JPH09150751A - Side member reinforcement structure of automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reinforcement structure of a side member which is light in weight and inexpensive by increasing the rigidity of a curved part of a side member, and suppressing its deformation. SOLUTION: In a side member 2 of approximately U-shaped section which is provided with curved parts 11a, 11b deformed in the vehicle width direction and whose upper part is open, a reinforcement member 12a of approximately U-shaped section is connected to a bottom part of the side member 2 and a lower part of an inner side wall 14, and a reinforcement piece 13 which is expanded approximately as high as the inner side wall 14 of the side member 2 is formed on a side wall of the reinforcement member 12a of a part corresponding to the inner side of the curved part 11a.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure for reinforcing the strength of a curved portion of a side member of an automobile in the front-rear direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent vehicles, side members having a lightweight and highly rigid skeletal structure are often used.
In particular, in the front part of a cab-over type vehicle, since the power train, tires, front suspension, etc. are arranged below the passenger compartment of the vehicle, there is a curved portion that is vertically and horizontally deformed correspondingly. A side member having a U-shaped cross section is often used. As shown in FIG. 6, a reinforcing member 62 having a U-shaped cross section is fitted to the inside of the side member 61 in order to increase the rigidity against a large load applied to the side member from the front and up and down directions of the vehicle body. It is known that it is reinforced with. Such an example is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 58-76480.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned example, when an abnormally large load is applied to the side member from the front of the vehicle body, for example, in the case of a frontal collision of the vehicle, the side member will be damaged. Since stress concentrates on a member corresponding to the inside of the curved portion, the curved portion is largely deformed, which is not preferable as an appropriate rigid structure of the vehicle body. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a lightweight and inexpensive side member reinforcing structure that enhances the rigidity of a curved portion of a side member to suppress deformation, has a small number of parts, and is lightweight. The purpose is.

[0004]

According to the present invention, in a side member having a curved portion which is deformed in the vehicle width direction and having a substantially U-shaped cross section whose upper side is open, the bottom of the side member and the lower side of the inner wall are provided. A reinforcing material having a substantially U-shaped cross section is coupled to the portion, and a reinforcing piece enlarged to a height substantially the same as the inner wall of the side member is formed on the side wall of the reinforcing material in the portion corresponding to the inside of the curved portion. It is characterized by

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on examples. 1 to 5 show an embodiment according to the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle body of a cab-over type vehicle, and an arrow F indicates a front direction of the vehicle. 2 is a pair of left and right side members, 3 is a cross member connecting both side members, 4 is a suspension member, 5 is a front wheel, 6 is a power train, and 7 is a front suspension. A vehicle compartment is arranged at a front portion of the vehicle, and a power train 6, front wheels 5, a front suspension 7, and the like are arranged below the vehicle compartment. The side member 2 has a substantially U-shaped cross section with an open upper side, is extended in the front-rear direction on both sides of the vehicle body 1, and is deformed so as to have a narrower space in the vehicle width direction at its front portion in accordance with the above arrangement. A curved portion 8 is formed. An occupant's seat 10 is provided on a floor panel 9 of the passenger compartment including the curved portion 8 and above the side member 2 in the vicinity thereof.
A cross member 3 is connected to the curved portion 8 and a suspension member 4 is connected to the side members 2 and 2 in front of the curved portion 8. The curved portion 8 has two curved portions 11a and 11b that are bent in the vehicle width direction.
The front and rear side members 2 of the curved portion 8 are formed to extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

The side members 2 have reinforcing members 12a and 12b.
Is attached. These reinforcing materials 12a, 12b
Has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and has a shape similar to that of the side member 2 and extends in the front-rear direction. Further, the reinforcing piece 13 is formed on the reinforcing material 12a,
The side wall of the reinforcing member 12a of the reinforcing piece 13 is extended upward over a partial length as shown in FIG. 3, and the height thereof is the same as the height of the inner side wall 14 of the side member 2. The reinforcing piece 13 is given a length and a curved shape along the curved portion 11a. In addition, the reinforcing material 12b
A recess 15 is formed in the recess 15. The side wall of the reinforcing member 12b is formed in the recess 15 so that the reinforcing piece 13 is fitted when the reinforcing member 12b is fitted to the side member 2 as shown in FIG. The side member is formed in a concave shape inward.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the reinforcing member 1
2a is fitted to the bottom portion 16 of the side member 2 and the lower portion of the inner wall 14 and spot-welded, and then the reinforcing material 12b is fitted to the upper portion of the inner wall 14 so as to cover the reinforcing material 12a. The reinforcing piece 13 is fitted into the recess 15 and is sandwiched between the side wall of the reinforcing material 12b and the inner side wall 14 of the side member 2 with their upper ends aligned, and the three members are spot-welded together. On the other hand, the cross member 3 is attached to the side member 2 on the vehicle inside of the curved portion 11b on the rear side.
Are connected so that both side members 2 and 2 are passed over.

With this structure, the portion of the side member 2 that contacts the inside of the curved portion 11a is triple-layered, and the strength of the side member 2 in this portion is increased. Therefore, even when an impact is applied to the side member 2 from the front of the vehicle body 1, the bending portion 11b has high rigidity because the cross member 3 is connected to the left and right bending portions 11b, and the inside of the bending portion 11a is Reinforcement piece 13
Since it is reinforced by, the curved portion 8 is suppressed from being compressed and deformed, and proper vehicle body rigidity can be secured.

In the present embodiment, the case where the reinforcing piece is provided only on the curved portion on the front side has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be provided on the curved portion on the rear side. Needless to say. Further, although the description has been made on the case where the reinforcing piece is integrally molded with the reinforcing material, the reinforcing piece separate from the reinforcing material may be coupled to the inside of the curved portion. In this case, since a plate-shaped member or a bulkhead-shaped member can be used as the reinforcing piece, there is no need to change the mold jig for molding the side member, and the cost can be reduced. The strength in the vertical direction can be increased at the same time. Further, although the description has been given of the case where the upper and lower reinforcing members are fitted on the inner side wall of the side member, it goes without saying that the present invention is also applicable to the case where the reinforcing member is composed of only the lower portion.

[0010]

According to the above structure, a reinforcing piece having substantially the same height as the side member is formed on the side wall of the reinforcing member corresponding to the inner side of the curved portion deformed in the vehicle width direction, and is overlaid on the side member. Therefore, the rigidity of the curved portion of the side member becomes higher than the rigidity of the other side members, and even when a greater impact than the front of the vehicle acts on the side member, the deformation at this curved portion is suppressed, and the rigidity of the vehicle body is appropriate. The effect that is secured in is obtained. Further, since the reinforcing piece is provided only on the reinforcing material inside the curved portion where the stress is concentrated, there are advantages that the weight of the member can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a side member of an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

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

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 side member 11a curved part 11b curved part 12a reinforcing material 12b reinforcing material 13 reinforcing piece 14 inner side wall 16 bottom part

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A side member having a curved portion deformed in the vehicle width direction and having a substantially U-shaped cross-section that is open at the top, and a substantially U-shaped cross-section at the bottom of the side member and the lower portion of the inner wall. The reinforcing member is joined together, and a reinforcing piece enlarged to a height substantially the same as the inner wall of the side member is formed on the side wall of the reinforcing member corresponding to the inside of the curved portion. Member reinforcement structure.