JPH0840313A - Front side frame structure for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily perform setting of an amount of absorbing colliding energy by a front side frame, by connecting a tie-down hook, extended downward, to a straight frame in an upper part of this hook. CONSTITUTION:At collision time, first a front end part of a straight frame 1a is collapsed, next a mounting bracket 4 of a cross member 2 hits a tie-down hook 6, to swivel the hook 6 with a connection point by its upper part bolts 5f serving as the supporting point. By this swiveling, the tie-down hook 6 serves as a lever to pull a mounting bracket 5 of a subframe 3 separated from a front side to the downward of the straight frame 1a, and the straight frame 1a can be deformed without receiving regulation by the mounting bracket 5. Further by connecting the tie-down hook 6 to the straight frame 1a by only a single point, regulating deformation of the straight frame 1a is also eliminated, to facilitate setting an amount of absorbing colliding energy.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the structure of an automobile front side frame.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 4, a front side frame of this type has a downward bulge portion a formed in the front half of the frame, and a bulkhead cross member b is formed at the front end of the bulge portion a. At the same time, the tie-down hooks c are attached to the bulging portion a behind the cross member b and serve as hooking portions for the mooring ropes when the vehicle is transported. The sub-frame d is attached to the lower surface of the rear side of the tie-down hook c.

[0003]

The front side frame is designed so as to be deformed at the time of a collision and absorb the collision energy. However, when the bulging portion a is formed in the front half of the frame as in the prior art, the front side frame is formed. There is a problem that the shape of the frame becomes complicated and setting of the amount of collision energy absorption becomes troublesome. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a structure of a front side frame that facilitates setting of an absorption amount of collision energy.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object,
According to the present invention, the front half of a front side frame of an automobile is constructed by a straight frame that extends substantially straight forward without bulging downward, and a mounting bracket for a subframe is vertically provided on the lower surface of the straight frame, and the straight frame is also provided. It is characterized in that a tie-down hook extending downward is connected at one point on the upper part of the hook. In this case, it is preferable that the mounting bracket and the tie-down hook are arranged at substantially the same position in the front-rear direction, and the lower portion of the tie-down hook is coupled to the mounting bracket at a position in front of the coupling point of the upper portion with respect to the straight frame.

[0005]

By configuring the front half of the front side frame as a straight frame, the shape of the front side frame is simplified. By the way, the tie-down hook is made of a thick steel plate, and if this is connected to the straight frame at a plurality of points, the rigidity of the frame portion located between the connection points of the tie-down hook is increased. In contrast,
In the present invention, since the tie-down hook is connected to the straight frame at one point, the straight frame is not reinforced by the tie-down hook, and the amount of collision energy absorbed is combined with the simplification of the shape described above. Setting is easy.

By fixing the lower part of the tie-down hook to the mounting bracket of the sub-frame as described above, the supporting rigidity of the tie-down hook can be secured.
When a tie-down hook is pushed from the front at the time of a collision and swings with the upper connecting point to the straight frame as a fulcrum,
The tie-down hook serves as a lever to pull the mounting bracket from the front side below the straight frame, and the straight frame can be deformed without being restricted by the mounting bracket.
It becomes easier to set the amount of collision energy absorbed.

[0007]

1 and 2, reference numeral 1 is a front side frame provided on both left and right sides of an engine room of an automobile, and a bulkhead cross member is provided between front ends of the left and right front side frames 1, 1. 2 is attached,
In addition, engine, transmission and suspension (not shown)
The sub-frame 3 on which is mounted is attached to the left and right front side frames 1, 1 from below.

The front half portion of the front side frame 1 is a straight frame 1a which extends substantially straight forward without bulging downward.
The mounting bracket 4 for the cross member is vertically welded to the lower surface of the front end of the straight frame 1a, and the end of the cross member 2 is connected to the mounting bracket 4.

Further, a mounting bracket 5 for the subframe is vertically provided on the lower surface of the straight frame 1a with a predetermined distance from the front end thereof. As shown in FIG. 3, the mounting bracket 5 has a housing-shaped bracket body 5a that opens laterally outward.
And a stiffener 5d having a nut 5c fixed to the upper surface, which is mounted in the bracket body 5a with a collar 5b between the bottom wall of the body 5a and the stiffener 5d which is mounted on the bracket body 5a so as to cover its opening. The mounting bracket 5 is welded to the straight frame 1a at the upper end of the bracket body 5a, and is fastened to the straight frame 1a by bolts 5f at two positions before and after the upper end of the cover plate 5e. Then, the front end of the sub-frame 3 is fastened to the mounting bracket 5 by the bolt 3a screwed to the nut 5c through the collar 5b.

A tie-down hook 6 extending downward is attached to the straight frame 1a at substantially the same position as the attachment bracket 5 in the front-rear direction, and a tether line is provided in an engaging hole 6a at the lower end of the hook 6. A vehicle (not shown) was hooked so that the vehicle could be fixed in place during transportation. The tie-down hook 6 is fastened together with the lid plate 5e to the straight frame 1a by a bolt 5f at the upper end rear portion of the lid plate 5e of the mounting bracket 5 at one point on the top thereof, and the tie-down hook 6 is fastened by the bolt 5f. It was fastened to the cover plate 5e with bolts 6b at two positions in the front and rear of the lower part located in front of the connecting point.

According to the above construction, the front end portion of the straight frame 1a is first crushed at the time of a collision, then the mounting bracket 4 of the cross member 2 hits the tie-down hook 6, and the hook 6 is connected by the bolt 5f at its upper portion. The tie-down hook 6 is used as a lever to pull the mounting bracket 5 of the sub-frame 3 from the front side to below the straight frame 1a, and the straight frame 1a is regulated by the mounting bracket 5. Since the tie-down hook 6 is coupled to the straight frame 1a at only one point, the straight frame 1a is not restricted from being deformed by the tie-down hook 6 and the front side is not restricted. The simplification of the shape of the side frame 1 facilitates the setting of the absorption amount of the collision energy.

[0012]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it becomes easy to set the amount of collision energy absorbed by the front side frame, which is advantageous in vehicle body design.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof.

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

FIG. 4 is a side view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Front side frame 1a Straight frame 3 Sub frame 5 Sub frame mounting bracket 6 Tie down hook

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A front frame of an automobile has a front half portion formed of a straight frame that extends substantially straight forward without bulging downward, and a mounting bracket of a subframe is vertically provided on a lower surface of the straight frame, A front side frame structure for an automobile, characterized in that a tie-down hook extending downward is coupled to a frame at one point on an upper portion of the hook. 2. The mounting bracket and the tie-down hook are arranged at substantially the same position in the front-rear direction, and the lower portion of the tie-down hook is coupled to the mounting bracket at a position forward of a coupling point of the upper portion with respect to the straight frame. The front side frame structure for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the front side frame structure is an automobile.