JPH06179379A - Front pillar lower section structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely join respective members with one another by inserting a rocker reinforcing member up to the central section of a joint combining a front pillar reinforcing member with body outer panel members even if sheet thickness is changed. CONSTITUTION:The cross sectional shape of the lower end section 25 of a front pillar reinforcing member 24 is formed into a stepped shape, and its front end section 25A is brought into contact with the lower end section 12A of a front pillar outer 12. A first step section 25B which is recessed to the inner side by one step in the width direction, is continuously formed in the rear side, and the front end section 26A of a rocker reinforcing member 26 is inserted into an insertion section which is formed together with the lower end section 12A of the front pillar outer 12, so as to be fusion bonded. A second step section 25C is formed in the rear end section of the first step section 25B, and the front end section of the rocker reinforcing member of an open roof car where sheet thickness is thicker than the rocker reinforcing member of a closed roof car, is inserted into a second insertion section formed together with the lower end section 12A of the front pillar outer 12 so as to be fusion bonded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a front pillar lower structure, and more particularly to a front pillar lower structure of a vehicle type including a closed roof vehicle and an open roof vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a lower front pillar structure of an automobile, a structure in which a lower front pillar and a front end of a rocker (also referred to as a side sill) are connected to each other has been known. Is shown in.

As shown in FIG. 8, in this front pillar lower structure, a lower portion 70A of a front pillar 70 is joined to a front end portion 72A of a rocker outer 72, and a first reinforce 74 is provided at this joint portion. There is.
Further, a substantially rectangular second reinforce 76 is provided across the upper and lower flanges 72B and 72C of the rocker outer 72. The first reinforce 74 and the second reinforce 76 are sandwiched between the rocker outer 72 and the rocker inner 78. In addition, Rocka Outer 7
2 and the first reinforcement 74, the second reinforcement 76
A partition-shaped third reinforce 80 is provided between the front pillar and the front pillar 70, and a load acting on the front pillar 70 from the suspension is dispersed and transmitted to the rocker outer 72 and the rocker inner 78 via these reinforces. Lower 70A of 70 and rocker outer 7
The rigidity of the connecting portion with the front end portion 72A of No. 2 is improved.

[0004]

However, in the case of adding the rocker reinforcement for reinforcing the rocker portion in such a front pillar lower structure as described above, as shown in FIG. 9 (A), the front pillar reinforcement 90 is used. The front end portion 96A of the rocker reinforcement 96 may be inserted and clamped up to an intermediate portion of the joint portion 94 between the vehicle body outer plate member 92 and the front pillar lower structure, as shown in FIG. 9 (B). When the plate thickness T2 of the rock reinforce 98 is larger than the plate thickness T1 of the rock reinforce 96 shown in FIG. 9 (A), the rock reinforce 98 of the connecting portion 94 between the front pillar reinforcement 90 and the vehicle body outer plate member 92 is increased. A gap is generated in the non-intervening portion 94A. For example, in a vehicle model equipped with a closed roof vehicle and an open roof vehicle, it is necessary to make the rocker rigidity of the open roof vehicle higher than the rocker rigidity of the closed roof vehicle. It is thicker than the thickness of Rock Reinforce on roof cars. Therefore,
As shown in FIG. 9B, the front portion 94 of the joint portion 94 between the front pillar reinforcement 90 and the vehicle body outer plate member 92.
Since a gap is generated in A, it becomes difficult to use the front pillar reinforcement and the vehicle body plate member of the open roof vehicle as a common component with the front pillar reinforcement and the vehicle body plate member of the closed roof vehicle.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention allows the rocker reinforcement to be inserted and clamped up to the intermediate portion of the joint between the front pillar reinforcement and the vehicle body outer plate member even when the thickness of the rocker reinforcement changes. An object of the present invention is to provide a front pillar lower structure capable of reliably connecting the front pillar reinforcement and the vehicle body outer plate member.

[0006]

According to the front pillar lower structure of the present invention as set forth in claim 1, the front end portion of the rocker reinforcement is inserted to a middle portion of a joint portion between the front pillar reinforcement and the vehicle body outer plate member, and is clamped and coupled. A first pillar lower structure for connecting the front end portion of the rocker reinforcement between the front pillar reinforce and the vehicle body outer plate member, the first end being inserted between the front pillar reinforce and the vehicle body outer plate member. A second step portion that forms an insertion portion and a second step portion that is continuously formed on the front pillar reinforcement and that is formed continuously with the first step portion and that has a wider space than the first insertion portion between the vehicle body outer plate member and the second step portion. And a second step portion that forms the insertion portion of the.

[0007]

According to the front pillar lower structure of the present invention as set forth in claim 1, the front end portion of the rocker reinforcement of the closed roof vehicle is first inserted between the first step portion of the front pillar reinforce and the vehicle body skin member. The front end of the lock reinforce of the open roof car, which has a larger thickness than the lock reinforce of the closed roof car, is connected to the second step part of the front pillar reinforce and the body plate member. It can be inserted and inserted into the second insertion part between the two and sandwiched.

Therefore, even when the thickness of the rocker reinforcement is changed, the rocker reinforcement can be inserted and clamped up to the intermediate portion of the joint between the front pillar reinforcement and the vehicle body outer plate member, and the front pillar reinforcement can be connected. The vehicle body outer plate member can be reliably coupled.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the front pillar lower structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the figure, an arrow FR indicates a front direction of the vehicle body, an arrow UP indicates an upward direction of the vehicle body, and an arrow IN indicates a vehicle width inward direction.

As shown in FIG. 7, a side member outer 10 as a vehicle body outer plate member of a closed roof vehicle includes a front pillar outer 12, a rocker outer 14, a center pillar outer 16, a roof side rail outer 18, a quarter panel 20, and the like. It is integrated.

The front pillar outer 12, the rocker outer 14, and the center pillar outer 1 of the side member outer 10.
On the inner side in the vehicle width direction of 6, the reinforcement sub-assembly 22
Is connected to this reinforcement sub-assembly 22
The front pillar reinforcement 24, the rocker reinforcement 26, and the center pillar reinforcement 28 are integrated with each other.

The front pillar reinforce 24 and the side member outer 10 of the reinforce sub-assembly 22.
Inside the roof side rail outer 18 in the vehicle width direction,
A front pillar sub-assembly 30 is connected to the front pillar sub-assembly 30. The front pillar sub-assembly 30 includes a front pillar inner lower member 32, a front pillar inner upper member 34, and an els tension front pillar inner member 38 integrated with each other.

A center inner sub-assembly 40 is connected to the center pillar reinforce 28 of the reinforce sub-assembly 22 and the inner side of the quarter panel 20 of the side member outer 10 in the vehicle width direction. The quarter inner sub-assembly 40 is a center pillar inner assembly. 42, a quarter inner 46, and a wheel house inner 48 are integrated.

As shown in FIG. 6, the lower end portion 25 of the front pillar reinforcement 24 and the front end portion 26A of the rocker reinforcement 26 are overlapped with each other. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a lower end portion 12A of the front pillar outer 12 is superposed on the vehicle width direction outer side of these superposed portions.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sectional shape of the lower end portion 12A of the front pillar outer 12 as viewed from below the vehicle body is as follows.
It is a straight line extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. The cross-sectional shape of the lower end 25 of the front pillar reinforcement 24 viewed from below the vehicle body is stepwise, and the front end 25A is in contact with the lower end 12A of the front pillar outer 12. On the rear side of the front end portion 25A, a first step portion 25B which is recessed one step inward in the vehicle width direction is continuously formed,
A rocker reinforcement 26 set exclusively for a closed roof vehicle is provided in a first insertion portion formed by the first step portion 25B and the lower end portion 12A of the front pillar outer 12.
The front end portion 26A is inserted and welded.

At the rear end portion of the first step portion 25B, the first step portion 25B is continuously moved toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction by 1
A stepped second step portion 25C is formed, and a second insertion portion formed by the second step portion 25C and the lower end portion 12A of the front pillar outer 12 is formed as shown in FIG. The front end portion 50A of the rock reinforce 50 of the open roof car, which is thicker than the rock reinforce of the closed roof car, is inserted and welded.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sectional shape of the lower end portion 12A of the front pillar outer 12 as viewed from the rear of the vehicle body is as follows.
It is a straight line extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle body. The sectional shape of the lower end portion 25 of the front pillar reinforcement 24 viewed from the rear of the vehicle body is stepwise, and the upper portion 25D is in contact with the lower end portion 12A of the front pillar outer 12.
A first step portion 25B is extended below the upper portion 25A, and a first insertion portion formed by the first step portion 25B and the lower end portion 12A of the front pillar outer 12 is provided. A front end portion 26A of a rock reinforce 26, which is set only for a closed roof vehicle, is inserted and welded. The second step portion 2 is provided at the lower end of the first step portion 25B.
5C is extended, and a second insertion portion formed by the second step portion 25C and the lower end portion 12A of the front pillar outer 12 has a lock roof reinforcement of a closed roof vehicle as shown in FIG. The front end portion 50A of the rock reinforce 50 of the open roof vehicle, which is thicker than that of the open roof vehicle, is inserted and welded.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In the lower structure of the front pillar of the present embodiment, the front end 25A and the upper part 25D of the lower end 25 of the front pillar reinforcement 24 of the closed roof vehicle are connected to the front pillar outer member 12.
While being welded to the lower end portion 12A of the front pillar 26, the front end portion 26A of the rocker reinforcement 26 is formed by the first step portion 25B of the lower end portion 25 of the front pillar reinforcement 24 and the lower end portion 12A of the front pillar outer 12. It can be inserted into the insertion portion and pinched and coupled.

The front end portion 50A of the rocker reinforcement 50 of the open roof vehicle, which is thicker than the rocker reinforcement 26 of the closed roof vehicle, has the second step portion 25C of the lower end portion 25 of the front pillar reinforcement 24.
And the lower end portion 12A of the front pillar outer 12 can be inserted and sandwiched and coupled.

Therefore, even if the thickness of the rocker reinforcement changes, the rocker tip can be inserted and clamped up to the middle of the connecting portion between the front pillar reinforce 24 and the front pillar outer 12. Therefore, the front pillar reinforcement 24 and the front pillar outer 12 of the open roof vehicle can be shared with the front pillar reinforcement 34 and the front pillar outer 12 of the closed roof vehicle, and the side member outer 1
0, the front pillar reinforcement 24, and the rocker reinforcement 26 can be sub-assembled.

[0022]

The front pillar lower structure according to the present invention is a front pillar lower structure in which the front end portion of the rocker reinforcement is inserted and clamped up to an intermediate portion of the connecting portion between the front pillar reinforcement and the vehicle body outer plate member. A first stepped portion that is provided at a connection portion of the front pillar reinforcement with the vehicle body skin member and forms a first insertion portion for inserting the front end portion of the rocker reinforcement to the vehicle body skin member; A second insert portion that is formed continuously with the first step portion on the pillar reinforcement and that has a wider gap than the first insert portion between the vehicle body outer plate member and the second insert portion.
Since it has a step portion, even if the thickness of the rocker reinforcement is changed, the rocker reinforcement can be inserted and clamped up to the middle part of the joint between the front pillar reinforcement and the vehicle body plate member. In addition to this, it has an excellent effect that the front pillar reinforcement and the vehicle body outer plate member can be reliably coupled to each other.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along line 1-1 of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1 when a thick rock reinforce is joined.

3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 when thick rock reinforce is joined.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lower part of the front pillar according to the embodiment of the present invention, which is seen from an obliquely front outside of the vehicle body.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of a lower portion of a front pillar according to an embodiment of the present invention, as seen from an obliquely outer side of the vehicle body.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle body side portion to which a front pillar lower structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, as seen from the vehicle body obliquely front side.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a lower portion of a front pillar according to a conventional example as seen from diagonally behind the inside of a vehicle body.

9A is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a front pillar lower structure according to another conventional example, and FIG. 9B is a case where the thickness of the rock reinforce of the front pillar lower structure according to another conventional example is increased. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Side Member Outer (Vehicle Body Plate Member) 12 Front Pillar Outer 12A Lower End 24 Front Pillar Reinforce 25 Lower End 25B First Step 25C Second Step 26 Rock Reinforce 26A Front End 50 Rock Reinforce 50A Front End

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A front pillar lower structure in which a front end portion of a rocker reinforcement is inserted and clamped to a middle portion of a joint portion between a front pillar reinforcement and a vehicle body plate member, wherein the vehicle body outer plate of the front pillar reinforcement is formed. A first step portion which is provided at a joint portion with a member and which forms a first insertion portion for inserting a front end portion of the rocker reinforcement between the vehicle body outer plate member and the front pillar reinforcement. A second step portion that is formed continuously with the first step portion and that forms a second insertion portion that is wider than the first insertion portion and that is formed between the vehicle body outer plate member and the first step portion. Front pillar lower structure to be.