JPH09254811A - Center pillar construction - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrain increase of body weight, improve rigidity of the whole center pillar and efficiently transmit load in the body width direction to a rocker and a roof side rail. SOLUTION: The inner side in the body width direction of the center pillar outer part 22 of an outer panel 12 is arranged with a center pillar inner upper panel 24 on the portion from the upper part to near the lower part of the center pillar outer part 22 and the inner side in the body width direction of the center pillar inner upper panel 22 is arranged with a center pillar inner lower panel 26 on the portion from the lower part as far as to the upper part of the center pillar outer part 22. The center pillar inner upper panel 24, which is arranged inside a center pillar closed cross section part 34 and curved in an arch to the outside in the body width direction so that an upper door hinge fitting part 32 may be the apex, obliquely crosses the center pillar closed cross section 34 vertically along it from the outside to the inside in the body width direction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a center pillar structure, and more particularly to a center pillar structure for connecting a rocker and a roof side rail of a vehicle such as an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A center pillar is provided on a vehicle body as a structural member forming left and right ends of a passenger compartment in the center in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The center pillar connects a rocker arranged along the vehicle front-rear direction at the lower ends of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction and a roof side rail arranged along the vehicle front-rear direction at the upper ends of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction. And
An example of a structure for improving the rigidity is JP-A-4-29.
No. 7378.

As shown in FIG. 6, in this center pillar structure, a center pillar reinforcing member 76 having an outer reinforcement 72 and an inner reinforcement 74 and having a closed cross-sectional structure is disposed inside a center pillar 70 of a vehicle body. .
Both ends of the center pillar reinforcing member 76 in the vehicle vertical direction are provided inside the rocker 78 and the roof side rail 80, respectively.
It is extended to the inside, and the load acting on the center pillar 70 can be efficiently transmitted to the rocker 78 and the roof side rail 80.

[0004]

However, in this center pillar structure, the outer reinforcement 72 is used.
Since the inner reinforcement 64 and the inner reinforcement 74 are arranged in the range from the inside of the rocker 78 to the inside of the roof side rail 80, the weight of the vehicle body increases and the cost increases.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention suppresses an increase in vehicle body weight, improves the rigidity of the center pillar as a whole, and efficiently transfers the load in the vehicle width direction acting on the center pillar to the rocker and the roof side rail. The purpose is to obtain a possible center pillar structure.

[0006]

According to the center pillar structure of the present invention as set forth in claim 1, the center pillar inner panel is composed of two members, and the vertical middle portion of the two members is overlapped in the vehicle width direction, and It is characterized in that one of the members on the outer side in the vehicle width direction in the overlapping portion is curved outward in the vehicle width direction so that the upper door hinge attachment portion becomes the apex.

Therefore, when a load is applied to the center pillar from the outside in the vehicle width direction, the center pillar is bent along the one member constituting the center pillar inner panel curved in the vehicle width outside direction so that the upper door hinge mounting portion becomes the apex. , The load is efficiently transmitted to the upper and lower ends of the center pillar.

In the center pillar structure of the present invention as defined in claim 2, the center pillar outer panel which constitutes the outer side portion of the center pillar in the vehicle width direction, and the portion which extends from the upper portion to the vicinity of the lower portion of the center pillar inner side in the vehicle width direction are constituted. A center pillar inner upper panel and a portion from the lower part to the upper part of the center pillar inner side in the vehicle width direction are formed, and the center pillar inner upper panel overlaps with the center pillar inner upper panel, and the center pillar outer panel forms a vehicle. A center pillar inner lower panel that forms a center pillar closed cross section that extends in the up-down direction, and the center pillar inner upper panel is curved outward in the vehicle width so that the upper door hinge mounting portion becomes the apex. It has a feature.

Therefore, when the center pillar receives a load from the outside in the vehicle width direction, the load is distributed along the center pillar inner upper panel that is curved in the vehicle width outside direction so that the upper door hinge mounting portion becomes the apex. It is efficiently transmitted to the upper and lower ends of the pillar.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the center pillar structure 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. 5, in the center pillar structure of this embodiment, the front door mounting opening 1 of the vehicle body 10 is provided.
An outer panel 12 is formed on the outer side of the vehicle width direction around 0A and the rear door mounting opening 10B. Further, the center pillar 14, the rocker 16 and the roof side rail 1
Each of 8 has a closed cross-section structure.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lower portion of the outer panel 12 is a rocker outer portion 20 which constitutes an outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the rocker. A center pillar outer portion 22 is branched from the central portion of the rocker outer portion 20 in the vehicle front-rear direction toward the upper side of the vehicle. A flange 20A is formed in an upper end portion of the rocker outer portion 20 excluding the center pillar outer portion 22 so as to extend substantially vertically in the vehicle vertical direction, and a lower end portion of the rocker outer portion 20 is substantially vertically lowered in the vehicle vertical direction. A flange 20B is formed toward the side.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the center pillar outer portion 22 of the outer panel 12, a portion extending from the upper portion of the center pillar outer portion 22 to the vicinity of the lower portion thereof is provided.
The center pillar inner upper panel 24 is arranged, and the center pillar outer portion 22 of the outer panel 12 is provided inside the center pillar inner upper panel 24 in the vehicle width direction.
The center pillar inner lower panel 26 is arranged in a region from the lower part to the upper part of the.

Further, a rocker inner panel 27 shown by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 1 is arranged inside the rocker outer portion 20 of the outer panel 12 in the vehicle width direction. An outer end portion of the upper wall portion 27A of the rocker inner panel 27 in the vehicle width direction is bent substantially upward in the vehicle vertical direction to form a flange 27B. The vehicle width direction outer end portion of the lower wall portion 27C of the rocker inner panel 27 is bent substantially downward in the vehicle vertical direction to form a flange 27D.

As shown in FIG. 4 (A), the center pillar outer portion 22 of the outer panel 12 has a horizontal cross-sectional shape that is substantially U-shaped with the opening facing inward in the vehicle width direction.
The front end edge portion of the opening of the center pillar outer portion 22 is bent forward in the vehicle front-rear direction to form a flange 22A.
A rear end edge portion of the opening of the center pillar outer portion 22 is bent rearward in the vehicle front-rear direction to form a flange 22B.

The horizontal cross-sectional shape of the pillar portion of the center pillar inner upper panel 24 is substantially U-shaped with the opening facing inward in the vehicle width direction. A front end edge portion of the opening of the center pillar inner upper panel 24 is bent toward the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction to form a flange 24A, which is joined to the flange 22A of the center pillar outer portion 22. The rear end edge of the opening of the center pillar inner upper panel 24 is bent rearward in the vehicle front-rear direction to form a flange 24B, which is joined to the flange 22B of the center pillar outer portion 22.

As shown in FIG. 3, the roof side rail 1 is attached to the upper end of the center pillar inner upper panel 24.
A roof side rail portion 25 inserted into the interior 8 is formed, and a flange 24D extending in the vehicle front-rear direction is formed at a lower end portion of the center pillar inner upper panel 24. The upper portion 26A of the center pillar inner lower panel 26 has a flat plate shape.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the front end portion 26B of the upper portion 26A of the center pillar inner lower panel 26 is a flange 24A of the center pillar inner upper panel 24.
The rear end portions 26C are respectively connected to the flanges 24B.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the lower end edge portion 26D of the upper portion 26A of the center pillar inner lower panel 26.
Is the flange 2 of the center pillar inner upper panel 24.
It is connected to 4D.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the center pillar outer section 22 of the outer panel 12 and the center pillar inner lower panel 26 form a center pillar closed cross section 34 extending in the vehicle vertical direction. The pillar portion of the center pillar inner upper panel 24 is located in the portion 34. Further, the center pillar inner upper panel 24 is curved in an arcuate shape toward the vehicle width outer side so that the upper door hinge mounting portion 32 is at the apex, and the center pillar closed cross-section portion 34 is arranged vertically along the vehicle width direction outer side. It runs diagonally from the inside to the inside. The lower portion 26E of the center pillar inner lower panel 26 bulges outward in the vehicle width direction.

As shown in FIG. 4D, the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the lower portion 26E of the center pillar inner lower panel 26 is as follows.
It has a U-shape with the opening facing inward in the vehicle width direction. A front end edge portion of the opening of the center pillar inner lower panel 26 is bent forward in the vehicle front-rear direction to be a flange 26F, and a rear end edge portion of the opening portion is bent forward in the vehicle front-rear direction to be a flange 26G. There is. These flanges 2
6F and 26G are coupled to the flanges 22A and 22B of the center pillar outer portion 22, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rocker outer portion 20.
A rocker reinforcement 30 is provided at a branch portion of the inner pillar outer portion 22. The lower end edge portion 30B of the base portion 30A of the rocker reinforcement 30 has a flange 20B of the rocker outer portion 20 and a rocker inner panel 27.
It is sandwiched between the flange 27D and the flange 27D. A pair of flanges 30C project upward from the upper end edge of the base portion 30A of the rocker reinforcement 30. These flanges 30C are the flanges 2 of the rocker inner panel 27.
Bound to 7B.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cross-sectional shape of the rock reinforce 30 as viewed from the vehicle vertical direction is substantially U-shaped with the opening facing outward in the vehicle width direction. The outer edge of the front wall portion 30D of the rocker reinforcement 30 in the vehicle width direction is
The front side in the vehicle front-rear direction is bent to form a flange 30D, and the lower end edge of the front wall portion 30D is bent to the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction to form a flange 30F. Further, the vehicle width direction outer side edge portion of the rear wall portion 30G of the rocker reinforcement 30 is
A flange 30H is bent rearward in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a lower end edge portion of the rear wall portion 30G is bent rearward in the vehicle front-rear direction to form a flange 30J.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper portion of the outer panel 12 is a roof side rail outer portion 42 which constitutes an outer portion of the roof side rail 18 of the vehicle body 10 in the vehicle width direction. The roof side rail outer portion 42 has a substantially U-shaped cross section with the opening facing inward in the vehicle width direction.
A flange 42A is formed on the lower end portion of the opening except the center pillar outer portion 22 toward the lower side in the vehicle vertical direction, and a flange 42B is formed on the upper end portion of the opening toward the inner side in the substantially vertical direction of the vehicle. Has been formed.

As shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 1, a roof side rail inner 44, which constitutes the vehicle width direction inner side portion of the roof side rail 18, is disposed inside the roof side rail outer portion 42 in the vehicle width direction. ing. The roof side rail inner 44 has a substantially L-shaped cross section with the opening facing outward in the vehicle width direction, and a flange 44A is formed at the lower end of the opening substantially downward in the vehicle vertical direction. This flange 44A is used for the center pillar inner upper panel 24.
Is joined to a flange 25A formed on the lower edge of the roof side rail portion 25. Further, a flange 44B is formed at an upper end portion of the opening of the roof side rail inner 44 so as to extend inward in the vehicle up-down direction. It is joined to the flange 42B of the roof side rail outer portion 42 with 25B in between.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. According to the present embodiment, the center pillar inner upper panel 24 arranged in the center pillar closed cross section 34 is curved in the arcuate direction toward the outer side of the vehicle so that the upper door hinge mounting portion 32 becomes the apex, The center pillar closed cross section 34 is diagonally crossed along the vertical direction from the outer side to the inner side in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, when the center pillar 14 receives a load (arrow F in FIG. 1) from the outside in the vehicle width direction, a high reaction force in the vertical direction of the axis is generated by this portion, so that along the center pillar inner upper panel 24. As a result, the load is efficiently transmitted to the upper and lower ends of the center pillar 14 as indicated by arrows F1 and F2 in FIG.

Therefore, the center pillar reinforcing member as in the conventional structure shown in FIG. 6 is unnecessary. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the weight of the vehicle body, improve the rigidity of the center pillar 14 as a whole, and efficiently transmit the load acting on the center pillar 14 in the vehicle width direction to the rocker 16 and the roof side rail 18.

Further, in the center pillar structure of the present embodiment, the roof side rail portion 25 of the center pillar inner upper panel 24 is extended along the roof side rail 18 in the vehicle front-rear direction. Therefore, the center pillar 14
The rigidity of the roof side rail 18 gradually changes in the vehicle front-rear direction from the joint between the roof side rail 18 and the roof side rail 18. Therefore, a large stress is not concentrated in the vicinity of the joint between the center pillar 14 and the roof side rail 18, and the load in the vehicle width direction acting on the center pillar 14 can be sufficiently transmitted to the roof side rail 18. Therefore, the body vibration can be reduced.

Further, in the center pillar structure of the present embodiment, the lower portion 26E of the center pillar inner lower panel 26 bulges outward in the vehicle width direction, and the seat belt retractor can be arranged at this portion. It is not necessary to form a seatbelt retractor mounting hole, and it is possible to prevent the rigidity of the center pillar 14 from being reduced by the mounting hole.

In the above, the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments within the scope of the present invention. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that

[0032]

According to the center pillar structure of the present invention as defined in claim 1, the center pillar inner panel is composed of two members, and
Since the intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the member is overlapped in the vehicle width direction, and one member on the outside in the vehicle width direction at the overlapped portion is curved toward the outside in the vehicle width so that the upper door hinge attachment portion becomes the apex, This has an excellent effect of suppressing the increase, improving the rigidity of the center pillar as a whole, and efficiently transmitting the load acting in the vehicle width direction on the center pillar to the rocker and the roof side rail.

In the center pillar structure of the present invention as defined in claim 2, the center pillar outer panel forming an outer side portion of the center pillar in the vehicle width direction and a portion extending from an upper portion of the center pillar inner side in the vehicle width direction to a vicinity of a lower portion thereof are formed. The center pillar inner upper panel and the part from the bottom to the top inside the center pillar in the vehicle width direction are configured, and the center pillar inner upper panel is superposed from the inside in the vehicle width direction, and the center pillar outer panel is used in the vehicle vertical direction. A center pillar inner lower panel that forms a center pillar closed cross-section that extends to the center pillar inner lower panel, and the center pillar inner upper panel is curved outward in the vehicle width so that the upper door hinge mounting portion is at the apex. It suppresses the increase and improves the rigidity of the center pillar overall, and the load in the vehicle width direction that acts on the center pillar is locked. It has an excellent effect that can be efficiently transmitted to the-safe side rail.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a center pillar structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the center pillar structure according to the embodiment of the present invention seen from the diagonally front inside of the vehicle.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the center pillar structure according to the embodiment of the present invention as seen from the diagonally front inside of the vehicle.

4 (A) is a sectional view taken along line 4 (A) -4 (A) of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 (B) is a sectional view taken along line 4 (B) -4 (B) of FIG. It is a figure and (C) is 4 (C) -4 of FIG.
It is sectional drawing which followed the (C) line, (D) is 4 of FIG.
It is sectional drawing which followed the (D) -4 (D) line.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a vehicle to which the center pillar structure according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied, as seen obliquely from the front of the vehicle.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a center pillar structure according to a conventional embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 outer panel 14 center pillar 16 rocker 18 roof side rail 22 center pillar outer part 24 center pillar inner upper panel 26 center pillar inner lower panel 32 upper door hinge mounting part 34 center pillar closed cross section

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A center pillar inner panel is made up of two members, and an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the two members is overlapped in the vehicle width direction, and one member on the outside in the vehicle width direction at the overlapping portion is attached to an upper door hinge. A center pillar structure characterized in that it is curved outward in the vehicle width so that the portion becomes the apex. 2. A center pillar outer panel constituting an outer side portion of the center pillar in the vehicle width direction, a center pillar inner upper panel constituting a portion from an upper portion inside the center pillar in the vehicle width direction to a vicinity of a lower portion, and a center pillar vehicle. The center pillar inner cross section is formed from the lower part to the upper part on the inner side in the width direction and overlaps with the center pillar inner upper panel from the inner side in the vehicle width direction and extends in the vehicle up and down direction with the center pillar outer panel. A center pillar inner lower panel, wherein the center pillar inner lower panel is curved outward in the vehicle width direction so that the upper door hinge attachment portion is at the apex.