JPH0826138A - Suspension tower structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the inwardly collapse phenomenon, torsion, etc., of a suspension tower by improving the combining rigidity of the suspension tower to an apron upper member. CONSTITUTION:A first closed section part 38 to connect an apron upper member 12 to a front side member 18 is formed by a support body 36 and an upper arm front bracket 28, and a second closed section part 40 to connect the apron upper member 12 to the front side member 18 is formed by the support body 36 and an upper arm rear bracket 30. The upper arm front bracket 28 and the upper arm rear bracket 30 are fixed in the section of the apron upper member 12 through an inside wall part 14C of an apron upper member 14 in the vehicle width direction, and a suspension upper arm is supported by the first closed section part 38 and the second closed section part 40.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a suspension tower structure, and more particularly to a suspension tower structure for a front body of a vehicle body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a suspension tower structure for a vehicle body, for example, one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-189683 is known.

As shown in FIG. 6, in this suspension tower structure, a bracket connecting member 70 and a first bracket 72 connect an apron upper member 76 and a front side member 78 at the front side of the spring support 74 in the vehicle front-rear direction. A first closed cross section 80 is formed. Further, the bracket connecting member 70 and the second bracket 82 form a second closed cross-section portion 84 that connects the apron upper member 76 and the front side member 78 on the rear side of the spring support 74 in the vehicle front-rear direction. Further, the first closed cross section 80 and the second closed cross section 84 are connected by the bracket connection member 70, respectively.

[0004]

However, in this suspension tower structure, the flange portions 72A and 82A formed at the upper end portions of the first bracket 72 and the second bracket 82 are the apron upper member 76.
Is welded to the inner wall portion 76A of the vehicle width direction, and the flange portion 70A formed at the upper end of the bracket connecting member 70 is welded to the inner edge portion of the upper wall portion 76B of the apron upper member 76 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the load acting on the first closed cross-section portion 80 and the second closed cross-section portion 84 is concentrated on the inner side portion of the apron upper member 76 in the vehicle width direction, and the cross-section collapse of the apron upper member 76 causes There is a risk that the suspension tower may fall inward or twist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a suspension tower structure which can improve the coupling rigidity of the suspension tower to the apron upper member to prevent the suspension tower from inclining and twisting.

[0006]

According to the suspension tower structure of the present invention, an apron upper member is disposed at both upper ends of the front body of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction, and the vehicle width of the apron upper member. A front side member disposed substantially inward and downward along the vehicle body front-rear direction, a spring support coupled to the front side member and the apron upper member, and a suspension upper arm supported on the front side of the spring support in the vehicle body front-rear direction. And a first bracket for connecting the apron upper member and the front side member, and a suspension upper arm on the rear side of the spring support in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and for connecting the apron upper member and the front side member. A second bracket, and a first closed cross-section portion that is installed on the first bracket and the second bracket and that connects the apron upper member and the front side member with the first bracket. And a second bracket that connects the apron upper member and the front side member with the second bracket.
And a bracket connecting member forming a closed cross section of the apron upper member, wherein the first bracket and the second bracket penetrate at least the inner wall portion of the apron upper member in the vehicle width direction. It is characterized in that it is fixed to the outer side wall portion of the apron upper member in the vehicle width direction.

[0007]

In the present invention having the above structure, the load acting on the first closed cross section and the second closed cross section from the suspension upper arm is applied to the vehicle width of the apron upper member by the first bracket and the second bracket. Also acts on the outer wall in the direction. Therefore, the load acting on the first closed cross section and the second closed cross section can be received by the vehicle width direction outer side wall of the apron upper member. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the cross section of the apron upper member from collapsing as compared with the conventional structure in which the load acting on the first closed cross section and the second closed cross section is received only by the inner side portion of the apron upper member in the vehicle width direction.

[0008]

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

In the figure, the arrow FR indicates the front direction of the vehicle body, the arrow IN indicates the inner direction of the vehicle body, and the arrow UP indicates the upper direction of the vehicle body.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an apron upper member 12 is disposed above both ends of the front body 10 of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction, and the apron upper member 12 is disposed substantially along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Has a closed cross-section structure by an apron upper member upper 14 and an apron upper member lower 16. That is, the cross-sectional shape of the apron upper member upper 14 when viewed from the longitudinal direction is a U-shape with the opening portion facing downward, and extends outward from the tip end of the vehicle width direction outer side wall portion 14A in the vehicle width direction. A flange 14B is formed toward the side. An outer end portion 16A of the apron upper member lower 16 in the vehicle width direction is welded to the lower surface of the flange 14B.

The inner end of the apron upper member lower 16 in the vehicle width direction is bent downward at a substantially right angle to form a bent portion 16B. This bent portion 16B extends in the vehicle width direction of the apron upper member upper 14. It is welded to the outer side surface in the vehicle width direction of the lower end portion of the inner wall portion 14C.

A front side member 18 is disposed below the inside of the apron upper member 12 in the vehicle width direction, and extends substantially along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.
Reference numeral 8 is a closed cross-section structure composed of a front side member inner 20 and a front side member outer 22.
That is, the cross-sectional shape of the front side member inner 20 as viewed in the longitudinal direction is a substantially hat shape with the opening facing outward in the vehicle width direction, and the upper and lower flanges are provided at both ends in the vertical direction along the vehicle front-rear direction. 20A and lower flange 20B
Are formed. The upper flange 20A and the lower flange 20B are welded to the inner side surfaces of the upper flange 22A and the lower flange 22B of the front side member outer 22 in the vehicle width direction.

A spring support 24 is disposed between the apron upper member 12 and the front side member 18. The upper wall 2 of this spring support 24
The vehicle width direction outer end 24B of 4A reaches the vicinity of the apron upper member upper 14.

An upper arm front bracket 28 as a first bracket is provided on the front side of the spring support 24 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. The upper arm front bracket 28 is bent along the spring support 24, and a through hole 29 for supporting the suspension upper arm 27 (see FIG. 3) is formed in the bent portion.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sectional shape of the upper arm front bracket 28 seen from the axial direction below the bent portion is a hat-like shape with the opening facing inward in the vehicle width direction. And a rear flange 28B are formed. The front flange 28A and the rear flange 28B are welded to the outer surface of the front side member outer 22 in the vehicle width direction.

Also, the upper arm front bracket 2
The cross-sectional shape seen from the axial direction above the bent portion of 8 is L
The front end portion of the lower wall portion 28C in the vehicle front-rear direction is bent downward in the vehicle body vertical direction to form a flange 28D. An upper end portion of the rear wall portion 28E in the vehicle body vertical direction is bent rearward to form a flange 28F, and the flange 28F is connected to the flange 28B.

The flange 28F of the upper arm front bracket 28 is an upper wall portion 24A of the spring support 24.
Is welded to the upper surface of the front end portion 24C of the flange 28
B is welded to the inner side surface in the vehicle width direction of the front end portion of the inner wall portion 24D of the spring support 24. Further, the front wall portion 24E of the spring support 24 has a through hole 3 for supporting the suspension upper arm 27 (see FIG. 3) coaxially with the through hole 29 of the upper arm front bracket 28.
2 is drilled.

As shown in FIG. 4, an outer end portion of the lower wall portion 28C of the upper arm front bracket 28 in the vehicle width direction is an extension portion 28G. This extension portion 28G is a vehicle of the apron upper member upper 14. Inner wall portion 14C in the width direction
From the notch 15 formed in the apron upper member 1
It is inserted in 2. Further, the tip portion 28H of the extended portion 28G is welded between the flange 14B and the vehicle width direction outer end portion 16A.

An outer end portion of the rear wall portion 28E in the vehicle width direction is also formed as an extension portion 28J, and this extension portion 28J also serves as an inner wall portion 14C of the apron upper member upper 14 in the vehicle width direction.
From the notch 15 formed in the apron upper member 1
It is inserted in 2. A flange 28K is formed at the tip of the extending portion 28J toward the rear of the vehicle body, and the flange 28K is welded to the vehicle width direction inner side surface of the vehicle width direction outer side wall portion 14A (see FIG. 5). . Further, the outer end portion of the flange 28F in the vehicle width direction is also an extension portion 28L, and this extension portion 28L is also formed in the notch 15 formed in the inner wall portion 14C of the apron upper member upper 14 in the vehicle width direction.
From the above, it is inserted into the apron upper member 12.
The extending portion 28L is welded to the lower surface of the upper wall portion 14D of the apron upper member upper 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, an upper arm rear bracket 30 as a second bracket is disposed on the rear side of the spring support 24 in the vehicle front-rear direction. The upper arm rear bracket 30 is bent along the spring support 24, and the bent portion has a through hole 3 for supporting the suspension upper arm 27 (see FIG. 3).
1 is provided.

The cross-sectional shape of the upper arm rear bracket 30 as viewed from the axial direction below the bent portion is a hat shape with the opening facing inward in the vehicle width direction.
0A and a rear flange 30B are formed. The front flange 30A and the rear flange 30B are welded to the outer surface of the front side member outer 22 in the vehicle width direction.

The upper arm rear bracket 30 has an L-shaped cross section as viewed from the axial direction above the bent portion, and the rear end portion of the lower wall portion 30C in the vehicle front-rear direction is bent downward in the vehicle up-down direction. And a flange 30D. The upper end of the front wall portion 30E in the vehicle body vertical direction is bent forward to form a flange 30F, which is connected to the flange 30A.

The flange 30F of the upper arm rear bracket 30 is welded to the upper surface of the rear end portion 24F of the upper wall portion 24A of the spring support 24, and the flange 30A is the vehicle width of the rear end portion of the inner wall portion 24D of the spring support 24. It is welded to the inner surface in the direction. Further, a through hole 34 for supporting the suspension upper arm 27 is formed in the rear wall portion 24G of the spring support 24 coaxially with the through hole 31 of the upper arm rear bracket 30.

An outer end portion of the lower wall portion 30C of the upper arm rear bracket 30 in the vehicle width direction is formed as an extension portion 30G. This extension portion 30G is formed on an inner wall portion 14C of the apron upper member upper 14 in the vehicle width direction. Notch 15 formed
From the above, it is inserted into the apron upper member 12.
Furthermore, the front end portion 30H of the extending portion 30G has the flange 14
It is welded between B and the outer end 16A in the vehicle width direction.

An outer end portion of the rear wall portion 30E in the vehicle width direction is also formed as an extending portion 30J, and this extending portion 30J also serves as an inner wall portion 14C of the apron upper member upper 14 in the vehicle width direction.
From the notch 15 formed in the apron upper member 1
It is inserted in 2. A flange 30K is formed at the tip of the extended portion 30J toward the front of the vehicle body, and the flange 30K is welded to the vehicle width direction inner side surface of the vehicle width direction outer side wall portion 14A (see FIG. 5). . Further, the outer end portion of the flange 30F in the vehicle width direction is also an extension portion 30L, and this extension portion 30L is also formed in the notch 15 formed in the inner wall portion 14C of the apron upper member upper 14 in the vehicle width direction.
From the above, it is inserted into the apron upper member 12.
The extended portion 30L is welded to the lower surface of the upper wall portion 14D of the apron upper member upper 14.

The upper arm front bracket 28, the upper arm rear bracket 30, and the spring support 24 are a support body 36 as a bracket connecting member.
Covered from above.

The vehicle width direction outer end 36B of the upper wall 36A of the support body 36 extends from the notch 15 of the apron upper member upper 14 to the apron upper member upper 14.
It is inserted inside and welded to the lower surface of the upper wall portion 14D. The lower end portion 36D of the inner wall portion 36C of the support body 36 is welded to the outer side surface of the upper flange 22A of the front side member outer 22 in the vehicle width direction.

A flange 28F of the upper arm front bracket 28 is welded to the lower surface of the front wall of the upper wall 36A of the support body 36, and a flange 28F of the upper arm front bracket 28 is welded to the rear surface of the front wall 36E of the support body 36.
No. 8 flange 28D is welded. Further, a front flange 28A and a rear flange 28B of the upper arm front bracket 28 are welded to an outer surface of the inner wall portion 36C of the support body 36 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the support main body 36 and the upper arm front bracket 28 are used to form the apron upper member 12 and the front side member 18.
A first closed cross-section portion 38 that connects the and is formed. Further, a through hole 35 is coaxially formed with the through hole 29 of the upper arm front bracket 28 in the front wall portion 36E of the support body 36.

The flange 3 of the upper arm rear bracket 30 is provided on the rear lower surface of the upper wall 36A of the support body 36.
0F is welded to the rear wall portion 36 of the support body 36.
A flange 30D of the upper arm rear bracket 30 is welded to the front surface of F. In addition, the support body 36
A front flange 30A and a rear flange 30B of the upper arm rear bracket 30 are welded to the outer surface of the inner wall portion 36C in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the second main body 36 and the upper arm rear bracket 30 connect the apron upper member 12 and the front side member 18 to each other.
Closed cross section 40 is formed. Further, the first closed cross section 38 and the second closed cross section 40 are connected by the support body 36.

A through hole 37 is formed in the rear wall portion 36F of the support body 36 coaxially with the through hole 31 of the upper arm rear bracket 30.

An outer end portion of the front wall portion 36E of the support main body 36 in the vehicle width direction is bent forward to form a flange 36G. This flange 36G is inserted into the apron upper member upper 14 through the notch 15 to form an apron upper member. It is welded to the vehicle width direction outer side surface of the vehicle width direction inner side wall portion 14C of the member upper 14. Further, the lower end portion of the front wall portion 36E of the support body 36 is bent forward to form a flange 36H, and the vicinity of the lower end portions of the flange 36H and the flange 36G is located at the rear end portion 42A of the wheel apron front 42.
Is welded to the upper surface of. The upper end of the wheel apron front 42 is welded to the outer surface of the flange 16B of the apron upper member lower 16 in the vehicle width direction. The lower end of the wheel apron front 42 is welded to the lower surface of the upper flange 22A of the front side member outer 22.

An outer end portion of the rear wall portion 36F of the support main body 36 in the vehicle width direction is bent rearward to form a flange 36J. The flange 36J is inserted into the apron upper member upper 14 through the notch 15 to form an apron upper member. It is welded to the vehicle width direction outer side surface of the vehicle width direction inner side wall portion 14C of the member upper 14. Further, the lower end portion of the rear wall portion 36F of the support body 36 is bent backward to form a flange 36K, and the vicinity of the lower end portions of the flange 36K and the flange 36J are welded to the upper surface of the front end portion 44A of the wheel apron rear 44. ing. The upper end of the wheel apron rear 44 is the flange 1 of the apron upper member lower 16.
6B is welded to the outer surface in the vehicle width direction. The lower end of the wheel apron rear 44 is welded to the lower surface of the upper flange 22A of the front side member outer 22 in the vehicle width direction.

An apron upper member side 17 is provided in a notch 15 formed in the inner wall portion 14C of the apron upper member upper 14 in the vehicle width direction. The apron upper member side 17 is disposed along the vehicle width direction inner side wall portion 14C of the apron upper member upper 14, and the base portion 17A closes the gap between the upper arm front bracket 28 and the upper arm rear bracket 30. ing. A lower end edge portion 17B of the base portion 17A extends in the vehicle front-rear direction and is welded to a vehicle width direction inner side surface of a lower end edge portion 14E of the vehicle width direction inner side wall portion 14C. Flange 17C, 17D, 17E, 17F, 17G, 17H in order from the front of the vehicle body toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the apron upper member upper 14 excluding the lower end edge portion 17B.
17J is formed, and flanges 14F, 14G, and 14H are formed on the outer peripheral portion of the notch 15 of the apron upper member upper 14 in order from the front of the vehicle body. The flanges 17C, 17F, 17J are the flanges 14F, 14
It is welded to G and 14H and has flanges 17D and 17E.
On the upper arm front bracket 28, the flange 1
7H and 17J are welded to the upper arm rear bracket 30, respectively.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
In this embodiment having the above-described configuration, the load acting from the suspension upper arm 27 on the first closed cross section 38 and the second closed cross section 40 acts on the vehicle-widthwise inner side wall 14C of the apron upper member upper 14. Along with the upper arm front bracket 28 and the upper arm rear bracket 30 extending in the apron upper member 12, the apron upper member upper 14 has a vehicle width direction outer side wall portion 14A, a flange 14B, an upper wall portion 14D, and an upper member. It also acts on the outer end 16A of the lower 16 in the vehicle width direction. That is, the load applied from the suspension upper arm 27 to the first closed cross section 38 and the second closed cross section 40 is dispersed over substantially the entire cross section of the apron upper member 12.

Therefore, as compared with the conventional structure, in which the load acting on the first closed cross section and the second closed cross section is received only by the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the apron upper member, It is possible to prevent the cross-section of the member from collapsing and improve the support rigidity of the suspension upper arm 27.

In this embodiment, the so-called suspension tower reinforcement is composed of three members, the spring support 24, the upper arm front bracket 28 and the upper arm rear bracket 30, and the spring support 24 composed of a thick plate is the apron upper member 12. Has not been extended to. Therefore, the support rigidity of the suspension upper arm 27 can be improved without a significant increase in weight.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the load input from the spring support 24 is passed through the first closed cross section 38 and the second closed cross section 40, and the apron upper member 12 is moved.
And the front side member 18 are sufficiently transmitted, the rigidity of the vehicle body is improved and the maneuverability can be improved.

[0038]

Since the present invention has the above-mentioned structure, it has an excellent effect that the coupling rigidity of the suspension tower to the apron upper member is improved and the inward tilt phenomenon and the twist of the suspension tower can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suspension tower structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from an obliquely front inside of a vehicle body.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional suspension tower structure as seen obliquely from the front inside of the vehicle body.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 front body 12 apron upper member 14 apron upper member upper 14A vehicle width direction outer side wall portion 14C vehicle width direction inner side wall portion 15 notch 16 apron upper member lower 17 apron upper member side 18 front side member 20 front side member inner 22 front Side member outer 24 Spring support 27 Suspension upper arm 28 Upper arm front bracket (first bracket) 30 Upper arm rear bracket (second bracket) 36 Support body (bracket connecting member) 38 First closed cross section 40 Second closed cross section Department

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An apron upper member, which is arranged substantially at both ends of a front body of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction, along the substantially vehicle front-rear direction, and is disposed substantially inward of the apron upper member in the vehicle width direction, along the vehicle front-rear direction. Front side member, a spring support coupled to the front side member and the apron upper member, a suspension upper arm on the front side of the spring support in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the apron upper member and the front side member. A first bracket that connects the apron upper member and the front side member to the suspension upper arm on the rear side of the spring support in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the first bracket. The above A second closed bracket is formed between the apron upper member and the second bracket to form a first closed cross section connecting the apron upper member and the front side member together with the first bracket. Second connecting with front side member
And a bracket connecting member forming a closed cross section of the apron upper member, the first bracket and the second bracket penetrating an inner wall portion of the apron upper member in the vehicle width direction. Suspension tower structure characterized by being fixed to the outer side wall of the apron upper member in the vehicle width direction.