JPH05185957A - Vehicle body structure and mounting method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a vehicle body structure enabling securing the sealability with no need to form a hole in a front pillar, having an increased steering post and pedal bracket support rigidity, and enabling smallening the radiation coefficient of vehicle. CONSTITUTION:A steering post bracket 16 is fixed to a dash lower 1 partitioning a vehicle compartment H and an engine room E. A dash upper 4 is put on horizontal and slant flanges 16b, 16c of the steering post bracket 16 and inwardly directed flange portions of a pair of right/left front pillars, thus being positioned. Thereafter, a dash upper 4 is fixed onto the horizontal and slant flange portions 16b, 16c and the inwardly directed flange portions.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle body structure around a portion where a steering post bracket of an automobile is installed and an assembling method of the structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, as a vehicle body structure of this type, for example, there is one shown in FIGS. That is, the engine compartment E and the vehicle compartment H are separated by the dash lower 1, and the cowl top 3 and the dash upper 4 forming the cowl box 2 are disposed above the dash lower 1.

The dash upper 4 has a front end 4a joined to the dash lower 1 and the cowl top 3, and both ends 4b fixed to a front pillar 5 as shown in FIG. The front pillar 5 is formed with an inward flange portion 5a and an outward flange portion 5b. Both ends 4b of the dash upper 4 are joined to the flanges 5a and 5b.

A steering post bracket lower 6 and a steering post bracket upper 7 are welded to the dash upper 4 as shown in FIG. 6, and a steering post 8 is attached to both the brackets 6 and 7.

Further, the dash lower 1 is provided with a pedal bracket 10 for supporting the pedal 9 and a booster 11.

Reference numeral 12 in FIG. 8 is a cowl box 2.
A hood ridge reinforcement provided on the side of the vehicle, reference numeral 13 is a front fender.

Examples of this type include, for example, Shokai 62.
-114873, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-184064, and the like.

[0008]

However, in such a conventional one, since the dash upper 4 is completely fixed in the step of increasing the welding points in a series of vehicle body assembly lines, the previous step is performed. Before fixing the dash upper 4 completely, it is necessary to temporarily fix the dash upper 4 in a predetermined position. This temporary fixing is a spot gun for spot welding the front end 4a of the dash upper 4,
The outward flange portion 5b of the front pillar 5 is joined to both end portions 4b of the dash upper 4. Even if the cowl box 2 which is a heavy object is positioned by temporarily fixing only the front end edge 4a, the cowl box 2 except the front end edge 4a is supported only by the front pillar 5 at both end portions 4b and has no support at the center portion. Since this is not done, there is a possibility that a positional deviation may occur due to vibration during transportation, and this is to prevent such an adverse effect. Therefore, if the flange portion is made to face inward instead of the outward flange portion 5b, the spot gun for welding the front end portion 4a does not reach and cannot be temporarily fixed. By thus forming the outward flange portion 5b and the inward flange portion 5a, as shown in FIG. 10, a hole 5c is unavoidably formed at the boundary between the both flange portions 5a and 5b, which makes difficult sealing work difficult. Will be

Further, since the steering post bracket lower 6 and the steering post bracket upper 7 are attached only to the dash upper 4, the supporting rigidity of the steering post 8 is low.

Further, although the pedal bracket 10 and the booster 11 are attached to the dash lower 1, the operating sound of the booster 11 is adversely affected because the surface rigidity of the dash lower 1 is weak.

Moreover, Hood Ridge Reinforce 12
As shown in FIG. 8, since the bulging portion 12a is formed so as to escape the outward flange portion 5b, the bulging portion 12a is deformed by the force in the vertical direction.
The body radiation coefficient increases.

Therefore, the present invention provides a vehicle body structure capable of ensuring a sealing property without forming a hole 5c in the front pillar 5, a high support rigidity of the steering post 8 and the pedal bracket 10, and a small vehicle body radiation coefficient. The challenge is to provide.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made by paying attention to such a conventional problem, and the invention according to claim 1 provides a dash lower provided between a vehicle compartment and an engine room, and an upper side of the dash lower. While having an air box formed along the vehicle width direction, while comprising a dash upper forming a bottom surface portion of the air box and a steering post bracket spanning the dash lower,
It is characterized in that a vehicle body structure is provided in which a flange portion that is bent inward is provided from a front pillar located outside the vehicle compartment of the air box, and the flange portion and both ends of the dash upper are joined.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the steering post bracket is fixed to the dash lower provided between the vehicle compartment and the engine room, and the steering post bracket is bent in the vehicle width direction at the upper edge of the steering post bracket. The dash upper is placed on the formed positioning surface portion and the flange portion bent inward from the pair of left and right front pillars for positioning, and then the dash upper is fixed to the positioning surface portion and the flange portion. It is characterized by the method of assembling the vehicle body structure.

[0015]

[Operation] According to such a means, the steering post bracket is joined to the dash lower and the dash upper, so that the mounting strength is improved as compared with the conventional case where only the dash upper is joined. Therefore, the vibration of the steering post is also suppressed. Further, by fixing the steering post bracket to the dash lower, the surface rigidity of the dash lower can be improved, and the support rigidity when a pedal bracket or the like is attached to the dash lower is improved.

Further, when the dash upper is assembled, the dash upper is supported by the positioning surface portion of the steering post bracket and the left and right front pillars at three points. Since the support stability is improved without forming the portion, only the inward flange portion may be formed. Therefore, unlike the conventional case, the hole 5c is not formed, the sealing property is secured, and it is not necessary to form the bulging portion 12a for avoiding the outward flange portion. Therefore, the vehicle noise can be reduced.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 5 are views showing an embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that the same or equivalent parts or members as in the conventional case will be described with the same reference numerals.

First, the structure will be described. Engine room E
The vehicle compartment H is separated from the vehicle compartment H by a dash lower 1, and a cowl top 3 and a dash upper 4 forming a cowl box 2 are disposed above the dash lower 1.

The front end 4a of the dash upper 4 is joined to the dash lower 1 and the cowl top 3, and both ends 4b are fixed to the front pillar 5 as shown in FIG. An inward flange portion 5a is formed on the front pillar 5, and both end portions 4b of the dash upper 4 are joined to the inward flange portion 5a. Incidentally, the outward flange portion 5b as in the conventional case is not formed.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of symmetrical steering post brackets 16 are joined to the dash lower 1 and the dash upper 4 in parallel. As shown mainly in FIG. 2, the steering post bracket 16 includes a vertical flange portion 16a joined to the dash lower 1 and horizontal and inclined flange portions 16b, 16c as positioning surface portions joined to the dash upper 4.
And two beads 16d are formed.

The steering posts 8 are attached to the pair of steering post brackets 16 with screws 17 at two positions (see FIG. 1). Reference numeral 18 is a steering member that extends in the vehicle width direction and has both ends joined to the front pillar 5.

A pedal bracket 10 is fixed to the dash lower 1 between the pair of steering post brackets 16.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 12 is a hood ridge reinforcement, and reference numeral 13 is a front fender.

Next, the assembling order of the vehicle body structure having the above construction will be described.

First, the vertical flange portions 16a of the pair of steering post brackets 16 are joined to the dash lower 1. In this case, the vertical flange portion 16a is joined so that the horizontal flange portion 16b and the inclined flange portion 16c are located at predetermined positions.

Thereafter, the dash upper 4 is attached to the inward flange portions 5a of the pair of front pillars 5 and the horizontal and inclined flange portions 16 of the steering post bracket 16.
b, 16c. In this case, the positioning in the front-rear direction is performed by the inclined flange portion 16c of the steering post bracket 16, and the dash upper 4 is set to 3
Since it is point-supported, support stability is improved, and it is not necessary to temporarily fix both end portions 4b of the dash upper 4 to the front pillar 5 as in the conventional case.

After that, the dash upper 4 and the cowl top 3 are completely welded to the dash lower 1, the front pillar 5 and the steering post bracket 16.

Then, the steering post 8 is fixed to the steering post bracket 16 with screws 17.

As described above, since it is not necessary to temporarily fix the dash upper 4 to the front pillar 5, it is not necessary to form the outward flange portion 5b on the front pillar 5, unlike the conventional case, and the inward flange portion 5a is not required. Only need be. As a result, it is not necessary to form the hole 5c in the front pillar 5, so that the sealing performance can be secured. Also,
As shown in FIG. 5, since the outward flange portion 5b is not formed, it is not necessary to form the bulged portion 12a in the hood ridge reinforcement 12 as in the conventional case. The strength of the leverage 12 can be improved, and vehicle noise can be reduced.

Further, in the vehicle body structure assembled in this way, since the steering post bracket 16 is joined to the dash lower 1 and the dash upper 4, it is fixed to only the dash upper 4 as in the conventional case. By comparison, the support strength of the steering post 8 is improved.

Further, by attaching the pair of steering post brackets 16 to the dash lower 1, the surface rigidity of the dash lower 1 at this portion is improved. Therefore, by attaching the pedal bracket 10 to this portion, the mounting strength of the pedal bracket 10 is improved.

Incidentally, the steering post bracket 16
By forming, for example, a convex portion on the horizontal and inclined flange portions 16b and 16c and a concave portion that fits into the dash upper 4, it is possible to easily position the dash upper 4 in the vehicle width direction during assembly. Becomes

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the steering post bracket is joined to the dash lower and the dash upper, the steering post bracket is compared to the conventional dash upper only. Then, since the mounting strength is improved, the vibration of the steering post can be suppressed.

When assembling the dash upper,
Since the dash upper is supported by the positioning surface portion of the steering post bracket and the left and right front pillars at three points, it is not necessary to form an outward flange portion on the front pillar as in the past, and an inward flange portion is not required. Only the formation needs to be done. Therefore, unlike the conventional case, it is not necessary to form the hole 3c, the sealing property is ensured, and the bulging portion 1 for avoiding the outward flange portion is provided.
Since it is not necessary to form 2a, the strength against vertical force can be improved, and vehicle noise can be reduced, which is a practically useful effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along a vehicle front-rear direction showing an embodiment of a vehicle body structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a steering post bracket of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a steering post bracket and a pedal bracket of the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a joint between a dash upper and a front pillar of the same embodiment.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 4 showing the same embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1 showing a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing the conventional example.

8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the vehicle front-rear direction showing the conventional example.

FIG. 10 is a view of FIG. 7 showing the conventional example seen from the direction of an arrow Y.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Dash lower 2 Cowl box 4 Dash upper 4b Both ends 5 Front pillar 5a Inward flange 8 Steering post 16 Steering post bracket 16b Horizontal flange (positioning surface) 16c Inclined flange (positioning surface) E Engine room H vehicle interior

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A dash lower provided between a vehicle compartment and an engine room, and an air box formed along the vehicle width direction on the upper side of the dash lower, and forming a bottom portion of the air box. A steering post bracket is provided so as to straddle the dash upper and the dash lower, and a flange portion that is bent inward from a front pillar located outside the vehicle compartment of the air box is provided. The body structure is characterized in that both parts are joined to both ends of the dash upper. 2. A steering post bracket is fixed to a dash lower provided between a vehicle compartment and an engine room, and a pair of left and right positioning surface portions bent in the vehicle width direction are formed on an upper edge portion of the steering post bracket. Position the dash upper by placing it on the flange formed by bending inward from the front pillar of
A method of assembling a vehicle body structure, wherein the dash upper is fixed to the positioning surface portion and the flange portion.