JPH07179181A - Front structure of automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the boardability of an occupant and the mobility in the automobile lateral direction and prevent the deformation of a cabin caused by a rear mount part and a differential mechanism part of an engine unit by making use of an automobile body structure for this improvement. CONSTITUTION:The height of a front floor 14 of a cabin 6 is set to approximately same as the height of the upper end part of right and left side sills 18, and formed to approximately flush over the whole in the automobile lateral direction, and a rear mount part 26 of an engine unit 20 is located in front of a dash panel lower inclined part 10 connecting the lower end 8 of the upper and lower parts of the dash panel lower to the front end of the front floor 14, and a differential mechanism 36 of the engine unit 20 is arranged so that an output shaft 36 may be located lower than the front floor 14. A reinforcement 46 which extends in an approximately linear manner in the automobile lateral direction and forms the closed section together with the dash panel lower inclined part 10 can be joined to the front surface of the dash panel lower inclined part 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-126884, the floor surface of a passenger compartment of an automobile is generally at a minimum ground clearance, and side sills disposed on both sides of the vehicle body. Is provided at the same height as the lower end of the vehicle, and at the center portion in the vehicle width direction, a tunnel portion that bulges upward and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction is provided for disposing a propeller shaft or the like on the lower side. .

Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-23576.
As described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3 (1994), a structure is known in which a subframe is provided to support the engine unit, and the subframe supports the rear portion of the engine unit. The rear mount portion that supports the rear portion of such an engine unit on the vehicle body is generally positioned in front of the upper and lower portions of the dash lower.

In the case of a front engine front drive type automobile, for example, a differential mechanism may be attached to the engine unit, and the differential mechanism may be located at the rearmost position of the engine unit. And
In such a case, the differential mechanism is generally arranged such that the output shaft located at the center thereof is located above the floor surface of the passenger compartment.

[0004]

By the way, as described above, the height of the passenger compartment floor is the same as that of the side sill, that is, the height of the passenger compartment floor is lower than the upper end of the side sill. In such vehicles, there is a problem that it is difficult for passengers to get on and off when they get in and out of the passenger compartment because they have to cross over the side sill. Further, if the tunnel portion is formed on the floor surface of the passenger compartment, the passenger has to cross over the tunnel portion when moving in the passenger compartment in the vehicle width direction, which makes it difficult to move.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, the floor surface of the passenger compartment is set at substantially the same height as the upper end portion of the side sill so that the passenger does not have to cross over the side sill when getting on and off. For the sake of simplification, and by setting the floor surface of the vehicle compartment at substantially the same height as the upper end portion of the side sill, it is possible to arrange a propeller shaft and the like within the vertical length range of the side sill below the floor surface. In this case, the bottom position of the side sill is at the same height as the minimum ground clearance or more,
Therefore, the floor of the cabin is higher than the minimum ground clearance, and at least the propeller shaft etc. can be installed in the vertical length range of the side sill below the floor of the cabin). It is conceivable that the vehicle is flattened and the mobility of the occupant in the vehicle width direction is improved.

On the other hand, in the case where the rear mount portion of the engine unit is located in front of the upper and lower parts of the dash lower as in the prior art, the rear mount portion of the engine unit is retracted together with the engine unit in the event of a car collision. However, there is a problem in that the rear mount portion causes the upper and lower parts of the dash lower to project and deform toward the interior of the vehicle.

Further, in the case where the differential mechanism located at the rearmost position of the engine unit is located above the floor surface of the passenger compartment as in the above-mentioned prior art, the engine unit retracts in the event of a collision of the vehicle, There is a problem that the dash lower inclined portion and the front end portion of the vehicle compartment floor surface are projected and deformed toward the vehicle interior by the differential mechanism portion at the rearmost portion of the engine unit.

Therefore, in the case where the position of the passenger compartment floor surface is raised and flattened in order to improve the occupant's entry / exitability and the vehicle width direction mobility, the passenger compartment floor surface is raised and It would be advantageous to be able to provide a structure capable of preventing the deformation of the vehicle interior due to the rear mount portion of the engine unit and the differential mechanism portion by utilizing the flattened structure.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to improve the occupant's entry / exitability and the vehicle width direction mobility and utilize the vehicle body structure at that time to utilize the vehicle body structure and the rear mount portion and differential mechanism portion of the engine unit. An object of the present invention is to provide a front structure of an automobile capable of preventing the deformation of the passenger compartment caused by the above.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle front structure according to the present invention has a front floor surface of a passenger compartment whose height is substantially the same as that of upper ends of left and right side sills. And the rear mount part that supports the rear part of the engine unit to the vehicle body and connects the lower end of the upper and lower parts of the dash lower to the front end of the front floor surface. It is characterized in that it is located in front of the section.

Further, the front structure of the automobile according to the present invention is
In order to achieve the above object, the height of the front floor surface of the vehicle compartment is set to be substantially the same as the upper ends of the left and right side sills, and is formed to be substantially flat over the entire vehicle width direction. The differential mechanism is characterized in that the output shaft thereof is disposed below the front floor surface.

The front structure of the vehicle according to the present invention is
In order to achieve the above object, the height of the front floor surface of the vehicle compartment is set to be substantially the same as the upper ends of the left and right side sills, and is formed to be substantially flat over the entire vehicle width direction. Position the rear mount that supports the rear part of the vehicle body in front of the dash lower inclined part that connects the lower ends of the dash lower upper and lower parts and the front end of the front floor surface, and set the output mechanism of the differential mechanism of the engine unit to the front side. It is characterized in that it is arranged below the partial floor surface.

In the front structure of each vehicle, the dash lower slope is formed on the front surface of the dash lower slope portion so as to extend substantially linearly in the vehicle width direction between the left and right front and rear frames extending in the front and rear direction in the lower portion of the vehicle body. It is possible to join reinforcements which together with the parts form a closed cross section.

[0014]

As described above, the vehicle front structure according to the present invention is configured such that the passenger compartment floor surface is set at substantially the same height as the upper end portion of the side sill. Since it is not necessary to cross over the side sill, getting on and off is facilitated. Further, by setting the floor surface of the vehicle compartment at substantially the same height as the upper end portion of the side sill, it becomes possible to arrange a propeller shaft or the like within the vertical range of the side sill below the floor surface (in this case, the lower end of the side sill). The position is the same as or higher than the minimum ground clearance, so the cabin floor is higher than the minimum clearance, and at least the propeller shaft etc. can be installed in the vertical length range of the side sill below the cabin floor. Accordingly, since the tunnel portion is eliminated and the floor surface is flattened, the mobility of the occupant in the vehicle width direction can be improved.

Further, as described above, the vehicle compartment floor surface is set at substantially the same height as the upper end portion of the side sill, that is, by raising the position of the vehicle compartment floor surface, the position of the dash lower inclined portion is set to be higher than the conventional one. It is also possible to position the rear mount of the engine unit in front of the dash lower ramp and thus the rear mount of the engine unit in front of the dash lower ramp. Therefore, since the dash lower inclined portion is located rearward of the dash lower upper and lower portions, a crash space of a predetermined length should be secured behind the mount portion, that is, between the mount portion and the dash lower inclined portion. As a result, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the dash lower toward the vehicle interior side due to the rearward movement of the mount portion, When the mount portion moves rearward, the mount portion is guided downward by the dash lower inclined portion so that the mount portion can easily go around to the lower side of the floor surface of the passenger compartment, whereby the dash lower panel due to the rearward movement of the mount portion. Also, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the passenger compartment floor surface toward the passenger compartment.

Further, by disposing the differential mechanism of the engine unit with its output shaft positioned below the front floor surface, when the differential mechanism portion is retracted, the differential mechanism portion is mounted on the vehicle. It becomes easy to go around to the lower side of the passenger compartment floor surface, whereby it is possible to prevent the differential mechanism portion from directly hitting the dash lower slope portion or the front end portion of the passenger compartment floor surface and projecting and deforming them toward the passenger compartment side.

Further, as described above, the height of the floor surface of the passenger compartment is set to be substantially the same as the upper end portions of the left and right side sills, and the floor surface is formed to be substantially flat over the entire width of the vehicle.
When the front end opening of the tunnel part existing in the above dash lower slope part disappears, and when the reinforcement to be joined to the front surface of the dash lower slope part is thereby provided, when the conventional front end opening of the tunnel part exists, the reinforcement is changed. It was necessary to bend the opening at the front end opening of the tunnel part to bypass the opening, but it is possible to install the reinforcement linearly without bending it, and thus the reinforcement is linear. The rigidity of the vehicle against the external force in the vehicle width direction at the time of a side collision due to the reinforcement can be improved by providing the above.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an essential part of an automobile having an embodiment of a front structure according to the present invention, and FIG.
II-II line sectional view, FIG. 3 is a III-III line sectional view in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is the figure which looked at a dash lower upper part and a slope part from the front.

In this embodiment, the front structure according to the present invention is applied to a front engine front drive type automobile. In the illustrated vehicle, as shown in FIG. 2, the dash lower panel 2 partitions the engine room 4 and the vehicle room 6. Above dash lower panel 2
Is composed of a dash lower upper and lower portion 8 extending in the vehicle body vertical direction, and a dash lower inclined portion 10 extending obliquely downward and rearward from the lower end of the dash lower upper and lower portion 8. The front end of the floor panel 12 is joined to the lower end (rear end) of the dash lower inclined portion 10. The upper surface of the floor panel 12 forms a passenger compartment floor surface 14.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, side sills 16 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction are disposed at the left and right ends of the lower part of the vehicle, and the floor panel 12 has upper end parts of the left and right side sills 16. Are joined to each other so that their heights are set to be substantially the same as the upper ends of the left and right side sills 16, and are formed to be substantially flat over the entire vehicle width direction. The height of the lower end of the side sill 16 is the minimum ground clearance required for an automobile, and therefore the floor panel 12 is set at a position higher than the minimum ground clearance by the vertical length of the side sill 16. In the present embodiment, the floor panel 12 (vehicle compartment floor surface 1
4) is set at substantially the same height as the upper end portion of the side sill 16 over substantially the entire length in the front-rear direction of the vehicle compartment, and is formed substantially flat over the entire vehicle width direction. Side sill at the front of the panel 12 (front floor)
It suffices that the height is set to be substantially the same as the upper end of 16 and that it is formed to be substantially flat over the entire vehicle width direction.

At the lower part of the vehicle, left and right front and rear frames 18 extending in the front-rear direction over substantially the entire length in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body.
Is provided. The front and rear frames 18 are a frame front portion 18a extending rearward from a substantially front end portion of the engine room 4 and hitting the dash lower upper and lower portions 8 in the engine room 4, and a rear end of the frame front portion 18a. Frame slanted portion 18b extending downward and rearward along the dash lower slanted portion 10 from the rear end of the frame slanted portion 18b and the rear end of the floor panel 12 directed rearwardly toward the rear end of the vehicle body. And a frame base portion 18c extending to the above portion. Of course, the front and rear frames 18 are appropriately joined to the dash lower upper and lower portions 8, the inclined portion 10 and the floor panel 12. The left and right front and rear frames 18 are convexly curved in the middle toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, and are joined to the left and right side sills 16 at the curved portions 18d.

An engine unit 20 and a sub-frame 22 for supporting a rear portion of the engine unit 20 are arranged in the engine room 4. This subframe 22
As shown in FIG. 5, in particular, the left and right bases 24 are connected to the left and right bases 24 and the engine unit 20 described below is connected.
The rear mount portion mounting portion 28 to which the rear mount portion 26 for supporting the rear portion on the vehicle body is mounted, and the mounting arm portions 30 extending upward from each of the left and right base portions 24, the sub-frame 22 includes the left and right base portions 24. The rear portion and the upper portion of the mounting arm portion 30 are fixed to the front and rear frames 18 by bolting to the front and rear frames 18 as shown in the figure.

The engine unit 20 is constructed by integrally combining an engine 32, a transmission 34 and a differential mechanism 36. This engine 32 is a horizontal type, a transmission 34 is attached to the side of the engine 32, and a differential mechanism is provided at the rear of the transmission 34.
36 is attached, and therefore the differential mechanism 36 is located at the rearmost position in the engine unit 20. Although not shown, the engine unit 20 is supported by the vehicle body in a predetermined manner in a predetermined portion, and particularly, in the rear portion of the engine unit 20, a rod 40 hung between support brackets 38 extending rearward is mounted on the rear portion of the engine unit 20. By being inserted into the insertion hole 26a of the portion 26, it is supported by the sub-frame 22 (vehicle body) via the rear mount portion 26.
Of course, the rear mount portion 26 is fixed to the rear mount portion mounting portion 28 of the subframe by bolting or the like.

When the engine unit 20 is arranged and supported, the rear mount portion 26 is positioned in front of the dash lower slope portion 10 as shown in FIG. 2, and the rear mount portion 26 and the dash lower slope portion 10 are connected to each other. A crush space CS having a predetermined length is provided between them. The two-dot chain line 50 in FIG. 2 indicates the floor surface and the dash lower panel in the case of the prior art in which the passenger compartment floor surface is set at the height of the lower end of the side sill. Further, the differential mechanism 36 is arranged so that the height of the output shaft 36a of the differential mechanism at the center thereof is lower than the height of the floor panel 12 by a predetermined length h. The output shaft 36a is connected to the axle 44 of the front wheel 42 as shown in FIG. Furthermore, the dash lower sloped part
A reinforcement 46, which extends substantially linearly in the vehicle width direction and forms a closed cross section together with the dash lower inclined portion 10, is joined to the front surface of the vehicle 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the reinforcement 46 extends in the vehicle width direction between the left and right front and rear frames 18, and both left and right ends are joined to the frame inclined portions 18b of the left and right front and rear frames. The two-dot chain line 48 in FIG. 1 indicates the position of the dash lower upper and lower parts 8.

The front structure of the above-mentioned automobile is constructed by setting the floor surface 14 of the passenger compartment at substantially the same height as the upper end portion of the side sill 16,
It is not necessary for an occupant to cross over the side sill 16 when getting on and off, so that getting on and off is facilitated. In addition, the floor of the passenger compartment
By setting 14 at substantially the same height as the upper end of the side sill 16, it is possible to arrange a propeller shaft or the like within the vertical length range of the side sill below the floor, and accordingly, eliminate the tunnel portion and make the floor surface 14 Is flattened, the mobility of the occupant in the vehicle width direction can be improved.

Further, as described above, the vehicle compartment floor surface 14 is set at substantially the same height as the upper end portion of the side sill 16, that is, the vehicle compartment floor surface 14
By increasing the position of
Can be made higher than the conventional one, which allows the rear mount portion 26 of the engine unit to be positioned in front of the dash lower tilt portion 10, and thus the mount portion 16 can be moved to the dash lower tilt portion. Since the dash lower inclined portion 10 is positioned rearward of the dash lower upper and lower portions 8 by being positioned in front of the portion 10, a crash space CS having a predetermined length can be secured behind the mount portion 26. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the dash lower to the vehicle interior side due to the rearward movement of the mount portion 26, and when the mount portion 26 moves rearward, the mount portion 26 is moved by the dash lower inclined portion 10. Guide downwards so that the mount 26 is on the floor of the passenger compartment.
It becomes easy to go around to the lower side of 14, so that the deformation of the dash lower panel and the floor of the passenger compartment toward the passenger compartment due to the rearward movement of the mount portion 26 can be suppressed.

Further, by disposing the differential mechanism 36 of the engine unit with the output shaft 36a thereof being positioned below the front floor surface 14, the differential mechanism 36 part is retracted when it is retracted. It becomes easy for the mechanism 36 part to wrap around to the lower side of the vehicle interior floor surface, whereby the differential mechanism 36 part directly contacts the front end of the dash lower slope portion 10 or the vehicle interior floor surface 14 and causes them to project and deform toward the vehicle interior side. Can be suppressed.

Further, as described above, by setting the height of the passenger compartment floor surface 14 to be substantially the same as the upper end portions of the left and right side sills 16 and forming it substantially flat over the entire vehicle width direction, When the conventional front end opening of the tunnel portion in the dash lower slope portion 10 is eliminated, and thus a reinforcement is joined to the front surface of the dash lower slope portion 10, when the conventional tunnel portion front end opening is present, the rain The reinforcement had to be bent around the opening at the front end of the tunnel to bypass the opening, but it is possible to install the reinforcement linearly without bending, and thus the reinforcement described above. By providing 46 linearly, the rigidity against the external force in the vehicle width direction at the time of a side impact by the reinforcement 46 is improved. It can be.

The embodiment of the front structure of the automobile according to the present invention has been described above. The front structure of the automobile according to the present invention is as follows.
The present invention is not limited to the specific mode of the embodiment,
Of course, various modifications are possible. Also,
The structure according to claim 1 can be applied to a vehicle of a front engine rear drive type, and the structure according to claim 2 is sufficient if the engine unit at the front part of the vehicle is provided with a differential mechanism. For example, it can be applied to a 4WD vehicle in which a differential mechanism is attached to an engine unit at the front of the vehicle.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a main part of an automobile having an embodiment of a front structure according to the present invention.

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

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

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the upper and lower parts of the dash lower and the inclined part.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a mounting manner of a subframe and a mounting manner of a rear mount portion of an engine unit on the subframe.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Cabin 8 Upper and lower part of dash lower 10 Sloped part of dash lower 14 Floor 16 Side sill 18 Front and rear frame 20 Engine unit 26 Rear mount 36 Differential mechanism 46 Reinforcement

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kei Mizuno 3-1, Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture Mazda Motor Corporation

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A front floor surface of a vehicle compartment is set to have substantially the same height as upper ends of left and right side sills, and is formed to be substantially flat over the entire vehicle width direction. A front part structure of an automobile, characterized in that a rear mount part supported on a vehicle body is located in front of a dash lower inclined part connecting a lower end of a dash lower upper part and a front end of the front floor surface. 2. The differential of the engine unit is configured such that the height of the front floor surface of the vehicle compartment is set to be substantially the same as the upper end portions of the left and right side sills, and is formed substantially flat over the entire vehicle width direction. A front structure of an automobile, characterized in that the output shaft of the mechanism is disposed below the front floor surface. 3. The front floor surface of the vehicle compartment is set to have substantially the same height as the upper ends of the left and right side sills, and is formed substantially flat over the entire width direction of the vehicle. The rear mount that is supported by the vehicle body is located in front of the dash lower slope that connects the lower ends of the upper and lower parts of the dash lower and the front end of the front floor surface, and the output mechanism of the differential mechanism of the engine unit is the front floor. A front structure for an automobile, characterized in that the front structure is arranged below the plane. 4. A rain line that extends substantially linearly in the vehicle width direction between left and right front and rear frames extending in the front-rear direction in the lower part of the vehicle body on the front surface of the dash lower inclined portion to form a closed cross section together with the dash lower inclined portion. The front structure of the automobile according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the reinforcements are joined together. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a front structure of an automobile, and more particularly to a structure for disposing an engine unit on a dash lower panel and a front floor of a passenger compartment.