JPH04221276A - Module assembly construction for vehicle body - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the rigidity of a body after module assembly without any need to increase the rigidity of each body section more than necessary. CONSTITUTION:A center pillar 22 having a closed sectional structure is fitted with a center reinforcement 98, and the lower end thereof is extended toward a lock member lower section 64. An opening 100 is formed in the section 64 so as to face the lower end of the reinforcement 98. The extended section 98A thereof passes the opening 100, when an upper module 12 and an under module 16 are assembled, and joined to the bottom of the lock member lower section 64, thereby penetrating the center pillar 22. As a result, a torsional load acting on the center pillar 22 can be transmitted not only to a lock member upper section 40, but also to the lock member lower section 64. The load, therefore, can be supported with the lock member upper section 40 and lower section 64, thereby increasing the rigidity of a body. According to this construction, the lock member upper section 40 does not need higher rigidity than required, with the upper module in independent state, and an increase in vehicle weight and parts quantity can be prevented.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle body module assembly structure in which an undermodule and an atupa module are divided and assembled to form a vehicle body.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, the floor and body side of a car body, along with the roof, engine compartment, etc., have a framework of various strength members with a closed cross-section structure, and various panel materials are successively joined to this framework to form a white body. This is then sequentially transferred to the painting process and assembly process, and finally various functional parts and interior parts are assembled.

However, in the white body assembly and assembly process, the assembly work is performed sequentially in the above-mentioned manner on each main line, so the main line becomes longer and the equipment becomes larger and larger, resulting in lower costs. be disadvantageous to In addition, if the floor and body sides are configured in advance, when assembling various parts inside the floor and inside the body side during the assembly process, it is difficult for workers to enter the cabin or through the openings on the body side. This has to be done manually, which requires a lot of effort and time.

[0004] As a vehicle body structure to improve this, the vehicle body is divided into two at the rocker portion and the lower part of the front pillar into an undermodule and an atupa module, and the undermodule and atupa module are combined to form the vehicle body, a so-called vehicle body module assembly. The attachment structure was developed in 1988.
It is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 28377.

[0005] Furthermore, in order to ensure the rigidity of each of the Atupa module and the Undermodule, the present applicant has provided a rocker part on the Atupa module side (hereinafter referred to as the rocker upper part 150) and a rocker part on the Andamodule side, as shown in FIG. (hereinafter referred to as the rocker lower part 152) have a closed cross section.

As shown in FIG. 5, the center pillar 151
The lower rocker upper part 150 is composed of a rocker outer 154 on which a vehicle outer side vertical wall 154A is formed, and a substantially L-shaped rocker inner 156 on which a lower surface 156A and a vehicle inner side vertical wall 156B are formed.

On the other hand, the lower rocker 152 has an upper surface 164A.
and a rocker atsupa 164 in which a vertical wall portion 164B is formed;
Rotsuka lower 168 and Rotsuka atupa 164 connected below this Rotsuka atupa 164 by a flange 166
A closed cross section 172 is formed by three members of a rocker inner 170 connected to the upper end and the lower end of the rocker under 168, respectively.
is formed. Note that a reinforcement 174 is disposed in the lower rocker portion 152 so as to extend within the closed section 172 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

When assembling the Atsupa module and the Under module, the vertical wall 156B of the rocker inner 156 is attached to the vertical wall 164B of the rocker atsupa 164, and the lower surface 156A of the rocker inner 156 is attached to the upper surface 1 of the rocker atsupa 164.
64A, respectively.

Furthermore, the center pillar outer 151A and the center pillar reinforcement 151B, which constitute the center pillar 151, are combined so as to sandwich the vertical wall 154A of the rocker under 154, and the center pillar inner 151C is connected to the upper surface 164A of the rocker upper 164. Herotsukainna 1
56 are connected so as to sandwich the upper ends thereof.

0010

However, with the above conventional structure, it is not possible to reliably transmit the torsional load applied to the center pillar 176 of the Atsupa module to the rocker lower part 152 when the vehicle is running, and the torsional load applied to the rocker upper part 150 alone cannot be transmitted. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the rigidity of the rocker upper part 150 more than necessary (more than the rigidity required in the stand-alone state before assembly), which causes problems such as an increase in the weight of the vehicle and an increase in the number of parts.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle body module assembly structure that can improve the torsional rigidity after the modules are assembled without unnecessarily increasing the rigidity of each part. be.

0012

[Means for Solving the Problems] The vehicle body module assembly structure according to the present invention comprises an undermodule that constitutes the underbody and includes a rocker lower part and a front portion of a front pillar, and a rocker that constitutes the area around the roof and the door opening. A vehicle body module assembly structure in which an atupa module having an upper part and a center pillar is assembled to form a vehicle body, wherein an opening is formed on the upper surface of the lower part of the rocker of the undermodule, and an opening is formed in the center pillar of the atupa module. The center pillar reinforcement provided therein extends toward the lower part of the rocker, and the extended tip portion passes through the opening and is coupled to the bottom surface of the lower part of the rocker.

[0013]

[Operation] According to the present invention, when assembling the Atsupa module and the Undermodule, the center pillar reinforcement provided on the center pillar on the Atsupa module side is extended toward the lower part of the rocker, and the opening provided at the lower part of the rocker is extended. Since it is passed through and connected to the bottom surface of the lower part of the rocker, the torsional load applied to the center pillar can be reliably transmitted to the lower part of the rocker, and the rigidity can be increased. Therefore, since there is no need to increase the rigidity of the upper part of the rocker more than necessary, there is no need to increase the weight of the vehicle or increase the number of parts.

[0014]

Embodiment FIG. 4 shows a vehicle body 10 according to this embodiment. In the figure, arrow FR indicates the forward direction of the vehicle, and arrow UP indicates the upward direction of the vehicle.

[0015] The vehicle body 10 is made of Atsupa module (hereinafter UP
RM) 12 and under module (hereinafter UND)
It is constructed by combining 16 two-part modules (referred to as RM).

The UPRM 12 includes a roof panel 18, a front pillar 20, a center pillar 22, a rear pillar 24, a cowl outer panel 26, a rear end panel 28, a quarter panel 30, and a wheel house outer section 3 of the vehicle body 10.
2. It is composed of an upper part 40 and the like, and mainly constitutes the roof part and side body part of the vehicle body 10.

On the other hand, the UNDRM 16 is composed of a front floor panel 42, a front side member 44, a cowl inner panel 46, a front pillar inner lower part 52, a rear floor panel 56, a wheel house inner part 60, a rocker lower part 64, and the like.

[0018] In the UPRM12, the above-mentioned constituent members are connected in advance by spot welding or the like, while in the UNDRM1
In the case of 6, the above-mentioned constituent members are previously connected by spot welding or the like.

The UPRM 12 and UNDRM 16 configured in this manner include the connection between the cowl outer panel 26 and the cowl inner panel 46, the connection between the lower part of the front pillar 20 and the front pillar inner lower part 52, and the connection between the rocker upper part 40 and the rocker lower part. 64 and the wheel house outer part 32 and the wheel house inner part 60, etc., an integral vehicle body 10 is formed.

The upper surface of the rocker upper part 40 of the UPRM 12 is composed of a rocker outer top panel 76, and the rocker outer top panel 76 is elongated along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lower end of the standing wall 76A of the rocker outer upper panel 76 is bent outward in the vehicle width direction to form an outer flange 76B, and the upper end of the standing wall 76A is inward in the vehicle width direction. The upper surface 76C is bent to form an upper surface 76C. An inner end portion of the upper surface 76C in the vehicle width direction is a stepped portion 76D that projects downward in the vehicle vertical direction.

A rocker outer lower panel 78 is disposed below the rocker outer upper panel 76 in the vehicle vertical direction along the rocker outer upper panel 76, and constitutes a lower surface portion of the rocker upper part 40.

Standing wall portion 78 of Rotsuka outer lower panel 78
A is arranged substantially parallel to the vertical wall portion 76A of the rocker outer upper panel 76 with a gap inward in the vehicle width direction. The lower end of the vertical wall portion 78A is bent outward in the vehicle width direction to form an outer flange 78B. The tip of the outer flange 78B projects downward in the vehicle vertical direction to form a stepped portion 78C. This stepped portion 78C is welded to the outer flange 76B of the rocker outer upper panel 76 from below in the vehicle vertical direction.
It is used as a coupling part with UNDRM16.

The upper end of the standing wall portion 78A is bent inward in the vehicle width direction to form an inner flange 78D, which is welded to the stepped portion 76D of the rocker outer upper panel 76 from below in the vehicle vertical direction, and is connected to the UNDRM 16. It is considered a department.

Therefore, the rocker upper part 40 has a closed cross-sectional structure 79, which is a first closed cross-sectional structure along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, by the rocker outer upper panel 76 and the rocker outer lower panel 78.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower end of the center pillar 22 is connected to the longitudinally intermediate portion of the rocker outer upper panel 76. As shown in FIGS. The center pillar 22 has a closed cross section formed by a so-called hat-shaped center pillar outer 94 and a flat center pillar inner 96. Flanges 94A and 94B are formed at both ends in the short width direction of the center pillar outer 94, and flanges 96A and 96B of the center pillar inner 96 are connected to each other,
The center pillar 22 has a closed cross section. In addition, a center pillar reinforcement 98 is arranged along the center pillar outer 94 in this closed cross section, and a center pillar reinforcement 98 is provided along the center pillar outer 94.
The rigidity of the material is increased.

The center pillar outer 94 has a lower end connected to the standing wall 76A of the rocker outer panel 76 and is bent at a substantially right angle toward the outside of the vehicle along a flange 76B to form a flange 94C. This flange 94C is coupled to the upper surface of the flange 76B.

On the other hand, the upper surface 76C of the rocker outer panel 76 at the position where the center pillar 22 is disposed does not exist, and the lower end of the center pillar reinforcement 98
It extends along the inner surface of A. This extension part 98A
The length is the outer flange 7 of the rocker outer lower panel 78.
It protrudes lower than 8B. The lower end portion of this extension portion 98A is bent at a substantially right angle toward the inside of the vehicle and forms a flange 9.
8B is formed.

Correspondingly, the center pillar inner 96
The lower end portion of the flange 96C is also extended, and the extended end portion is bent at a substantially right angle toward the inside of the vehicle to form a flange 96C. This flange 96C is combined with the flange 98B, and the extension part 9
8A is a closed cross section.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lower part 64 of the rocker of the UNDRM 16 includes the Rocker Atsupa UNDRM86, the Rocker Roa UNDRM88, and the Rocker Inforce UNDRM9.
It consists of 0 and rockinner UNDRM92.

[0031] In the cross-sectional shape of the Rocker Atsupa UNDRM 86 when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the lower end of the standing wall portion 86A on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is bent outward in the vehicle width direction to form a flange 86B. Further, the upper end portion of the standing wall portion 86A is bent inward in the vehicle width direction to form an upper surface 86C, which serves as a coupling portion with the UPRM 12. The inner end of the upper surface 86C in the vehicle width direction is bent upward in the vehicle vertical direction to form a flange 86D.

[0032] A Rocker Lower UNDRM 88 is arranged below the Rocker Atsuppa UNDRM 86 in the vertical direction of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper end of the standing wall portion 88A of the Rockaroa UNDRM88 is bent outward in the vehicle width direction and forms a flange 8.
It is said to be 8B. This flange 88B is welded to the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the flange 86B of the Rocker Atsuppa UNDRM 86 from the lower side in the vehicle vertical direction, and serves as a connecting portion with the UPRM 12.

[0033] Standing wall section 88A of Rotsukaroa UNDRM88
The lower part of the lower surface is bent inward in the vehicle width direction to form a lower surface 88C, and the inner end of this lower surface 88C in the vehicle width direction is bent downward in the vehicle vertical direction to form a flange 88D.

[0034] On the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the Rocker Atsupa UNDRM 86 and the Rocker Roa UNDRM 88, a Rocker Inforce UNDRM 90 is arranged. As shown in FIG.
The upper end of the vertical wall portion 90A of M90 is a flange 90B, and the flange 86D of Rotsukaatsupa UNDRM86
It is welded from the inside in the width direction of the vehicle. The lower end of the vertical wall portion 90A is a flange 90C.
It is welded to the flange 88D of the RM88 from the inside in the vehicle width direction.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3, a closed cross-sectional structure 93 is formed by the Rocker Appa UNDRM 86, the Rocker Roar UNDRM 88, and the Rocker Inforce UNDRM 90.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vertical wall portion 86A and top surface 86C of the Rotsukaatsupa UNDRM 86 have
A rectangular opening 100 is provided at a position corresponding to the position where the center pillar 22 is disposed when the UPRM 12 is assembled. When assembled with the UPRM 12, the extending portion 98A of the center pillar reinforcement 98 passes through the opening 100 together with the center pillar inner 96, forming a so-called skewered structure. Here, the flange 98B of the extended portion 98A that has been penetrated is the lower surface 88C of the Rockaroa UNDRM88.
It is designed to come in contact with the

Coaxial circular holes 1 are provided in the flanges 98B and 96C.
02 is formed, and this circular hole 102 is formed in the flange 96C.
A weld nut 104 is attached around the circumference.

On the other hand, the lower surface 8 of Rotsukaroa UNDRM88
A circular hole 106 is also formed in 8C, and UPRM12 and UND
When the RM 16 is positioned at a predetermined position, it is coaxial with the circular hole 102. Here, bolt 10 from below.
The extending portion 98A and the rocker lower UNDRM 88 are coupled by passing through the weld nut 88 and screwing it into the weld nut 104.

The operation of this embodiment will be explained below. U.P.R.
M12 and UNDRM16 are cowl outer panel 26
and cowl inner panel 46, front pillar 2
0 and the front pillar inner lower part 52,
An integral vehicle body 10 is formed by coupling the rocker upper part 40 and the rocker lower part 64 and the wheel house outer part 32 and the wheel house inner part 60. Here, when the rocker upper part 40 and the rocker lower part 64 are connected, the extension part 98A formed at the lower end of the center pillar reinforcement 98 is attached to the lower part of the center pillar 22.
It is inserted into the opening 100 formed in the vertical wall portion 86A and the upper surface 88C of the Rocker Atsuppa UNDRM 86, which is a component of No. 4. Note that the extension portion 98A has a closed cross section due to the extension of the center pillar inner 96.

The flange 98B at the lower end of the extending portion 98A passing through the opening 100 contacts the lower surface 88C of the Rockaroa UNDRM88.

When the upper rocker 40 and lower rocker 64 are positioned, the circular holes 102 formed in the flanges 98B and 96C and the lower surface 88 of the rocker lower UNDRM 88
The circular hole 106 formed in C is coaxial. In this state, the bolt 108 is inserted from below, that is, from the circular hole 106 side, and is screwed into the weld nut 104 previously attached to the upper surface of the flange 98B. Thereby, the connection between the rocker upper part 40 and the rocker lower part 64 at the lower part of the center pillar 22 is completed.

While the vehicle is running, the torsional load applied to the center pillar 22 is supported by the rocker upper part 40, and in this embodiment, it is applied to the rocker lower part 64 via the extension portion 98A.
transmitted to. The rocker lower part 64 has high rigidity due to the rocker reinforcement UNDRM 90 being disposed therein, and can reliably support the load.

In this way, in this embodiment, the UPRM12
After the and UNDRM16 are assembled, the torsional load applied to the center pillar 22 on the UPRM12 side is
It can also be received by the rocker lower part 64, which is the side, and the rigidity can be improved as a whole. Also, UPRM12
The rocker upper part 40 may have the necessary rigidity in a single unit state, and there is no need to have a rigidity capable of supporting the load applied to the center pillar 22 after assembly. Therefore, an increase in vehicle weight or an increase in the number of parts is not caused.

[0044]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the vehicle body module assembly structure according to the present invention has the advantage of being able to improve torsional rigidity after module assembly without increasing the rigidity of each part more than necessary. have an effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a connecting portion between a rocker portion and a center pillar portion of a modular structure of a vehicle body according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the modular structure of the vehicle body divided into two parts according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a center pillar portion of a conventional modular structure of a vehicle body, viewed from the front and back direction of the vehicle.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Vehicle body 12 Atsupa module (UPRM) 16
UNDRM 22 Center Pillar 40 Upper Rocker 64 Lower Rocker 98 Center Pillar Reinforcement 98A
Extension part

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A vehicle body is assembled by assembling an undermodule that constitutes the underbody and includes a lower rocker and a front portion of the front pillar, and an atsupa module that constitutes the area around the roof and the door opening and has an upper rocker and a center pillar. In the module assembly structure of the vehicle body, an opening is formed on the upper surface of the lower part of the rocker of the undermodule, and a center pillar reinforcement provided at the center pillar of the atupa module is extended toward the lower part of the rocker. A module assembly structure for a vehicle body, characterized in that the extending tip part passes through the opening and is connected to the bottom surface of the lower part of the rocker.