JPH0747263Y2 - Vehicle side member structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of use) The present invention relates to a side member structure of a vehicle, and more particularly to a structure adapted to effectively absorb impact energy generated in a collision.

(Prior Art) A vehicle body generally has a pair of left and right side members, and each side member is reinforced by a reinforcing plate.

On the other hand, when a vehicle collides while traveling forward, the impact force received by the vehicle is usually first transmitted to the front end of the side member from the front side and then to each part of the vehicle body through the side member. ing.

Therefore, conventionally, in order to prevent the impact force at the time of the collision from being transmitted to each part of the vehicle body, when the front end portion of the side member receives an impact force from the front thereof, the front end portion is plastically deformed to generate the impact energy. What has been proposed to absorb the.

An example of such a configuration is shown in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-127085.

According to this, as a first example, there is one as shown in FIG. 10 of the above publication, in which a reinforcing plate is attached over the entire front end portion of the side wall plate which constitutes the side member.

Further, as a second example, FIGS. 1, 5, and 11
There is one as shown in the figure, in which the reinforcing plate located at the front end portion of the side member is unevenly provided on the upper portion of the side wall plate.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) By the way, in the case of the above-mentioned first example, since the reinforcing plate is provided across the entire front end portion of the side wall plate, the rigidity of the side member becomes excessive, At the time of a collision, the front end portion of the side member may be less likely to be plastically deformed. Therefore, according to this example, it is difficult to further increase the amount of impact energy absorbed.

Further, according to the second example, since the reinforcing plate is biased to the upper part of the side wall plate, the plastic deformation of the front end portion of the side member due to the impact force from the front is not mainly reinforced by the reinforcing plate. It will occur below the front end of the side member. For this reason, the front end portion of the side member may be bent downward due to the impact force before the front end portion is entirely plastically deformed. Therefore, also in this case, the impact energy is the same as in the first example. However, there is an inconvenience that it is not possible to sufficiently increase the absorption amount.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a side member capable of sufficiently increasing the amount of impact energy absorbed.

(Structure of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that an upper reinforcing plate and a lower reinforcing plate extending in the front-rear direction are attached to front end portions of side wall plates constituting front side members of a vehicle body. In the vehicle side member structure, the front portions of the upper reinforcing plate and the lower reinforcing plate are separated from each other in the vertical direction, and the lower edge of the front portion of the upper reinforcing plate is formed in a forward rising shape, while the lower reinforcing plate is formed. Form the upper edge of the front part of the board in a front-down shape,
In a side view, the vertical width of the space sandwiched between the front part of the upper reinforcing plate and the lower part of the lower reinforcing plate is gradually increased toward the front, and the rear part of each of the upper reinforcing plate and the lower reinforcing plate is increased. At the point where they overlap each other in the vehicle width direction.

(Operation) The operation of the above configuration is as follows.

The front portions of the upper reinforcing plate 14 and the lower reinforcing plate 15 attached to the front end portion 12 of the front side member 2 are separated from each other in the vertical direction.

Therefore, as compared with the conventional case where the reinforcing plate is entirely provided at the front end portion of the front side member, the front end portion 12 of the front side member 2 is more easily plastically deformed when an impact force is applied from the front side thereof.

Moreover, the lower edge of the front portion of the upper reinforcing plate 14 is formed in a front upward shape, while the upper edge of the front portion of the lower reinforcing plate 15 is formed in a front downward shape, and in a side view, the upper reinforcing plate 14 is formed. Front and bottom stiffeners
The width L in the vertical direction of the space 17 sandwiched between the lower part of 15 and the space 15 is gradually increased toward the front.

Therefore, when the front end portion 12 of the front side member 2 receives an impact force from the front thereof, the portion of the side wall plate 8 corresponding to the space 17 is more than the portion where the upper reinforcing plate 14 and the lower reinforcing plate 15 are provided. Also begins to undergo greater plastic deformation. Then,
Along with this, the acting direction of the impact force (the direction of arrow F in FIG. 1) is directed into the space 17, that is, the acting direction is in the longitudinal direction of the front side member 2, so that the front side member. It is suppressed that 2 is bent upward or downward by the impact force.

Therefore, the front end portion 12 of the front side member 2 is sequentially plastically deformed from the front end side receiving the impact force toward the rear side in the longitudinal direction of the front side member 2.

Further, the respective rear portions of the upper reinforcing plate 14 and the lower reinforcing plate 15 are overlapped with each other in the vehicle width direction.

Therefore, the plastic deformation due to the impact force causes the upper reinforcing plate 14
When it reaches the overlapping part of the lower reinforcing plate 15 and
The plastic deformation is further suppressed.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 is a vehicle body, and arrow Fr in the figure indicates the front of the vehicle body 1.

The vehicle body 1 has a pair of left and right front side members 2 at its front portion, and front ends of the left and right front side members 2 are firmly connected to each other by a front cross member 3. Side support members 4 extend upward from the left and right ends of the front cross member 3, and upper ends of the left and right side support members 4 are firmly connected to each other by an upper support member 5.

A wheel house 7 is provided on the outer side of each of the front side members 2, and the wheel house 7 is attached to the front side member 2 by the front cross member 3, the side support member 4, and the upper support member 5. Is also well reinforced.

1 to 4, each of the front side members 2 is made of sheet metal and has a U-shaped cross section, that is, the front side members 2 are a side wall plate 8 and upper and lower side wall plates 8. The bottom plate 9, which extends from the edge outward in the vehicle width direction,
It consists of 10 and.

A reinforcing plate 13 made of a metal plate is provided to reinforce the front end portion 12 of the front side member 2, and the reinforcing plate 13 is composed of an upper reinforcing plate 14 and a lower reinforcing plate 15 extending in the front-rear direction, respectively.
The upper reinforcing plate 14 and the lower reinforcing plate 15 are attached to the side wall plate 8 at the front end 12 of the front side member 2.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper reinforcing plate 14 has an inverted L-shaped cross section and is composed of a vertical plate 14a and a horizontal plate 14b, of which the vertical plate 14a is the vehicle width of the side wall plate 8. The lateral plate 14b is welded to the lower surface of the upper plate 9 while being welded to the outer side surface in the direction. The lower reinforcing plate 15 has an L-shaped cross section and is composed of a vertical plate 15a and a horizontal plate 15b.
15a is welded to the outer surface of the side wall plate 8 as above.

The front portions of the upper reinforcing plate 14 and the lower reinforcing plate 15 are separated from each other in the vertical direction. The lower edge of the front portion of the upper reinforcing plate 14 is formed in a front rising shape, the upper edge of the front portion of the lower reinforcing plate 15 is formed in a front falling shape, and in a side view, the front portion of these upper reinforcing plate 14 is formed. The vertical width dimension L of the space 17 sandwiched between the lower part of the lower reinforcing plate 15 and
Is formed so as to increase almost linearly as it goes forward.

On the other hand, the rear portions of the both vertical plates 14a, 15a are overlapped and welded in the vehicle width direction, that is, the strength of the reinforcement by the reinforcing plate 13 gradually increases as it goes rearward.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, a plurality of beads 18 extending vertically are formed on the side wall plate 8. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a bumper 20 is firmly screwed to the front end of each front side member 2 with a bolt.

Through the bumper 20 due to impact etc. while traveling forward,
When the front end portion 12 of the front side member 2 receives an impact force from the front thereof, the portion of the side wall plate 8 corresponding to the space 17 is more than the portion where the upper reinforcing plate 14 and the lower reinforcing plate 15 are provided. It begins to undergo larger plastic deformation. Then, along with this, the acting direction of the impact force (direction of arrow F in FIG. 1) is directed into the space 17, that is, this acting direction is directed in the longitudinal direction of the front side member 2, so that the front It is suppressed that the side member 2 is bent upward or downward by the impact force.

Therefore, the front end portion 12 of the front side member 2 is sequentially plastically deformed from the front end side receiving the impact force toward the rear side in the longitudinal direction.

Moreover, both of the vertical plates 14a and 15a of the reinforcing plate 13 are tapered toward the front, and the strength of the reinforcement by the reinforcing plate 13 is gradually increased toward the rear. Therefore, the amount of impact energy absorbed is large at the beginning of the collision and gradually decreases thereafter.

Further, the respective rear portions of the upper reinforcing plate 14 and the lower reinforcing plate 15 are overlapped with each other in the vehicle width direction.

Therefore, the plastic deformation due to the impact force causes the upper reinforcing plate 14
When it reaches the overlapping part of the lower reinforcing plate 15 and
The plastic deformation is further suppressed.

That is, it is considered that the vehicle body 1 is not excessively deformed after absorbing a predetermined amount while absorbing the impact energy smoothly.

(Effect of the Invention) According to this invention, the front portions of the upper reinforcing plate and the lower reinforcing plate attached to the front end portions of the front side members are vertically separated from each other.

Therefore, as compared with the conventional case in which the reinforcing plate is entirely provided on the front end portion of the front side member, plastic deformation is easily performed when the front end portion of the front side member receives an impact force from the front side thereof, that is, The impact energy is effectively absorbed.

Moreover, the lower edge of the front portion of the upper reinforcing plate is formed in a forward rising shape, while the upper edge of the front portion of the lower reinforcing plate is formed in a forward downward shape, and in a side view, the front portion of these upper reinforcing plates is formed. The width of the space sandwiched between the lower reinforcing plate and the lower reinforcing plate in the vertical direction gradually increases toward the front.

Therefore, when the front end portion of the front side member receives an impact force from the front thereof, the portion of the side wall plate corresponding to the space is plastically deformed more than the portion where the upper reinforcing plate and the lower reinforcing plate are provided. Begin to. Then, along with this, the acting direction of the impact force is directed into the space, that is,
Since this action direction is in the longitudinal direction of the front side member, the front side member is prevented from being bent upward or downward by the impact force.

Therefore, the front end portion of the front side member is sequentially plastically deformed from the front end side subjected to the impact force toward the rear side in the longitudinal direction of the front side member,
That is, the front end portion of the front side member is sufficiently plastically deformed as a whole, and the amount of impact energy absorbed by the hund side member is sufficiently increased.

Further, the respective rear portions of the upper reinforcing plate and the lower reinforcing plate are overlapped with each other in the vehicle width direction.

Therefore, when the plastic deformation due to the impact force reaches the overlapping portion of the upper reinforcing plate and the lower reinforcing plate, the plastic deformation is further suppressed.

Therefore, as described above, the front end portion of the front side member is capable of sufficiently increasing the amount of impact energy absorbed by its plastic deformation, but the plastic deformation causes the upper reinforcing plate and the lower reinforcing plate to overlap each other. When reaching the portion, plastic deformation is suppressed, a predetermined function as the front side member is secured, and excessive deformation of the vehicle body is more reliably prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a side view of the right front side member as seen from the inside in the vehicle width direction, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the right side of the front part of the vehicle body, and FIG. Plan view of the figure,
4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. 1 ... Vehicle body, 2 ... Front side member, 8 ... Side wall plate, 12 ... Front end part, 13 ... Reinforcement plate, 14 ... Upper reinforcement plate, 15
…… Lower reinforcing plate, 17 …… Space, L …… Width dimension.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A side member structure for a vehicle, wherein an upper reinforcing plate and a lower reinforcing plate extending in the front-rear direction are attached to front ends of side wall plates constituting front side members of a vehicle body. The front portions of the plate are separated from each other in the vertical direction, while the lower edge of the front portion of the upper reinforcing plate is formed in a front rising shape, while the upper edge of the front portion of the lower reinforcing plate is formed in a front falling shape, In a side view, the width dimension L in the up-down direction of the space sandwiched between the front part of the upper reinforcing plate and the lower part of the lower reinforcing plate is gradually increased toward the front, and each of the upper reinforcing plate and the lower reinforcing plate is increased. A side member structure of a vehicle in which the rear portions are overlapped with each other in the vehicle width direction.