JPH09207820A - Connection structure between front side member and front pillar - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce moment applied to a front pillar when a vehicle comes into collision. SOLUTION: The first brace 20 for reinforcing the connection part between a front side member a dash panel 18 is arranged in the rear end part of the front side member 12. The first brace 20 forms a closed cross-sectional part extending across the width of a vehicle together with the dash panel 18. The second brace 32 is arranged on a front pillar outer panel 26. The second brace 32 forms a closed cross-sectional part for connecting the closed cross-sectional part of the first brace 20 and the closed cross-sectional part of a front pillar part 24 together with the front pillar outer panel 26. The connection part 35 between the closed cross-sectional part of the first brace 20 and the closed cross-sectional part of the second brace 32 is a rigidity reduction part which is to be broken and bent by a component of force generating moment in the front pillar 24.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a front side member / front pillar connecting structure, and more particularly to a front side member / front pillar connecting structure having a reinforcing member at a connecting portion between the front side member and front pillar.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an example of a connecting structure of a front side member and a front pillar, Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-155.
The structure shown in Japanese Patent No. 10 is known.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the connecting structure of the front side member and the front pillar, the cowl 70 of the vehicle body is locally expanded in the shape of a truncated pyramid, which stabilizes the shape having a large supporting ability. An airframe 72 is formed. Further, before the front side member 74 hits the stable shape body 72, the front side member 74 is branched by the branch beam 76 fitted on the front side member 74, and at this time, three arms 78, 80 and 82 are generated in total, and these arms are At least a part of the machine body 72 having a stable shape is surrounded and the generated force is proportionally introduced. Also, the arm 78 is the vertical center axis 8 of the vehicle.
The area 80 ends in the inner tunnel wall 86 and the arm 80 is supported by the front pillar 88. The other arm 82 is obtained by extending the front side member 74, and is connected to the lower floor 92 without interruption of the force transmission and extends to the rocker 94 (also referred to as a sill).

Therefore, the impact force on the front side member 74 is supported by the inner tunnel wall 86, the front pillar 88 and the rocker 94 as a skeletal member via the three arms 78, 80 and 82. .

[0005]

However, in the connecting structure of the front side member and the front pillar,
When the front surface of the vehicle collides, the front side member 74 itself is crushed to absorb the impact force, and the three arms 78, 80 and 82 do not have an intended impact absorbing function and simply suppress the deformation of the vehicle interior. It is for. Therefore, the moment (arrows M, M = F × in FIG. 9) twisting the cross section 88A of the front pillar 88, which is applied to the front pillar 88 by the load (arrow F in FIG. 9) acting on the front side member 74 at the time of collision. There is no absorption function for L).

In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a connecting structure of a front side member and a front pillar that can reduce the moment applied to the front pillar at the time of collision.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a front side member disposed in a front portion of a vehicle along a front-rear direction of the vehicle, and a vehicle upper and lower portion diagonally rearward and outward of a width of the front side member. A front pillar member for connecting a front pillar arranged along the direction and a front pillar member, and a reinforcing structure for connecting a rear end portion of the front side member and the front pillar along a dash panel. The reinforcing member is characterized in that a rigidity lowering portion having a member and bent by a force component transmitted from the front side member through the reinforcing member to generate a moment on the front pillar is formed in the reinforcing member.

Therefore, at the time of a collision, a force component which is transmitted from the front side member to the front pillar through the reinforcing member and generates a moment to the front pillar causes the reinforcing member to bend at the rigidity lowering portion as a starting point, and this force component is generated. Is absorbed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the connecting structure of the front side member and the front pillar according to the first aspect, the reinforcing member is connected to the dash panel at the rear end of the front side member. It is divided into a first reinforcing member for reinforcing and a second reinforcing member for reinforcing the front portion of the front pillar, and a connecting portion between the first reinforcing member and the second reinforcing member is a rigidity lowering portion. It has a feature.

Therefore, at the time of collision, the reinforcing member starts from the connecting portion between the first reinforcing member and the second reinforcing member due to the force component that is transmitted from the front side member to the front pillar through the reinforcing member and generates a moment to the front pillar. This force component is absorbed by bending as. Further, since the front portion of the front pillar is reinforced by the second reinforcing member, the movement of the connecting portion toward the rear of the vehicle is suppressed.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a connecting structure of a front side member and a front pillar of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the drawings, an arrow FR indicates a vehicle forward direction, an arrow UP indicates a vehicle upward direction, and an arrow IN indicates a vehicle width inside direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the vehicle body front portion 10 of this embodiment, a pair of left and right front side members 12 are arranged near the lower portions of both ends in the vehicle width direction along the vehicle body front-rear direction (the vehicle left side). Front side members are not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, the front side member 12 includes a front side member outer panel 14 forming an outer side portion of the front side member 12 in the vehicle width direction,
The front side member 12 and the front side member inner panel 16 that form an inner side portion of the front side member 12 in the vehicle width direction have a closed cross-section structure that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rear end of the front side member 12 is welded to a dash panel 18 that separates the engine room from the vehicle compartment. A first brace 20 as a first reinforcing member that reinforces a joint portion of the rear end portion of the front side member 12 with the dash panel 18 is provided at a rear end portion of the upper surface 12A of the front side member 12. There is.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cross-sectional shape of the first brace 20 when viewed from the vehicle width direction is a U-shape with the opening facing the dash panel 18 side (vehicle rear side), and the upper wall. The flange 20B formed at the vehicle rear end of the portion 20A toward the upper side of the vehicle has a front surface 18A of the dash panel 18.
Is welded to. Further, a flange 20D formed toward the vehicle upper side at the vehicle rear side end portion of the lower wall portion 20C is welded to the front surface 18A of the dash panel 18. Therefore, the first brace 20 and the dash panel 18 form a closed cross section 22 extending in the vehicle width direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, a flange 20F is formed at the vehicle width direction inner end of the front wall portion 20E of the first brace 20 toward the front of the vehicle.
A flange 20G is formed at a vehicle width direction inner end portion of the lower wall portion 20C toward the vehicle lower side. Flange 20F
And the flange 20G are connected, and these flanges 20F and 20G are the front side member inner panel 1.
6 is welded to the outer surface 16A in the vehicle width direction.

A horizontal flange 14A formed on the rear portion of the front side member outer panel 14 and extending outward in the vehicle width direction is welded to the lower surface of the lower wall portion 20C of the first brace 20, and is formed on the front side of the flange 14A. The vertical flange 14B extending outward in the vehicle width direction is welded to the front wall portion 20E of the first brace 20. The vehicle width direction inner side portion 20H of the upper wall portion 20A of the first brace 20 is welded to the lower surface of the upper wall portion 16B of the front side member inner panel 16.

The width of the first brace 20 in the front-rear direction gradually narrows toward the outer side of the vehicle width, and the width in the vertical direction gradually widens toward the upper side of the vehicle. Therefore,
As shown in FIG. 4, the upper wall portion 20A of the first brace 20 is formed.
The outer side portion 20J in the vehicle width direction is an inclined surface that gradually rises toward the outer side direction in the vehicle width.

As shown in FIG. 5, a flange 20K is formed at the vehicle width direction outer end of the front wall portion 20E of the first brace 20 toward the vehicle width direction outside.
0K is welded to the front surface of the vehicle width direction outer side portion 18B of the dash panel 18. Therefore, the width of the closed cross section 22 in the front-rear direction is gradually narrowed toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, and the closed cross section is eliminated in the vehicle width direction outside part 18B of the dash panel 18.

As shown in FIG. 1, a front pillar 24 is disposed obliquely rearward of the front side member 12 on the outer side of the vehicle width along the vertical direction of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 5, the front pillar 24 includes a front pillar outer panel 26 forming an outer side portion of the front pillar 24 in the vehicle width direction and a front pillar inner panel forming an inner side portion of the front pillar 24 in the vehicle width direction. And 28. The cross-sectional shape of the front pillar outer panel 26 viewed from the vehicle upper side is a substantially U-shape with the opening facing inward in the vehicle width direction, and the flange 26A formed toward the vehicle front at the front end of the opening is a dash panel. A flange 18C formed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of 18 toward the front of the vehicle is welded to the outer side surface in the vehicle width direction.

The cross-sectional shape of the front pillar inner panel 28 as viewed from the vehicle upper side is a substantially U-shape with the opening facing outward in the vehicle width direction, and the flange formed at the rear end of the opening toward the vehicle rear side. 28A is welded to a flange 26B formed at the rear end of the opening of the front pillar outer panel 26 toward the rear of the vehicle. Further, a flange 28B formed toward the front of the vehicle at the front end of the opening of the front pillar inner panel 28 is welded to a substantially central portion of the side wall portion 26C of the front pillar outer panel 26 in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a rear portion of the front pillar outer panel 26 is formed. And the front pillar inner panel 28 form a closed cross section 30 extending in the vehicle vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, a second brace 32 as a second reinforcing member is provided on the outer surface of the front pillar outer panel 26 in the vehicle width direction. The second brace 32 is arranged at the same height as the first brace 20 along the vehicle front-rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cross-sectional shape of the second brace 32 viewed from the vehicle upper side is a substantially U-shape with the opening facing inward in the vehicle width direction. The formed flange 32A is welded to the flange 18C of the dash panel 18 with the flange 26A of the front pillar outer panel 26 interposed therebetween. A flange 32B formed toward the rear of the vehicle at the rear end of the opening of the second brace 32 is welded to the flange 28B of the front pillar inner panel 28 with the side wall portion 26C of the front pillar outer panel 26 interposed therebetween.

As shown in FIG. 1, a flange 32D is formed at the inner side end of the upper wall portion 32C of the second brace 32 in the vehicle width direction.
D is welded to the side wall portion 26C of the front pillar outer panel 26. In addition, the lower wall portion 32 of the second brace 32
A flange 32F is formed at the vehicle width direction inner end of E toward the vehicle lower side, and this flange 32F is welded to a side wall portion 26C of the front pillar outer panel 26.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the second brace 32 and the front pillar outer panel 26 form a closed cross section 34 connecting the closed cross section 22 and the closed cross section 30. The connecting portion 3 between the closed cross section 22 and the closed cross section 34
In No. 5, the closed cross-section portion is not continuous and is a rigidity lowering portion.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the connection is made by a force component that generates a moment to the front pillar 24 that is transmitted from the front side member 12 to the front pillar 24 via the first brace 20 and the second brace 32 at the time of a collision. Starting from the portion 35, the first brace 20 and the dash panel 18 rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 6 (direction of arrow A in FIG. 6).
This force component is absorbed by bending to. Therefore, the moment applied to the front pillar 24 at the time of collision can be reduced.

Further, in the event of a collision, the front side member 12
Is to press the dash panel 18 toward the rear of the vehicle mainly by the load transmitted from the front of the vehicle (arrow F1 in FIG. 4) mainly around the attachment position (point P1 in FIG. 4) of the upper surface 12A to the dash panel 18. However, in this embodiment, since the first brace 20 is provided, the wide range of the dash panel 18 is pressed toward the rear of the vehicle.

Therefore, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 7, the distribution of the deformation amount of the dash panel 18 can be made gentle along the vehicle width direction as compared with the case without the brace (broken line in FIG. 7).

Further, since the front portion of the front pillar outer panel 26 is reinforced by the second brace 32, it is possible to suppress the movement of the connecting portion 35 rearward of the vehicle, and therefore the distribution of the deformation amount of the dash panel 18 rearward of the vehicle. Becomes as shown by the solid line in FIG.

Further, in the event of a collision, the front side member 12
Causes a force to rotate the vehicle upward (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 4). With respect to this rotational force, a reaction force is exerted on the vehicle width direction outer side portion 20J of the upper wall portion 20A of the first brace 20. (Arrow F2 in FIG. 4) occurs. Therefore, the first brace 20
As a result, the rotation of the front side member 12 in the direction of the arrow B is suppressed, and therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of reinforcing members for preventing rotational deformation, which are usually provided in the kick portion 50 (see FIG. 4) of the front side member 12, thereby reducing the vehicle weight. It can be reduced.

Further, in this embodiment, since the force for twisting the front pillar cross section 30 is not applied at the time of collision, the reinforcement of the front pillar 24 can be reduced and the vehicle weight can be further reduced.

Further, in this embodiment, the first brace 20 is used.
Since the second brace 32 supports the dash panel 18, the resonance point of the dash panel 18 rises and engine noise can be improved.

In the above, the present invention has been described in detail with respect to a specific embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various other embodiments are included in the scope of the present invention. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that is possible. For example, in the present embodiment, the first brace 20 and the second brace 32 are separate members, but instead of this, the first brace and the second brace may be integrated.
Further, in the present embodiment, in the connecting portion 35 between the closed cross-section portion 22 and the closed cross-section portion 34, the closed cross-section portion is eliminated to form the rigidity lowering portion, but instead of this, the closed cross-section portion 22 and the closed cross-section portion are formed. 34 may be communicated with each other, and a bead or the like may be provided at the connecting portion to form the rigidity lowering portion.

Further, in the present embodiment, the second brace 32 as the second reinforcing member is arranged on the outer surface in the vehicle width direction of the front pillar outer panel 26, but instead of this, as shown in FIG. A second brace 40 as a second reinforcing member may be provided on the inner side of the front pillar outer panel 26 in the vehicle width direction. In this case, this second brace 4
Reference numeral 0 is a plate member extending in the vehicle front-rear direction at the same height as the first brace 20. The rear portion 40A of the second brace 40 is bent inward in the vehicle width direction and is in contact with the front wall portion 28C and the side wall portion 28D of the front pillar inner panel 28, and the side wall portion 28D and the weld provided on the side wall portion 28D. It is fixed with a nut 42 and a bolt 44. Further, the front portion 40B of the second brace 40 is bent inward in the vehicle width direction, and the vehicle width direction outer portion 18B of the dash panel 18 is bent.
It is in contact with the rear surface of the dash panel 18 and is fixed to the dash panel 18 by a weld bolt 46 and a nut 48 provided on the dash panel 18.

[0037]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the front side member is disposed in the front portion of the vehicle along the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the front side member is disposed obliquely rearward and outward of the vehicle width along the vertical direction of the vehicle. A front side member for connecting the installed front pillar and a front pillar, wherein the front side member has a reinforcing member for connecting a rear end portion of the front side member and the front pillar along a dash panel. Since the rigidity-reducing part that is bent by the force component that is transmitted from the member through the reinforcing member and generates the moment to the front pillar is formed in the reinforcing member, it is possible to reduce the moment applied to the front pillar at the time of a collision. Have.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the connecting structure of the front side member and the front pillar according to the first aspect, the reinforcing member reinforces the connecting portion with the dash panel at the rear end of the front side member. The first reinforcing member and the second reinforcing member that reinforces the front portion of the front pillar are divided, and the connecting portion between the first reinforcing member and the second reinforcing member serves as the rigidity lowering portion. In addition to this, the second reinforcing member has an excellent effect that the movement of the connecting portion toward the rear of the vehicle can be suppressed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connecting structure of a front side member and a front pillar according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen from an obliquely front outside of a vehicle.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the coupling structure of the front side member and the front pillar according to the embodiment of the present invention as seen from the diagonally front outside of the vehicle.

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

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory view of the coupling structure of the front side member and the front pillar according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the position of the dash panel in the vehicle width direction and the amount of deformation.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 5, showing a coupling structure of front side members and front pillars according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view showing a coupling structure of a front side member and a front pillar according to a conventional embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Front Side Member 18 Dash Panel 20 First Brace (First Reinforcement Member) 22 Closed Cross Section 24 Front Pillar 26 Front Pillar Outer Panel 28 Front Pillar Inner Panel 30 Closed Cross Section 32 Second Brace (Second Reinforcement Member) 34 Closed Cross Section Part 35 connection part (stiffness lowering part) 40 second brace (second reinforcing member)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A front side member disposed in a front portion of a vehicle along a vehicle front-rear direction, and a front pillar disposed diagonally rearward and outward of the front side member in the vehicle width direction along a vehicle up-down direction. A connecting structure of a front side member and a front pillar to be connected, comprising: a reinforcing member for connecting a rear end portion of the front side member and the front pillar along a dash panel, the front side member to the reinforcing member. A connecting structure of a front side member and a front pillar, characterized in that a rigidity lowering portion is formed in the reinforcing member and is bent by a force component that is transmitted through the front pillar and generates a moment in the front pillar. 2. A first reinforcing member that reinforces a connecting portion of a rear end portion of the front side member with the dash panel, and a second reinforcing member that reinforces a front portion of the front pillar. 2. The front side member and front pillar coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion between the first reinforcing member and the second reinforcing member is a rigidity lowering portion.