JP7234523B2 - vehicle side structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle side structure.

A side portion of a vehicle such as an automobile is provided with a center pillar extending vertically in the center of the side portion of the vehicle body, and a side door arranged on the side portion of the vehicle body. An impact beam is arranged between the door outer panel and the door inner panel of the side door to receive the impact of, for example, a side collision and suppress the deformation of the side door.

Patent Literature 1 describes a vehicle side door structure in which a tubular impact beam is arranged in a side door body. The tip of the impact beam is formed with an inclined end surface that is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction of the door and faces inward in the thickness direction of the door. One surface of a plate-like extension is coupled to the beveled end surface of the tip of the impact beam. The door inner panel is formed with an inclined wall portion having a surface direction along the inclined end surface of the tip of the impact beam, and a vertical wall portion bent inward in the door thickness direction from the end of the inclined wall portion. ing. The slanted wall portion of the door inner panel is joined to the other surface of the extension. The vertical wall portion of the door inner panel is arranged with an extension sandwiched between it and the beveled end face of the impact beam.

According to Patent Document 1, since one surface of the extension is coupled to the beveled end surface of the tip of the impact beam, the strength of the tip of the impact beam is ensured. In addition, since the vertical wall portion of the door inner panel and the beveled end surface of the impact beam are arranged with an extension interposed therebetween, the collision load is stably transmitted to the center pillar side in the event of a side collision.

JP 2009-227064 A

However, in the structure described in Patent Document 1, the shape of the tip portion is changed by forming an oblique end surface on the tip portion of the impact beam, so that the cross-sectional shape is narrow. Therefore, the tip of the impact beam is likely to be deformed by the impact of the side collision, and there is a possibility that the impact cannot be sufficiently received. Therefore, in the event of a side collision, the edge of the side door near the center pillar may be bent or deformed, and the side door may enter the passenger compartment.

In view of such problems, the present invention provides a vehicle side structure that can reduce bending or deformation of the side door end near the center pillar in the event of a side collision, and can suppress the side door from entering the vehicle interior. It is intended to

In order to solve the above-described problems, a representative configuration of the vehicle side structure according to the present invention includes a columnar center pillar extending vertically in the center of the vehicle body side, and a side door arranged on the vehicle body side. In the vehicle side portion structure provided, the center pillar has a vertical wall portion extending in the vehicle width direction in plan view, and the side door includes a door outer panel disposed on the vehicle outer side, and a center pillar disposed on the vehicle inner side of the door outer panel. and a columnar impact beam disposed between the door outer panel and the door inner panel and extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. It overlaps with the vertical wall portion of the vehicle from the outside of the vehicle.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle side structure that can reduce bending or deformation of the side door end near the center pillar and suppress the side door from entering the vehicle interior in the event of a side collision.

1 is a diagram schematically showing a vehicle side structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle side structure of FIG. 1 taken along the line AA; FIG. 3 is a BB cross-sectional view of the vehicle side structure of FIGS. 1 and 2; FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing the vehicle side structure of FIG. 3 with a center pillar omitted; FIG. 5 is a view showing part of the vehicle side structure of FIG. 4; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a modification of the vehicle side structure of FIG. 3; FIG. 7 is a DD cross-sectional view of the vehicle side structure of FIG. 6;

A representative configuration of the vehicle side structure according to one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle side including a columnar center pillar extending vertically in the center of the vehicle body side and a side door arranged on the vehicle body side. In the part structure, the center pillar has a vertical wall portion extending in the vehicle width direction in plan view, and the side door includes a door outer panel arranged on the vehicle outer side, and a door outer panel arranged on the vehicle inner side and on the vehicle outer side of the center pillar. and a columnar impact beam disposed between the door outer panel and the door inner panel and extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. It is characterized by overlapping with the part from the outside of the vehicle.

The impact beam is arranged in the space between the door outer panel and the door inner panel of the side door, and is a member that receives the impact of, for example, a side collision and suppresses deformation of the side door. According to the invention, the impact beam is a column. That is, the impact beam, while maintaining its cross-sectional shape, extends to a position overlapping the vertical wall portion of the center pillar in a side view. Therefore, when the side door receives an impact in the event of a side collision, the impact is transmitted from the impact beam to the center pillar.

Then, it is the vertical wall portion of the center pillar that receives this transmitted impact. Since the vertical wall portion extends in the vehicle width direction in a plan view, it receives a compressive force from the impact beam. Therefore, the vertical wall portion of the center pillar can sufficiently absorb the impact by being compressed and deformed.

Therefore, according to the above configuration, in the event of a side collision, it is possible to reduce bending or deformation of the side door end portion near the center pillar, and to prevent the side door from intruding into the vehicle compartment. As a result, it is possible to reduce the amount of collision objects entering the passenger compartment in the event of a side collision, thereby enhancing the safety of the occupants.

The above-mentioned side door further includes a panel joint where the door outer panel and the door inner panel are joined together at a position overlapping the center pillar when viewed from the side, and a door inner panel separated from the door outer panel within the range where the door inner panel overlaps with the center pillar when viewed from the side. By inserting the impact beam into the space, the impact beam overlaps the vertical wall of the center pillar from the outside of the vehicle in a side view.

In this way, the side door space overlaps the center pillar in a side view, similar to the panel joint (that is, the end of the side door). It is therefore located very close to the edge of the side door. According to the present invention, by inserting the impact beam into such a space, the vertical wall portion of the center pillar in a side view can be achieved without processing such as thinning the cross-sectional shape of the columnar impact beam. It is possible to overlap from the outside of the vehicle. In addition, since the door inner panel bulges toward the vehicle interior in the space, the door inner panel has increased rigidity.

The impact beam is directly or indirectly joined to and held by the door inner panel at the position where the door inner panel protrudes most toward the vehicle interior in the space. According to the above configuration, the impact beam is directly or indirectly joined to and held by the door inner panel in the space, so that the position between the door inner panel and the door outer panel is stable. The impact beam is located at the position of the door inner panel that protrudes most toward the interior of the vehicle, that is, at the position closest to the center pillar. Therefore, in the event of a side collision, the impact beam can reliably collide with the center pillar through the space, and the impact can be reliably received by the impact beam and the center pillar.

The door inner panel in the above-described space portion is inclined so as to extend outwardly of the vehicle with increasing distance in the vertical direction of the vehicle from the most inwardly bulging position. In this way, the door inner panel in the space portion is continuously inclined from the position where it protrudes most toward the vehicle interior side, so deformation due to the impact in the event of a side collision can be suppressed.

The center pillar has a protruding portion that protrudes outward toward the space of the side door. It protrudes outside the vehicle.

Since the center pillar is formed with the projecting portion projecting outwardly of the vehicle in this manner, the rigidity of the center pillar can be increased, and deformation of the center pillar at the time of a collision can be suppressed. Also, the protruding portions of the center pillar protrude outward toward the space of the side door, and the positions where they protrude the most are at the same height. Therefore, the clearance between the door inner panel and the center pillar can be reduced at the height position where the impact beam is held. Therefore, when the door inner panel in the space catches the impact beam that moves toward the inside of the vehicle in the event of a side collision, the door inner panel can reliably collide with the projecting portion of the center pillar with increased rigidity at an early timing. Therefore, the impact at the time of collision can be reliably received, and deformation of the edge of the side door and movement toward the passenger compartment can be reduced.

The above vehicle side structure further comprises a bracket installed on the door inner panel in the space to indirectly join the impact beam to the door inner panel. In this manner, the impact beam can be indirectly joined to the door inner panel by installing the bracket on the door inner panel in the highly rigid space, so there is no need to increase the strength and rigidity of the bracket itself. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size and weight of the bracket by, for example, reducing the plate thickness of the bracket.

The above-mentioned bracket includes a holding portion that holds the impact beam through a predetermined gap from the door inner panel in the space portion, raised portions that protrude from both sides of the holding portion toward the outside of the vehicle so as to move away from the door inner panel, and raised portions. a joint extending continuously from the door inner panel toward the door inner panel and joined to the door inner panel;

As a result, the bracket is easily deformed toward the vehicle interior by the impact beam that moves toward the vehicle interior in the event of a side collision. Further, the bracket can easily absorb the impact in the event of a side collision by the amount of the gap between the impact beam secured by the holding portion and the door inner panel in the space.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in these examples are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention, and do not limit the invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are given the same reference numerals to omit redundant description, and elements that are not directly related to the present invention are omitted from the drawings. do.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a vehicle side structure 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. In the drawing, the vehicle side structure 100 is shown as viewed from the outside of the vehicle. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle side structure 100 of FIG. 1 taken along the line AA. Arrows X and Y shown in the following figures indicate the front side of the vehicle and the inner side of the vehicle, respectively.

The vehicle side structure 100 includes a center pillar 102, a rear side door 104, and a front side door 106, as shown in FIG. The center pillar 102 is a columnar member that extends vertically in the center of the vehicle side portion. As shown in FIG. 1, parts of the rear side door 104 and the front side door 106 overlap the center pillar 102 from the outside of the vehicle when viewed from the side. In the vehicle side structure 100 , the structures of the rear side door 104 and the center pillar 102 will be described below, but this structure may be applied to the front side door 106 instead of the rear side door 104 .

The rear side door 104 includes, as shown in FIG. 2, a door outer panel 108, a door inner panel 110, and an impact beam 112, which are arranged on the outside of the vehicle. The door inner panel 110 is arranged on the vehicle inner side of the door outer panel 108 and joined to the door outer panel 108 at the panel joint portion 114 on the vehicle outer side of the center pillar 102 . The panel joint portion 114 is a portion where the door outer panel 108 and the door inner panel 110 are joined together at a position overlapping the center pillar 102 in a side view, and is included in the front end portion of the rear side door 104 .

The impact beam 112 is a columnar member, is arranged in the space between the door outer panel 108 and the door inner panel 110, and extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The impact beam 112 receives the impact of a side collision and suppresses deformation of the rear side door 104 .

Rear side door 104 further includes space 116 . The space 116 is formed by separating the door inner panel 110 from the door outer panel 108 in a range overlapping the center pillar 102 in a side view. The space portion 116 overlaps the center pillar 102 in a side view, similarly to the panel joint portion 114 included in the front end portion of the rear side door 102 . That is, the space 116 is provided at a position very close to the front end of the rear side door 104 .

As shown in FIG. 2, the columnar impact beam 112 is inserted into the space 116 and extends to a position overlapping at least the rear vertical wall portion 118 of the center pillar 102 in a side view while maintaining its cross-sectional shape. there is A rear vertical wall portion 118 of the center pillar 102 extends in the vehicle width direction in plan view. The space portion 116 has a side wall portion 122 that overlaps the front end portion 120 of the impact beam 112 in a side view, and a vertical wall portion 124 that connects the side wall portion 122 and the panel joint portion 114 .

Since the door inner panel 110 bulges toward the vehicle interior in the space 116, its rigidity is enhanced. Further, the door inner panel 110 bulges inward in a stepped manner from the side wall portion 122 of the space portion 116 toward the rear of the vehicle. Specifically, the door inner panel 110 has vertical wall portions 126 and 128 and a side wall portion 130 located on the rear side of the vehicle relative to the space portion 116, and these wall portions form a stepped shape.

The vertical wall portion 126 is bent from the side wall portion 122 of the space portion 116 and extends in the vehicle width direction. The vertical wall portion 128 is bent from the side wall portion 130 and extends in the vehicle width direction. Side wall portion 130 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction and connects vertical wall portions 126 and 128 . In this way, the door inner panel 110 has increased rigidity not only by the space portion 116 but also by the vertical wall portions 126 and 128 and the side wall portion 130 forming a stepped shape.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the impact beam 112 is inserted into such a space 116. As shown in FIG. Therefore, processing such as thinning the cross-sectional shape of the distal end portion 120 of the columnar impact beam 112 is not required. That is, the impact beam 112 can overlap the rear vertical wall portion 118 of the center pillar 102 from the outside of the vehicle in a side view while maintaining its cross-sectional shape.

In such a vehicle side structure 100 , when the rear side door 104 receives an impact during a side collision, the impact is transmitted from the impact beam 112 to the center pillar 102 . The rear vertical wall portion 118 of the center pillar 102 receives the transmitted impact. Since the rear vertical wall portion 118 extends in the vehicle width direction in a plan view, it receives a compressive force from the impact beam 112 . Therefore, the rear vertical wall portion 118 of the center pillar 102 can sufficiently absorb the impact by being compressed and deformed.

Therefore, according to the vehicle side structure 100, bending or deformation of the front end portion of the rear side door 104 located near the center pillar 102 can be reduced in the event of a side collision, and the rear side door 104 can be prevented from entering the vehicle compartment. As a result, it is possible to reduce the amount of collision objects entering the passenger compartment in the event of a side collision, thereby enhancing the safety of the occupants.

The vertical wall portion 126 of the door inner panel 110 is arranged parallel to the rear vertical wall portion 118 of the center pillar 102, and at least partially overlaps the rear vertical wall portion 118 in a side view. Therefore, when the door inner panel 110 in the space portion 116 receives the impact beam 112 moving toward the vehicle interior in the event of a side collision, the vertical wall portion 126 functions as a guide to ensure that the impact beam 112 collides with the center pillar 102. can be done.

FIG. 3 is a BB cross-sectional view of the vehicle side structure 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing the vehicle side structure 100 of FIG. 3 with the center pillar 102 omitted. Vehicle side structure 100 further comprises bracket 132 . Bracket 132 is installed on door inner panel 110 in space 116 . The bracket 132 indirectly joins and holds the impact beam 112 to the door inner panel 110 at the height position of the top portion 134 (see FIG. 4) of the door inner panel 110 that protrudes most toward the vehicle interior.

In this way, the impact beam 112 is indirectly joined to and held by the door inner panel 110 via the bracket 132 in the space 116, so that the position between the door inner panel 110 and the door outer panel 108 is stable. The impact beam 112 is arranged at the top portion 134 of the door inner panel 110 , that is, at the position closest to the center pillar 102 . As a result, the impact beam 112 can reliably collide with the center pillar 102 via the space 116 in the event of a side collision. Therefore, in the vehicle side structure 100, the impact beam 112 and the center pillar 102 can reliably receive the impact.

Further, in the vehicle side structure 100, since the bracket 132 is installed on the door inner panel 110 in the highly rigid space 116, there is no need to increase the strength and rigidity of the bracket 132 itself. Therefore, the size and weight of the bracket 132 can be reduced, for example, by reducing the plate thickness of the bracket 132 .

The center pillar 102 has a protrusion 136 that protrudes outward toward the space 116 of the rear side door 104 as shown in FIG. The rigidity of the center pillar 102 is increased by the projecting portion 136, and deformation at the time of collision is suppressed. The projecting portion 136 is at the same height as the top portion 134 of the door inner panel 110 in the space portion 116 and projects most outwardly from the vehicle.

Thus, in the vehicle side structure 100, the projecting portion 136 of the center pillar 102 and the top portion 134 of the door inner panel 110 in the space portion 116 are at the same height position. Therefore, the clearance between the door inner panel 110 and the center pillar 102 can be reduced at the height position where the impact beam 112 is held. Therefore, when the door inner panel 110 in the space portion 116 receives the impact beam 112 that moves toward the vehicle interior in the event of a side collision, the door inner panel 110 reliably collides with the projecting portion 136 of the center pillar 102 with increased rigidity at an early timing. can. As a result, the vehicle side structure 100 can reliably receive the impact at the time of collision, and can reduce the deformation of the front end portion of the rear side door 104 and the movement toward the passenger compartment.

A door checker 138 shown in FIG. 4 is provided inside the space 116 of the door inner panel 110 . In the rear side door 104 , the top portion 134 of the door inner panel 110 is at the same height as the door checker 138 .

Further, the door inner panel 110 in the space 116 has inclined portions 140 and 142 continuing from the top portion 134 as shown in FIG. Inclined portions 140 and 142 are inclined so as to extend toward the outside of the vehicle as they move away from top portion 134 of space portion 116 in the vertical direction of the vehicle. In this manner, since the door inner panel 110 in the space 116 has the inclined portions 140 and 142 continuously from the apex 134 that bulges most toward the vehicle interior side, it is possible to suppress deformation due to impact in the event of a side collision.

FIG. 5 is a view showing part of the vehicle side structure 100 of FIG. FIG. 5(a) shows a state in which the door outer panel 108 is omitted from the vehicle side structure 100 of FIG. 4, and the bracket 132 holding the impact beam 112 and its surroundings are viewed obliquely from above. 5B is a front view of the bracket 132. FIG. FIG.5(c) is a C arrow directional view of the bracket 132 of FIG.5(b).

The bracket 132 is a plate-like member and has a holding portion 144 , raised portions 146 and 148 , and joint portions 150 and 152 . The holding portion 144 holds the impact beam 112 with the door inner panel 110 in the space portion 116 via a predetermined gap 154 (see FIG. 5A). The protuberances 146 and 148 protrude toward the vehicle exterior from both sides of the holding portion 144 so as to move away from the door inner panel 110 . The joints 150 , 152 extend continuously from the protuberances 146 , 148 toward the door inner panel 110 and are joined to the door inner panel 110 .

When bracket 132 receives a load from impact beam 112 that moves toward the vehicle interior in the event of a side collision, bracket 132 deforms so that holding portion 144 approaches door inner panel 110 , and protuberances 146 and 148 also deform holding portion 144 . Follow and transform. Therefore, the bracket 132 is easily deformed toward the vehicle interior by the impact beam that moves toward the vehicle interior in the event of a side collision. In addition, the bracket 132 can easily absorb the impact in the event of a side collision by the gap 154 between the impact beam 112 secured by the holding portion 144 and the door inner panel 110 in the space portion 116 . The bracket 132 can be formed by bending a plate-like member, and can be easily processed.

Further, bracket 132 holds impact beam 112 so that the gap between door outer panel 108 and impact beam 112 and the gap between impact beam 112 and door inner panel 110 are the same size. In this way, the impact beam 112 can be stably arranged in the vicinity of the vehicle width direction center in the space between the door outer panel 108 and the door inner panel 110 .

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a modification of the vehicle side structure 100 of FIG. However, in the drawing, the center pillar 102 is omitted from the vehicle side structure 100A of the modified example. FIG. 7 is a DD sectional view of the vehicle side structure 100A of FIG.

In the vehicle side structure 100A of the modified example, the impact beam 112 is directly joined to the door inner panel 110 at the top portion 134 of the door inner panel 110A in the space 116, which bulges most toward the vehicle interior side. , different from the vehicle side structure 100 . Therefore, the vehicle side structure 100A does not need to use the bracket 132, and the structure can be simplified.

In the vehicle side structure 100A, the door harness 156 is routed below the impact beam 112 and the door checker 138, as shown in FIG. A door-side through hole 158 is provided in the door inner panel 110A of the rear side door 104A. The door harness 156 is routed inside the rear side door 104A through a door-side through hole 158 as shown in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the center pillar 102A is provided with a center pillar side through hole 160. As shown in FIG. The door harness 156 is routed inside the center pillar 102A through the center pillar side through hole 160. As shown in FIG. Both the door side through hole 158 and the center pillar side through hole 160 are located below the impact beam 112 and the door checker 138 as shown in FIG.

Therefore, the door harness 156 does not exist in a range overlapping the impact beam 112 in a side view. If the door harness 156 exists in a range overlapping the impact beam 112 in a side view, the door harness 156 interferes with the impact beam 112 that moves toward the inside of the vehicle at the time of collision. As a result, the impact beam 112 deviates from its trajectory when moving toward the inside of the vehicle and does not collide with the projecting portion 136 of the highly rigid center pillar 102A, and the impact is sufficiently absorbed by the rear vertical wall portion 118 of the center pillar 102A. may not be.

On the other hand, in the vehicle side structure 100A, since the door harness 156 does not exist in the range overlapping the impact beam 112 in side view, the door harness 156 does not interfere with the impact beam 112 that moves toward the vehicle interior in the event of a side collision. For this reason, in the vehicle side structure 100A, the impact beam 112 reliably collides with the projecting portion 136 of the center pillar 102A, and the rear vertical wall portion 118 sufficiently absorbs the impact, so that the front end portion of the rear side door 104A is deformed. Movement to the compartment side can be reduced.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is obvious that a person skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications or modifications within the scope described in the claims, and these also belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for vehicle side structures.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100, 100A... vehicle side part structure, 102, 102A... center pillar, 104, 104A... rear side door, 106... front side door, 108... door outer panel, 110, 110A... door inner panel, 112... impact beam, 114... panel Joint portion 116 Space portion 118 Rear vertical wall portion 120 Tip of impact beam 122, 130 Side wall portion 124, 126, 128 Vertical wall portion 132 Bracket 134 Top of space portion , 136... Protruding part of center pillar 138... Door checker 140, 142... Inclined part of space part 144... Holding part 146, 148... Rising part 150, 152... Joining part 154... Gap 156... Door Harness 158 Door side through hole 160 Center pillar side through hole

Claims (4)

In a vehicle side structure including a columnar center pillar extending vertically in the center of a vehicle body side and a side door disposed on the vehicle body side,
The center pillar has a vertical wall portion extending in the vehicle width direction in plan view,
The side door is
A door outer panel placed on the outside of the vehicle,
a door inner panel disposed on the vehicle inner side of the door outer panel and joined to the door outer panel on the vehicle outer side of the center pillar;
a columnar impact beam disposed between the door outer panel and the door inner panel and extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle;
The impact beam overlaps the vertical wall portion of the center pillar from the outside of the vehicle in a side view,
The side door further
a panel joint where the door outer panel and the door inner panel are joined together at a position overlapping the center pillar in a side view;
a space formed by separating the door inner panel from the door outer panel in a range overlapping the center pillar in a side view,
By being inserted into the space, the impact beam overlaps the vertical wall portion of the center pillar from the outside of the vehicle in a side view, and the door inner panel in the space is at a position where the door inner panel protrudes most toward the inside of the vehicle. directly or indirectly joined to and held by the door inner panel,
The center pillar has a protruding portion that protrudes outward toward the space of the side door,
The protruding portion protrudes most outwardly of the vehicle at the same height as a position of the door inner panel in the space portion that protrudes most inwardly of the vehicle,
The protrusion is formed continuously on the vertical wall of the center pillar, extends along the longitudinal direction of the center pillar, and is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the impact beam,
the impact beam and the protrusion intersect,
the tip of the impact beam does not overlap the projecting portion in a side view,
The vehicle side structure , wherein the projecting portion has a surface facing the impact beam that is curved so as to be convex toward the outside of the vehicle when viewed from above. 2. The vehicle side structure according to claim 1, wherein the door inner panel in the space portion is inclined so as to extend outwardly of the vehicle with increasing distance in the vertical direction of the vehicle from the most inwardly bulging position. 3. The vehicle side according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle side structure further comprises a bracket installed on the door inner panel in the space to indirectly join the impact beam to the door inner panel. department structure. The bracket is
a holding portion that holds the impact beam with a predetermined gap from the door inner panel in the space;
raised portions protruding outward from both sides of the holding portion so as to move away from the door inner panel;
4. The vehicle side structure according to claim 3, further comprising a joint portion extending continuously from the raised portion toward the door inner panel and joined to the door inner panel.

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