JPH0920267A - Pillar structure of automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the strength of pillar structure against an external force by a method wherein a plurality of bulk heads are fixed at internals at the respective grooves of a panel on the outer side or a panel on the inner side and a reinforcing member is located between the adjoining bulk heads. SOLUTION: The two end parts of a pillar outer panel 12 and the two sides of a pillar inner panel 13 are interjoined through resistance welding to form closed section structure. Bulk heads 16 and 17 are located between the pillar outer and inner panels 12 and 13 with a distance therebetween and deformation of the pillar 11 is prevented from occurring. The plate-form member 18 being a reinforcing member is located between the bulk heads 16 and 17. When an external force is exerted from the side of an automobile and a stress is applied on the pillar 11, the outer panel 12 is started to deform according to the magnitude of the stress. When with the progress of the deformation, the outer panel 12 is brought collision with the plate-form member 18, with this state, further deformation of the outer panel is prevented from occurring. This constitution improves the strength of the pillar 11 against an external force.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automobile pillar structure, and more particularly to an automobile pillar structure in which a reinforcing member is provided between an outer panel of a pillar and an inner panel of the pillar.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, it has been required to strengthen the vehicle body rigidity against the external force of an automobile. Before and after the door 10a, 1 shown in FIG.
In the case of the side portion of the vehicle body where 0b is provided, it is known to install a door impact beam (not shown) which is a reinforcing member inside the doors 10a and 10b in order to improve the strength.
Both ends of the door impact beam are fixed to the front and rear ends of the door inner panel or door outer panel, and are arranged in the vicinity of the inside of the door outer panel extending in the front-rear direction of the door. By supporting it, the strength of the door against external force is improved. However, since the door impact beam is provided in the vicinity of the inner side of the door outer panel, the strength on the lower side of the door where the door outer panel is present is improved, but the strength on the upper side of the door having the openings 10c and 10d for the door glass is also improved. I can't let you do it.

Here, front and rear doors 10a and 10b shown in the figure.
In the vehicle body structure on the side of the vehicle in which is provided, pillars (not shown) that partition the openings of the doors 10a and 10b are provided between the front and rear door openings. In this pillar, the pillar outer panel and the pillar inner panel are joined to each other to have a closed cross-section structure, and in some cases, as shown in FIG. 9, the pillar outer reinforcement 32 is provided inside the pillar outer panel 22 and the pillar inner panel 23.
Also, the pillar inner reinforcement 33 is provided to secure the strength. However, the opening 10 for the door glass
Since the strength of the upper side of the door having c and 10d has a limit in improving the strength of the door glass and the point having the opening portion, the strength of the body is bordered by the portion of the chain double-dashed line circle B in FIG. Is extremely low. In order to solve this point, in order to improve the strength of the conventional pillar, the plate thickness of the pillar structure member is increased, or in a vehicle provided with a three-point type seat belt, a reinforcing member is provided at a location where a shoulder anchor is provided. Attempting to provide.

[0004]

However, increasing the plate thickness not only increases the plate thickness of the pillar portion but also the other portions integrally formed with the pillar portion, resulting in an increase in the weight of the automobile. The unit price will be pushed up due to the improvement of material cost and processing cost. Further, providing the reinforcing member on the shoulder anchor portion can improve the local strength of the shoulder anchor portion, but it cannot improve the strength of the entire pillar. An object of the present invention is to provide a pillar structure for an automobile that improves strength against external force.

[0005]

The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, a cross section with an outer side panel 12 of a pillar having an outer groove portion 12a formed in a substantially hat-shaped cross section. A bulkhead 16 that is joined to an inner panel 13 of a pillar having an inner groove portion 13a formed in a substantially hat shape to form a closed cross-section structure with the outer groove portion 12a and the inner groove portion 13a and prevents deformation in this closed cross section. In the pillar structure in which the bulkheads 16 and 17 are provided in the outer groove portion 12 of the outer side panel 12,
a or a plurality of inner grooves 13a of the inner side panel 13 are fixed to one or both of them with a space, and the reinforcing members 18, 28, 28 are provided between the plurality of bulkheads 16, 17.
The pillar structure of an automobile is characterized in that 38 and 48 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the outer side panel of the pillar and the inner side panel of the pillar constituting the closed cross section are as follows.
A pillar outer panel 12 that forms the outer plate surface of the pillar 11, and a pillar inner panel 13 that forms the interior surface of the pillar 11 on which the interior trim is mounted, or, as shown in FIG. 9, a pillar outer panel 22 and a pillar inner panel 23. Pillar outer reinforcement 32 and pillar inner reinforcement 3 provided inside
3, or a pillar outer panel and a pillar inner reinforcement or a pillar outer reinforcement and a pillar inner panel, which are not shown. In the pillar shown in FIG. 1, a pillar outer panel 12 and a pillar inner panel 13 are joined to each other to have a closed cross-section structure.
Bulkheads 16 and 17 are provided on the pillar outer panel 12. If the bulkheads 16 and 17 are set in a portion where the body strength changes extremely, that is, in a range including the lower ends 10e and 10f of the door opening indicated by the two-dot chain line circle B in FIG. 4, the stress concentration at that portion can be relaxed. It is advantageous in strength.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bulkheads 16 and 1 are
It is preferable that the sheet metal 7 is formed in a trapezoidal shape so as to be inscribed in the outer groove portion 12a or the inner groove portion 13b by sheet metal working, but not limited to this, a trapezoidal block body is used as the outer groove portion 12a of the outer panel 12 of the pillar. Alternatively, it may be processed so as to be inscribed in the inner groove portion 13a of the inner side panel 13 of the pillar, and may be integrally formed with the bulkhead 16 together with the reinforcing members 18, 28, 38, 48 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 to 7. , 17 may be formed. Bulkheads 16 and 17
The fixing is preferably performed by resistance welding, but the fixing method is not limited to this, and other fixing methods such as adhesion with an adhesive may be used. The bulkheads 16 and 17 are not limited to a pair, and it is preferable that three or four or more bulkheads are provided and a reinforcing member is provided between each bulkhead. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, when an external force is applied to the pillar, the outer side panel 12 of the pillar tends to deform in the direction in which the load is applied.
Or, reinforcing members 18, 28, 38, 4 provided therebetween
8 prevents the deformation.

The invention according to claim 2 is, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5, the invention according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is one or more plate-shaped members 18, 28, 28. Both ends of the plate-shaped members 18, 28 and 28 are fixed to the bulkheads 16 and 17, respectively, and have a pillar structure of an automobile. The invention according to claim 3 is, as shown in FIG.
In the invention according to (1), the reinforcing member is a pillar structure for an automobile, which is a rigid honeycomb structure 38. Light metal or its alloy is mentioned as a rigid honeycomb structure. The invention according to claim 4 is, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the pillar structure of an automobile according to the invention according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is a foamed plastic 48. Urethane is preferable as the material of the foamed plastic because of its ability to absorb external force, and even if the foamed plastic is mounted as a block,
A type that foams in the painting process after installation may be used. In the invention according to claim 2, between the two plate-shaped members 28, 28, the rigid honeycomb structure 3 according to the invention according to claim 3
8 or foamed plastic 48 may be interposed.

[0009]

Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 4, in an automobile 10 having front and rear doors 10a and 10b, pillars for partitioning the front and rear doors 10a and 10b are provided between the openings. As shown in FIG. 1, the pillar 11 on the upper side, which is indicated by the dashed-dotted line circle A, connects the pillar outer panel 12 which is the outer side panel of the pillar and the pillar inner panel 13 which is the inner side panel of the pillar to each other. Has a closed cross-section.
The pillar outer panel 12 has a substantially hat-shaped cross section,
The recess facing the pillar inner panel 13 is the outer groove portion 1.
2a. The pillar inner panel 13 is formed in a hat shape in cross section, and the recess facing the pillar outer panel 12 constitutes an inner groove portion 13a. The outer groove portion 12a is formed deeper than the inner groove portion 13a. Both sides of the pillar outer panel 12 and both sides of the pillar inner panel 13 are joined to each other by resistance welding to have a closed cross-section structure. A bulkhead 16 for preventing deformation of the pillar 11 is provided between the pillar outer panel 12 and the pillar inner panel 13 having the closed cross-section structure as described above.

The bulkhead 16 has three trapezoidal pieces except for the bottom, which are erected in the same direction by sheet metal. The size of the bulkhead 16 is such that the three pieces erected in the orthogonal direction of the pillar outer panel 12 are the outer groove portions of the pillar outer panel 12. 12a is inscribed. The raised three pieces of the bulkhead 16 are attached to the outer groove portion 12a of the pillar outer panel 12.
The bulkhead 16 is fixed to the pillar 11 by being joined by resistance welding while being inscribed in.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 1 and 2, the characteristic feature of the present invention is that the pair of bulkheads 16 and 17 are welded to the outer groove portion 12a of the pillar outer panel 12 with a space therebetween to form a pair of bulkheads 16 and 17. It is in the place where the reinforcing member is provided between 17. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower bulkhead 17 is configured in plane symmetry with the upper bulkhead 16, and the raised three pieces of the upper bulkhead 16 face upward and the lower bulkhead 17 rises. The raised three pieces are arranged so as to face downward. A plate-shaped member 18, which is a reinforcing member, is provided between the bulkheads 16 and 17. The plate-shaped member 18 is formed by processing a steel plate, and both ends and the pillar outer panel 12 are formed.
The sides facing to are bent in the same direction by sheet metal processing. Both ends of the plate member 18 have bent portions 18a, 18
b is abutted and fixed to the upper and lower bulkheads 16 and 17 by resistance welding. The pair of bulkheads 16 and 17 to which the plate member 18 is fixed are inserted into the outer groove portion 12a of the pillar outer panel 12 in that state, and the bulkheads 16 and 17 are fixed to the pillar outer panel 12 by resistance welding. Thereafter, the pillar inner panel 13 is joined to the pillar outer panel 12 to form a closed cross section of the pillar 11.

In the pillar structure of an automobile constructed as described above, as shown in FIG. 3, when an external force B is applied from the side of the automobile and stress is applied to the pillar 11, the pillar outer panel 12 is responsive to the magnitude of the stress. Begins to deform. When this deformation progresses and the pillar outer panel 12 comes into contact with the plate-shaped member 18 as shown by the chain double-dashed line in the figure, the plate-shaped member 18 contacts the pillar outer panel 12 and the pillar outer panel 12 is further deformed. Prevent.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
In the drawings, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment described above indicate the same parts. The characteristic configuration of the present embodiment is that two plate-like members 28, 28 which are reinforcing members are provided, and both ends of each plate-like member 28, 28 are fixed to the respective bulkheads 16, 17. is there. Each of the plate-shaped members 28, 28 is formed by processing a steel plate, and both ends thereof are bent in the same direction by sheet metal processing. The bent ends of each plate-shaped member 28, 28 have bent portions 28a, 28b, 28a, 2
8b is abutted and fixed to the upper and lower bulkheads 16 and 17 by resistance welding. The pair of bulkheads 16 and 17 to which the pair of plate-shaped members 28 and 28 are fixed are inserted into the outer groove portion 12a of the pillar outer panel 12 in that state, and the respective bulkheads 16 and 17 are fixed to the pillar outer panel 12 by resistance welding. To do. Thereafter, the pillar inner panel 13 is joined to the pillar outer panel 12 by resistance welding to form a closed cross section of the pillar 11. In the automobile pillar structure thus configured, the plate-like member 2
With the increase of 8 and 28, the strength for preventing the deformation of the pillar outer panel 12 is improved as compared with the case of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
In the drawings, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment described above indicate the same parts. The characteristic structure of the present embodiment is that a rigid honeycomb structure 38 is provided between the pair of bulkheads 16 and 17 as a reinforcing member. The honeycomb-shaped structure 38 in this embodiment is formed by extruding an aluminum alloy so as to have a honeycomb-shaped cross section, and the outer groove portion 12a of the pillar outer panel 12 and the inner groove portion 13 of the pillar inner panel 13 are formed.
It is configured by cutting into a length such that both ends contact a. The upper and lower ends of the honeycomb structure 38 are fixed to the upper and lower bulkheads 16 and 17 by resistance welding. A pair of bulkheads 1 to which the honeycomb structure 38 is fixed
In this state, 6 and 17 are inserted into the outer groove portion 12a of the pillar outer panel 12, and the bulkheads 16 and 17 are fixed to the pillar outer panel 12 by resistance welding. After that, the pillar inner panel 13 is joined to the pillar outer panel 12 by resistance welding to form the pillar 11
A closed cross section of is constructed. The pillar structure of the automobile configured as described above is lighter in weight than the first and second embodiments described above, and the area of the honeycomb structure 38 that is a reinforcing member that abuts on the pillar outer panel 12 increases. Furthermore, the strength of the pillar 11 can be improved.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment described above indicate the same parts. The characteristic structure of the present embodiment is that the foamed plastic block 48 is provided between the pair of bulkheads 16 and 17 as a reinforcing member. The plastic block 48 in this embodiment is made of urethane foam. The thickness of the plastic block 48 is the outer groove portion 12 of the pillar outer panel 12.
a and the inner groove portion 13a of the pillar inner panel 13 are formed to have thicknesses at which both ends are in contact with each other, and the length is cut to a length sandwiched between the upper and lower bulkheads 16 and 17. The upper and lower ends of the plastic block 48 are the upper and lower bulkheads 1.
The bulkheads 16 and 17 are inserted into the outer groove portion 12a of the pillar outer panel 12 while being sandwiched between the bulkheads 16 and 17, and the bulkheads 16 and 17 are fixed to the pillar outer panel 12 by resistance welding. Thereafter, the pillar inner panel 13 is joined to the pillar outer panel 12 by resistance welding to form a closed cross section of the pillar 11.

In the pillar structure of an automobile constructed in this way, as shown in FIG. 8, when an external force D is applied from the side of the automobile and a stress is applied to the pillar 11, the pillar outer panel 12 is responsive to the magnitude of the stress. Begins to deform. This modification is the plastic block 4 as shown by the chain double-dashed line in the figure.
Reduce the volume of 8. The plastic block 48 prevents the pillar inner panel 13 from being deformed by dispersing the stress corresponding to the reduced volume in the entire area partitioned by the upper and lower bulkheads 16 and 17 as shown by the solid line arrow in the figure, and The dispersed stress prevents further deformation of the pillar outer panel 12.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of bulkheads are provided at intervals in either or both of the outer groove portion of the outer side panel of the pillar and the inner groove portion of the inner side panel of the pillar. Since the reinforcing members are fixed and provided between the plurality of bulkheads, even if external force is applied to the pillars, the bulkheads or the reinforcing members provided therebetween prevent the deformation. As a result, the strength of the pillar against external force can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pillar structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the pillar.

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

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an automobile having the pillar structure.

FIG. 5 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a pillar structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a pillar structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2, showing a pillar structure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a cross section of the pillar structure.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a pillar structure having a pillar outer reinforcement and a pillar inner reinforcement.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12, 22, 32 Pillar outer side panel 12a Outer groove portion 13, 23, 33 Pillar inner side panel 13a Inner groove portion 16, 17 Bulkhead 18, 28, 38, 48 Reinforcing member

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An outer groove portion (1) having a substantially hat-shaped cross section.
The outer side panel (12, 22, 32) of the pillar having 2a) and the inner side panel (13, 23, 33) of the pillar having an inner groove portion (13a) formed in a substantially hat-shaped cross section are joined to each other and closed. In the pillar structure provided with a bulkhead (16, 17) for preventing deformation between the outer side panel (12, 22, 32) and the inner side panel (13, 23, 33) configured in a sectional structure, The bulkhead (16, 17) is the outer side panel (12, 22,
32) outer groove portion (12a) or the inner side panel (13, 23, 3
A plurality of inner groove portions (13a) of 3) are fixed to one or both of them at intervals, and a reinforcing member (18, 2) is provided between the plurality of bulkheads (16, 17).
The pillar structure of the automobile is characterized by the provision of (8,38,48). 2. A plate-shaped member having one or more reinforcing members.
The pillar structure for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the plate-shaped member (18, 28, 28) is fixed to a bulkhead (16, 17) at both ends thereof. 3. A honeycomb structure in which the reinforcing member has rigidity
The automobile pillar structure according to claim 1, which is (38). 4. The automobile pillar structure according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is a foamed plastic (48).