JPH03213472A - Front car body structure for automobile and assembling method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate execution of fastening and assembly by positioning a longitudinal member to the outside in a lateral direction of a front side frame in a state to mount a nose unit on a car body, and effecting the fastening from the outside. CONSTITUTION:A nose unit is mounted on a car body provided on both sides with front side frames 13 of closed section structure. In this case, the nose unit comprises a shroud upper 23 positioned on the upper side and joined with a shroud panel 21, a laterally extending cross member 26 positioned on the lower side, and a longitudinal member 23 to join together the two above members in a vertical direction. The longitudinal member 23 is positioned the outside in a lateral direction of the front side frame 13 in a state to mount the nose unit on the car body, and is fastened against the front side frame from the outside in a lateral direction. Namely, a plurality of bolts 36 and 37 are screwed in a plurality of nuts 38 and 39 at the position of a reinforcing bracket 27.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a front body structure of an automobile and a method for assembling the same.

(Prior art) Conventionally, on an automobile assembly line (main line), parts attached to the front of the car body, such as bumpers, radiator grilles, headlamps, and radiators, are individually assembled to the car body at separate stations. As a result, the number of stations has increased, making the assembly line longer and more complex. Furthermore, in a mixed flow line that assembles a plurality of types of automobiles, a worker must judge whether or not to install each of the above-mentioned parts depending on the type of car, which poses a problem particularly in terms of workability.

Therefore, it may be possible to simplify the work on the assembly line and reduce the number of stations by unitizing the attachment parts. If this is done, the entire unit will be assembled separately, which is advantageous in terms of improving the mounting accuracy of each mounting component within the unit.

Therefore, from such a point of view, for example, JP-A-63-10
As described in Publication No. 3771, it has been proposed to assemble various parts such as a radiator, headlamp, bumper, and radiator grille to a radiator core support to form a unit, and to assemble this unit to the vehicle body. There is.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, such a structure supports heavy members such as a radiator, and requires high support rigidity, so it is required to be directly fastened to the front side frame. However, the fastening work is difficult due to the positional relationship with the heavy member. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, in the case of a structure in which the vertical members b, b of the nose unit a are located outside the front side frame C1C, when trying to fasten and fix the vertical member b to the front side frame C, , it is necessary to perform the fastening from the inside of the vertical member b. However, a heavy member d consisting of a radiator and a condenser is located on the inside, and a cross member e supporting the heavy member is located on the lower side, making it difficult to secure sufficient work space. The work is difficult, and it is also difficult to fasten the tip flange parts CI+CI of the front side frames C and C to the bumper due to the restriction of work space.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a front body structure of an automobile and a method for assembling the same, which allows the nose unit to be easily connected to the front side frame even when the nose unit has a radiator, a condenser, etc. The purpose is to provide

(Means for Solving the Problem) The invention according to claim (1) provides a structure in which a nose unit having at least a shroud panel is assembled to the front part of a vehicle body having left and right front side frames forming a closed cross-sectional structure. Assuming that, the nose unit includes a shroud upper located on the upper side and joined to the shroud panel, a cross member located on the lower side and extending in the left-right direction, and a vertical member that connects the shroud upper and the cross member in the vertical direction. member, and when the nose unit is attached to the vehicle body, the member described in "2" is located outside the left and right front side frames of the vehicle body in the left-right direction of the vehicle body, and the front side frame and the vertical member are connected to each other. The fastening is done from the outside in the left and right direction of the vehicle body.

The invention of claim (2) provides a front vehicle body assembly method in which a nose unit having at least a shroud panel is assembled to the front part of a vehicle body having left and right front side frames forming a closed cross-sectional structure, The unit base of the nose unit includes a shroud upper located on the upper side and joined to the shroud panel, a cross member located on the lower side and extending in the left-right direction, and a vertical member that connects the shroud upper and the cross member in the vertical direction. a step of attaching the nose unit so that the vertical members of the unit base are located outside of the left and right front side frames of the vehicle body in the left-right direction of the vehicle body; and a step of installing the nose unit with respect to the front side frames. and a step of fastening the parts from the outside in the left-right direction of the vehicle body.

(Function) According to the invention of claim (1), when the nose unit is attached to the vehicle body, the vertical members of the nose unit are located outside of the left and right front side frames of the vehicle body in the left-right direction of the vehicle body, The front side frame and the vertical member are fastened from the outside in the left-right direction of the vehicle body.

According to the invention of claim (2), the vertical member of the nose unit that connects the shroud upper and the cross member in the vertical direction is attached to the left and right front side frames of the vehicle body so as to be located on the outside of the vehicle body in the left-right direction. The vertical member is fastened to the front side frame from the outside in the left-right direction of the vehicle body, and the nose unit is assembled to the front portion of the vehicle body.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1 showing the front part of an automobile, numeral 1 is an automobile, and a nose unit 3 is assembled to the front part of a main body 2 of the automobile. Front fenders 4, 4 are provided on the outside of both sides of the vehicle body 2, and a bonnet 5 is provided on the upper front side.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the vehicle body 2 has a front side frame 13.13 located below a wheel apron 12.12 that constitutes the left and right side walls of the engine compartment 11.
are joined to the wheel apron reinforcement 14.14 on the upper side of the wheel apron 12.12.
are joined to form a closed cross-sectional structure that extends vertically in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The front end portion of the front side frame 13 has a closed cross-sectional structure in which a frame inner 15 and a frame outer 16 are joined, and the frame inner 15 has a lower wall portion 15a fastened to a cross member 26, and a lower wall portion 15a. a vertical wall portion 15b extending upward from the inner edge of the vertical wall portion 15b, and an earthen wall portion 15c extending outward from the upper edge of the vertical wall portion 15b;
A flange portion 1 extending upward from the outer edge of the upper wall portion 15c.
5d, while the frame outer 16 has a flange portion 16 joined to the lower wall portion 15a of the frame inner 15.
a, and a vertical wall portion 16b that extends upward from the inner edge of the flange portion 15a and has an upper edge joined to the flange portion 15d. A bracket 17 for fastening and fixing a bumper 31, which will be described later, is fixed above the tip of the upper wall 15c of the frame outer 15.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, the nose unit 3 is joined to the upper end portions of the shroud panels 21 and 21 to a shroud upper 22 extending in the left-right direction of the vehicle body. The shroud upper 22 includes a vertical wall portion 22A extending in the vertical direction, a mud wall portion 22B extending rearward from the upper edge of the vertical wall portion 22A, and a rear wall portion 22C extending downward from the rear edge of the upper wall portion 22B. A pair of vertical members 23, 23 are suspended from the center portion of the upper wall portion 22B in the left-right direction of the vehicle body.

A cross member 26 having a closed cross-section structure is installed at the lower ends of the vertical members 23 and 2B, thereby increasing the rigidity of the nose unit 3. The cross member 26 has a closed cross-sectional structure in which an upper panel 26A and a lower panel 26B are joined. The capacitor 24A and the radiator 24B are integrally connected by a member (not shown), and their lower ends are supported by the upper panel 26A of the cross member 26 via a rubber mount member (not shown). The part is the mounting bracket 28.28
It is fastened to the earthen wall portion 22B of the shroud upper 22 via.

Also, mounting portions 23a, 23a are formed near the upper ends of the vertical members 23.23, and a reinforcing bracket 27 is fixed to the vertical members 2, 3.23 to the mounting portions 23a, 23a. One bolt 33 of a set of three bolts erected from the bumper reinforcement 32 to which the bumper 31 is bonded is fastened and fixed to the bracket 15 at the upper tip of the front side frame 13, and the remaining two bolts 33 .33 is adapted to be fastened to the mounting portion 23a and the reinforcing bracket 27.

The front end of the front side frame 13 and the nose unit 3 are fastened with two bolts 36 and 36 at the outer reinforcing bracket 27 and two bolts 37 and 37 from below.

Four nuts 38.
Mounting hole 26a of upper panel 26A and lower panel 26
A mounting hole 26b) of B is opened.

In addition, the shroud panel 21 includes a wheel apron 1.
The shroud panel 21 is fastened and fixed to the wheel apron 12 by bolts 41 for fastening to the flange portions 12a of 2 and nuts 42 being applied.

Both ends of the bumper 31 are provided with bolts 35 and 35 erected from the bumper 31 and mounting holes 31'a of the bumper 31.
It is also connected and fixed to the mounting portion 4a of the front fender 4 of the vehicle body 2 via a bolt (not shown) applied through the bolt.

Further, both ends 22a, 22a of the clay wall portion 22B of the shroud upper 22 are fastened and fixed to the mounting portion 4b on the upper part of the front fender 14 and the wheel apron reinforcement 14.

51 is the intercooler, and the upper part is the mounting bracket 5
2. Vertical wall portion 22A of shroud upper 22 via 52
It is designed to be fastened with bolts 53 and 53. Although not shown, the lower end of the intercooler 51 is supported by a bracket protruding from the bumper reinforcement 32.

Reference numeral 54 denotes a radiator grill located in the center of the front part of the automobile, and left and right mounting parts 54a, 54a are attached to the shroud upper 22.
The central mounting portion 54b is fitted into the mounting hole of the vertical wall portion 22A, and the central mounting portion 54b is fitted into the mounting hole of the vertical member 56 of the bonnet locking means 55. The bonnet locking means 55 is fastened and fixed to the vertical wall portion 22A of the shroud upper 22 with bolts 57 and 57.

Reference numerals 61A and 61B are left and right lamp units, and the mounting parts 61a and 61a at the upper end of each unit are attached to the vertical wall part 2 of the shroud upper 22 by the POL2.62.
2A, lower end mounting portions 61b are fastened and fixed to the shroud panel 21 by bolts 63 (bolts 62, 63 and lower end mounting portions 61b are shown only for the lamp unit 61A). 64 and 65 are non-necessities for connecting electrical systems, and the former 64 is a fitting 66.
．． 66 and the support member 26 via the bolt 67.
The latter 65 is fitted and fixed into the mounting hole of the earthen wall portion 22B of the shroud upper 22 via the fittings 68 and 68. Reference numeral 71.71 denotes a buffer member when the bonnet 5 is opened, and is fitted and fixed to the upper wall portion 22, B of the shroud upper 22.

With the above configuration, in order to assemble the front vehicle body, first, the nose unit 3 is assembled separately from the vehicle body 2. That is, by providing the cross member 26 between the lower ends of the vertical members 2B and 23, the reshroud panel 21
, a unit base consisting of the shroud upper 22, vertical members 23, 23 and cross member 26 is formed (see FIG. 5). First, the weight member 24 (condenser 24A and radiator) is attached to the cross member 26 with respect to the knit base. 24B) are supported and assembled, their upper ends are supported by the shroud upper 22 via mounting brackets 28, 28, and then other parts are assembled to form the nose unit 3.

The nose unit 3 constructed in this way is inserted into the vehicle body 2 from the front side, and is positioned and attached so that the tip of the front side frame 13 is located inside the vertical member 26.

In the installed state, two bolts 36.
36 is applied to the vertical member 23 and the front side frame 13 frame outer 16 (the nut 38. of the vertical wall portion 16b).
38), and the cross member 26 and the frame inner 15 of the front side frame 13 (the nuts 39, 39 of the lower wall portion 15a) are fastened by applying two bolts 37, 37 from below.

Then, the shroud panel 21 and the flange portion 12a of the wheel nib 4 (long) 2 are fastened, and the assembly of the nose unit 3 to the vehicle body 2 is completed.

With the above configuration, the cross member 26 of the nose unit 3 and the frame inner 15 of the front side frame 13 (the nuts 39, 39 of the lower wall portion 15a) are fastened from the outside and from the bottom, so the nose unit 3 is a heavy member 24 such as a capacitor 24A1 and a radiator 24B.
The nose unit 3 and the tip of the front side frame 13 can be easily and firmly connected without being affected by the mounting position of the front side frame 13, and assembly is easy and the supporting rigidity of the heavy member 24 can be ensured. .

Further, since the fastening can be performed regardless of the position of the heavy members 24 such as the capacitor 24A1 and the radiator 24B, it is also advantageous in terms of improving the degree of freedom in design.

In the above embodiment, although not specifically illustrated, the bumper 31 and the bumper reinforcement 32 are also temporarily supported by the shroud panel 21 etc. via a bracket, so that a part of the nose unit can be partially supported. However, it is also possible to remove the bumper from the components of the nose unit and assemble it later.

(Effect of the invention) As described above, the invention of claim (1) is such that when the nose unit is attached to the vehicle body, the vertical members of the nose unit are attached to the left and right front side frames of the vehicle body in the left and right direction of the vehicle body. It is located on the outside, and the front side frame and vertical member are fastened from the outside in the left-right direction of the vehicle body, so even if the nose unit has heavy components such as a radiator or condenser, the fastening to the front side frame is easy. Easy to assemble. Also,
Since it is fastened from the outside, it can be fastened regardless of the position of heavy components such as the radiator, increasing the degree of freedom in design.

According to the invention of claim (2), the unit base of the nose unit includes a shroud upper located on the upper side and joined to the shroud panel, a cross member located on the lower side and extending in the left-right direction, and the shroud upper and a vertical member that connects the cross member in the vertical direction, and the nose unit is attached such that the vertical member of the unit base is located outside the left and right front side frames of the vehicle body in the left-right direction of the vehicle body, Since the vertical member is fastened to the front side frame from the outside in the left-right direction of the vehicle,
The nose unit can be easily fastened to the vehicle body, and assembly is simple and easy.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of an automobile, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the front of the vehicle body, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a nose unit, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the front of the automobile. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the nose unit, FIG. 5 is a view showing the unit base, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the main parts. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the conventional example. 1...Car 2...Vehicle main body 7 3...North unit 13...Front side frame 21...
... Shroud panel 22 ... Shroud upper 23 ... Vertical member 24 ... Weight member 26 ... Cross member 8

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A structure in which a nose unit having at least a shroud panel is assembled to the front part of a vehicle body having left and right front side frames forming a closed cross-sectional structure, wherein the nose unit is located on the upper side and has a shroud panel. a shroud upper joined to the vehicle body, a cross member located below and extending in the left-right direction, and a vertical member connecting the shroud upper and the cross member in the vertical direction, and the nose unit is attached to the vehicle body. in a state of
The front part of an automobile characterized in that the vertical member is located outside of the left and right front side frames of the vehicle body in the left-right direction of the vehicle body, and the front side frame and the vertical member are fastened from outside in the left-right direction of the vehicle body. Vehicle structure. (2) A front vehicle body assembly method in which a nose unit having at least a shroud panel is assembled to the front of a vehicle body having left and right front side frames forming a closed cross-sectional structure, the unit base of the nose unit being , a step of comprising a shroud upper located on the upper side and joined to the shroud panel, a cross member located on the lower side and extending in the left-right direction, and a vertical member that connects the shroud upper and the cross member in the vertical direction; a step of attaching the nose unit so that the vertical members of the unit base are located outside of the left and right front side frames of the vehicle body in the left-right direction of the vehicle; A method for assembling a front body of an automobile, comprising the steps of: