angle when viewed from the side of the vehicle body.
A joint portion for fixing the outer panel and the inner panel to each other below the sudden change in cross section of the spoiler-shaped portion.
A reinforcing material mounting portion provided on the inner panel inside the spoiler-shaped portion, and
It has a reinforcing member provided between the lower end side of the spoiler-shaped portion and the reinforcing material mounting portion at an intermediate position in the vehicle body width direction of the spoiler-shaped portion.
The reinforcing member is
The upper part fixed to the reinforcing material mounting part and
A lower portion of the spoiler-shaped portion fixed to the lower end side of the sudden change in cross section, and a lower portion.
An intermediate portion formed between the upper part and the lower part,
Reinforced structure of the tailgate spoiler, which is characterized by being equipped with. The reinforcing structure for a tailgate spoiler according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion is arranged so as to face the front of the sudden change in cross section when the tailgate is closed. An opening for a stop lamp for mounting a high-mounted stop lamp is formed on the rear wall of the spoiler-shaped portion, and the inner panel has a working opening at a position corresponding to the opening for the stop lamp, and the working opening is provided. The reinforcing structure for a tailgate spoiler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reinforcing material mounting portion is arranged so as to cross the center in the vehicle body width direction in the vertical direction. The lower portion of the reinforcing member has a shape in which the width widens toward the lower end, the intermediate portion has a shape narrower than the lower portion and is recessed toward the inner panel, and the bending rigidity of the intermediate portion is the lower portion. The reinforcing structure of the tailgate spoiler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rigidity is smaller than the flexural rigidity of the tailgate spoiler. The outer panel is provided with an extending portion that protrudes toward the reinforcing material mounting portion inside the spoiler-shaped portion.
The reinforcing structure for a tailgate spoiler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the extending portion and the lower portion of the reinforcing member are fixed to each other by a welded portion. The reinforcing structure of the tailgate spoiler according to claim 5, further comprising a bolt for fixing the upper portion of the reinforcing member to the reinforcing material mounting portion. The reinforcing structure for a tailgate spoiler according to claim 3, further comprising a cover member for covering the working opening and the reinforcing material mounting portion from the vehicle interior side.

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