JPH0492780A - Front body construction for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sufficiently insure rigidity of a vehicle body by extending both side parts of a floor panel of the front part of a vehicle body in front of a dash panel, and connecting the front end side of the extended part with a shroud panel on the front end of an engine room. CONSTITUTION:The right and left both side parts of a cutout part 3h of a front floor panel 3 are further extended in front of a dash panel 9, and the respective front end parts are joined together with a shroud panel 11. Under the extended part 3b of the floor panel, namely, under the front side part 3a of the torque box 16 of the front floor panel 3, a front wheel tire Wf is laid out. Namely, the front wall part of a front wheel house 31 is constituted out of the lower part of the shroud panel 11 downward from the joining part. Meanwhile, on the joining part between the shroud panel 11 and the floor panel extended parts 3b, reinforcing members 35, 35 having nearly L-shaped section are arranged, and strong joining and supporting are attained.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention expands the cabin space toward the front side by disposing the front body structure of an automobile, particularly the front seat above the power train. The present invention relates to a front body structure of an automobile.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a power train consisting of an engine, a transmission, etc. has been used as the front body structure of a vehicle such as an L-box vehicle that carries a large number of passengers or a relatively large amount of luggage. It is generally well known that the engine is mounted on the front of the car body and has a front note above the powertrain. By adopting such a layout, it is possible to expand the vehicle interior toward the front side and secure a larger vehicle interior or cargo space.

In this case, the front side part of the floor panel is raised by a predetermined amount from the following rear side part, and the power train is arranged below this raised part, while the front seat is arranged above the raised part. By doing so, it is possible to expand the vehicle interior or cargo space while avoiding raising the entire vehicle interior floor.

By the way, normally, in the front part of a car body, the front end of a floor panel that forms the floor surface of the passenger compartment is joined to the lower end of a dash panel that partitions the passenger compartment and the engine compartment, and the dash panel Wheel aprons, which form the left and right inner walls of the engine room, are located between the shroud panel and the shroud panel at the front end of the engine room. A wheel house for the front wheels is provided in the middle of the wheel apron in the front-back direction so as to bulge out toward the engine room (for example, according to Japanese Utility Model No. 6262579
(see publication).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned type of automobile in which the cabin space is expanded toward the front side, the cabin floor is also expanded toward the front side by the amount that the cabin space is expanded. Compared to a vehicle, vehicle body rigidity, such as floor rigidity at the front of the vehicle body and torsional rigidity of the vehicle body, is generally lower. In particular, if the extended part (front part) of the floor panel is stepped up from the rear part that follows, for example, the torsional rigidity against uplift loads acting through the wheels during driving may be reduced, etc. The above-mentioned problem of reduced vehicle body rigidity becomes even more noticeable.

Therefore, there is a problem in that it is difficult to ensure sufficient rigidity of the vehicle body simply by configuring the floor structure at the front of the vehicle body as in the conventional manner and by joining and supporting the front end of the floor panel to the lower end of the dungeon panel. .

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is intended to ensure sufficient body rigidity, such as floor rigidity at the front of the vehicle body and torsional rigidity of the vehicle body, in an automobile in which the cabin space is expanded toward the front side. The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a front body structure for an automobile that is capable of achieving the following.

[Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, the first invention of the present application is such that at least both left and right portions of the floor panel at the front of the vehicle body are extended toward the front of the vehicle body relative to the front panel, and the front end side of the extension portion is extended toward the front of the vehicle body. It is joined to the shroud panel at the front end of the non-room, and the front tire is arranged below the extension, and the part below the joint of the shroud panel with the floor panel is the front wall of the front wheel house. It is designed so that it consists of .

Further, a second invention of the present application is a front body structure of an automobile according to the first invention, in which a reinforcing member extending in the vehicle width direction is provided at a joint between the extension part of the floor panel and the shroud panel. It was made as follows.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the first invention of the present application, at least both left and right portions of the floor panel at the front of the vehicle body are extended toward the front of the vehicle body beyond the dungeon panel, and the front end side of the extension portion is connected to the shroud panel at the front end of the engine room. As a result, the front end of the extension of the floor panel is joined to the shroud panel, and the middle part is joined to the lower end of the dash panel. Compared to the case where the panel is simply joined and supported at the lower end side of the panel, sufficient vehicle body rigidity, such as floor rigidity at the front of the vehicle body and torsional rigidity of the vehicle body, can be ensured.

In this case, the front tire is disposed below the extension, and the portion of the shroud panel below the joint with the floor panel constitutes the wall of the front wheel house. , it becomes possible to form the front wheel house without providing a separate wheel house as in the past.

According to a second invention of the present application, in the front body structure of an automobile according to the first invention, a reinforcing member extending in the vehicle width direction is provided at the joint between the extension part of the floor panel and the shroud panel. Therefore, the support strength of the floor panel at the front end of the extension can be improved, and the rigidity of the vehicle body can be more fully ensured.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory side view of the front part of an L-box type automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, in the automobile 1, the front side portion 3 of the floor panel (front floor panel) is raised by a predetermined amount from the following rear side portion 4 (rear floor panel), and below this raised front floor panel 3 is a power train PT consisting of an engine En, a transmission Tm, etc. A front seat 5 is arranged above the front floor panel 3. That is, in the above-mentioned automobile 1, the front seat 5 is laid out above the above-mentioned power train PT, so that the front seat 5 is positioned much further forward than usual, and the passenger compartment is expanded to the front side to create a passenger compartment or a luggage compartment. We are trying to secure more space.

The vehicle 1 is a so-called PF vehicle in which a power train PT is disposed at the front of the vehicle body to drive the front wheels Wf, and a power train is installed below the rear floor panel 4 to transmit power from the power train PT to the rear wheels (not shown). There is no need to install a propeller shaft or a differential gear as a transmission mechanism, and the ground clearance of the rear floor panel 4 is set lower to that extent, resulting in a lower floor, which improves cargo handling and the rear side. Efforts are being made to improve the ease of getting on and off the vehicle. still,
The power transmission from the power train PT to the front wheels Wf is as follows:
This is done via a propeller shaft Sp and a differential device Del arranged below the front floor panel 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front floor panel 3 has a substantially rectangular cutout at the front portion at the center in the vehicle width direction, and a box-shaped rear portion of the cutout portion 3h. It is covered with a cover unit 6 (engine cover), and the upper part of the engine En and engine accessories are housed within this engine cover 6.

Further, at the left and right end portions of the vehicle body, sighton lures extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body are disposed, and both left and right end portions of the floor panel 2 are supported by the side sills 7°7.

The Saiton Lua extends forward along the rear floor panel 4 in a manner roughly corresponding to the side shape of the floor panel 2, and then rises up to the height of the front floor panel 3 near the hinge pillar 8, and is raised to the height of the front floor panel 3 near the hinge pillar 8. It is inserted through the dungeon panel 9 and further extended forward, and is joined to the shroud panel 11 forming the front wall of the engine room 10 at the front of the vehicle body, as shown in FIG.

The starting point of the raised part of the side sill 7 is located forward of the starting point of the raised part 3 of the floor panel 2, and between these two starting points, the floor panel 2 (that is, the front floor panel 3) and the side sill 7 are connected. There is a step between the top and bottom. In this part, foot steps 12 are provided on both left and right sides of the front floor panel 3 for the front passenger to get on and off.
Both left and right ends of the front floor panel 3 are the side sills 7.
It is connected to 7.

Furthermore, a pair of left and right front frames 13 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body from the side sill 7.7 inside the vehicle body are disposed at the front portion of the vehicle body, and the front frames 13.13
extends forward passing below the dash panel 9, and its front end is joined to the lower end of the shroud panel 11. In this embodiment, the front frame 13.13
are connected to the front floor panel 3 not directly, but via panel members 14 (vertical walls) arranged in the vertical direction. That is, the upper ends of a pair of left and right vertical walls 14 that hang downward and extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body are joined to the lower surface side of the front floor panel 3, and the front frame 13 is attached to the lower end side of these vertical walls 14. It is joined.

Further, the front frame 13 and the front floor panel 3 are connected by a frame glass set 15 as a reinforcing member extending in the vertical direction, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The frame gusset 15 has a substantially U-shaped cross section that opens outward, and its lower end flange portion +5b is joined to the upper surface side of the front frame 13, while the upper end flange portion 15a is connected to the lower surface of the front floor panel 3. The flange portion 15c is joined to the side, and furthermore, the flange portion 15c
, 15c are joined along the vertical wall 14.

A fuel tank FT (see FIG. 9) is disposed inside the foot step 12 (on the vehicle interior side), and the interior side of the fuel tank FT is partitioned off by the vertical wall 14. This vertical wall I4 increases the degree of shielding of the fuel tank FT from the passenger compartment side, and also prevents interference between the fuel tank FT and the propeller shaft Sp in the event of a vehicle collision (side collision) or the like.

Further, in this embodiment, more preferably, a box body 16 (torque box) having a closed cross section is formed on the front side of the foot step 12. The torque box 16 is an inch member 7b (side sill inner) of Cyton Lua.
Two substantially parallel panel members 17.18, front and rear, arranged in the vehicle width direction are passed between the front and rear walls 14, and both left and right ends of these panel members 17.18 are connected to the side inner inner 7b and the vertical wall 14. It is constructed by joining to the vertical walls 14, and a reinforcing plate 19 arranged horizontally is provided approximately in the middle in the vertical direction. Front floor panel 3
By providing the high-rigidity torque box 16 formed in the closed cross-sectional shape as described above on the lower surface side of the vehicle 1, it is possible to improve the body rigidity and strength of the vehicle body front portion of the vehicle 1.

Further, the frame gusset 15 is joined to the side surface of the torque box 16.

In this embodiment, the notch 3 of the front floor panel 3 is
The left and right side portions of h extend further forward of the vehicle body than the dash panel 9, and each front end portion thereof is joined to the front panel 11. In other words, as shown in FIG.
It continues smoothly with the curved surface shape of the front panel member 17, and is slightly raised along the underseam shape of the cowl side panel 28 (only the left side is shown in FIG. 1) that supports both left and right ends of the cowl box 22. After that, it extends to the front of the vehicle body, is joined to the lower end of the dash panel 9, and then continues as it is.
It passes through the enclosure room 10, extends toward the front of the vehicle body, and is joined to the shroud panel 11.

The torque box 16 of the front floor panel 3 is located below the floor panel extension 3b.
The front tire Wf is laid out below the front portion 3a, and the portion of the front panel 11 below the joint portion constitutes the front wall portion of the front wheel house 31. That is, a portion below the joint between the front panel member 17 of the torque box 16 and the floor panel extension 3b of the shroud panel 11, and a portion 3a of the floor panel 3 in front of the torque box 16, including the extension 3b. These form the side shape (rear, front, and upper part) of the wheel house 31 of the front wheel Wf.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the wheel house 3
A mudguard 32 is joined to the upper outer side of I, and the outer end of the mudguard 32 is connected to the front fender panel 33.
It is joined to the lower end of the.

Further, the interior side of the front tire Wf is partitioned by a vertical wall 14, and this vertical wall 14 constitutes an inner wall portion of the wheel house 31. Note that the front fender panel 33 is
As shown in FIG. 5, the front windshield 21 (the fourth
It is joined to the upper panel 22a of the cowl box 22 which supports the lower edge side (see figure). Further, in this part, the inner member 7b (side sill inner) of the side sill 7 is joined to the cowl site panel 28, and in the part in front of the cowl side panel 28, the outside of the side sill inner 7b is closed by the closing plate 29. It is formed in a closed cross-sectional shape (see Fig. 6).

Furthermore, a reinforcing member 35 .
5 is arranged, and the front end of the extension part 3b is joined to the shroud panel 11 and also to the upper part of the reinforcement member 35. It is designed to be firmly connected and supported.

Incidentally, by extending the inner ends of the reinforcing members 35, 35 along the inner surface of the upper member Ila and connecting them to each other, S1. The joint between the loud panel 11 and the floor panel extension 3b can be reinforced more effectively.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the left and right side portions of the notch 3h of the raised front floor panel 3 are extended to the front side of the vehicle body beyond the dungeon panel 9, and the front end side of the extension portion 3b is extended. Since the front floor panel 3 is joined to the shroud panel 11 at the front end of the ennon room, the front end of the extension part 3b is connected to the shroud panel 11.
At the same time, the middle part is joined to the lower end side of the Danone panel 9, compared to the conventional case where the front end was joined and supported to the lower end side of the Dannon panel 9. This makes it possible to ensure sufficient vehicle body rigidity, including floor rigidity at the front of the vehicle body and torsional rigidity of the vehicle body.

In addition, in this case,
The portion below the joint with the floor panel extension 3b, and the portion 3a in front of the torque hox I6 of the floor panel 3, including the extension 3b,
With the front panel 17 of 6, the wheel house 3 of the front wheel Wf
1 (front, upper, and rear), and the vertical wall 14 forms the inner wall of the wheel house 31. Therefore, the front wheel can be directly connected to the front wheel without providing a separate wheel house as in the past. A house 31 can be formed.

Furthermore, since a cross member 35 is installed as a reinforcing member extending in the vehicle width direction at the joint between the floor panel extension 3b and the shroud panel II, the support strength of the floor panel 3 at the front end of the extension 3b is improved. This makes it possible to secure more sufficient vehicle body rigidity.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings are for detailed explanation of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the floor structure at the front of the vehicle body of the vehicle according to the above embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the front floor panel of the vehicle, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the engine room structure of the vehicle. , FIG. 4 is an explanatory longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vehicle body in the direction AA of FIG. 1, and FIG.
A longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vehicle body in the direction, Figure 6 is C in Figure 1.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the frame gusset, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the frame cassette and torque box, and FIG. 9 is a side view of the front of the vehicle body. . 1. Automobile, 2.. Floor panel, 3.. Front floor panel, 3b-. Floor panel extension, 10.. Engine room, 11.. Shroud panel, 31. Wheel house, 35.. Reinforcement member, Wf. ··front wheel. Figure 5

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) At least both left and right portions of the floor panel at the front of the vehicle body are extended toward the front of the vehicle body beyond the dash panel, and the front end side of the extension portion is joined to the shroud panel at the front end of the engine room, and is located below the extension portion. A front vehicle body structure for an automobile, wherein a front tire is disposed on the shroud panel, and a portion below the joint of the shroud panel with the floor panel constitutes a front wall portion of a front wheel house. (2) The front body structure of an automobile according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing member extending in the vehicle width direction is provided at a joint between the extension portion of the floor panel and the shroud panel.