JPH10316025A - Cowl side structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress vibration of an inner panel reinforcement in the cross direction of a vehicle at the time of driving a vehicle. SOLUTION: A cowl reinforcement 20 is disposed in a cowl 18, and forms a cowl reinforcing part 22 which is formed to have a closed cross-section structure extending in the cross direction of a vehicle. A bracket 26 is fixed at the rear wall part 24 of the cowl reinforcing part 22. The bracket 26 extends to the rearward diagonal outside of the vehicle from the vicinity of a top part on vehicle rearward side of the rear wall part 24, and is fixed near a ridge line 14D in the flat surface part 14A of a front pillar inner panel 14. As a result, a truss structure, when viewed from the top of the vehicle, is formed by the rear wall part 24 of the cowl reinforcing part 22, the bracket 26, and the front pillar inner panel 14. A jointing part 38 of the bracket 26 is welded to the end part 36A of an inner panel reinforcement 36 with the end part 36A being covered.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cowl side structure, and more particularly, to a cowl side structure for connecting an outer portion of a cowl in a vehicle width direction and an instrument panel reinforcement in an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a car, a cowl side structure for connecting an outer side portion of a cowl in a vehicle width direction to an instrument panel reinforcement is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-330454.
No. in the official gazette.

[0005] As shown in FIG. 5, a bracket 102 is fixed to a cowl 100 in this structure. A hemispherical convex portion 104 is formed at an end of the bracket 102 opposite to the body mounting portion 102A.
An end 106A of the instrument panel reinforcement 106 is welded to the vicinity of the outer periphery of the tube 04. A hole 108 as a fragile portion is formed between the body mounting portion 102A of the bracket 102 and the convex portion 104. The hole 108 is wider on the body mounting portion 102A side, and the convex portion 104
The side has a narrow trapezoidal shape, and the space between the body mounting portion 102A of the bracket 102 and the joint portion of the bracket 102 with the instrument panel reinforcement 106 is easily deformed, thereby preventing the instrument panel reinforcement 106 from bending. ing.

[0004]

However, in this structure, the instrument panel reinforcement 106
Are supported by a bracket 102 fixed only to the cowl 100. For this reason, the support rigidity of the instrument panel reinforcement 106 is weak, and the instrument panel reinforcement 106 vibrates in the vehicle width direction (the direction of the arrow W in FIG. 5) during running of the vehicle. Note that there is a configuration in which the instrument panel reinforcement 106 is directly fixed to the front pillar 110. In this case, however, the instrument panel reinforcement 1 is also fixed.
06 is supported only by the front pillar 110, so that the support rigidity of the instrument panel reinforcement 106 is low,
During traveling of the vehicle, the instrument panel reinforcement 106 vibrates in the vehicle width direction.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and has as its object to provide a cowl side structure capable of suppressing vibration in a vehicle width direction of an instrument panel reinforcement during running of a vehicle.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cowl side structure for connecting a front pillar and a cowl to form a truss structure together with the front pillar and the cowl when viewed from above the vehicle. It is characterized in that it has a connecting portion extending from the front pillar side of the mounting member substantially toward the rear of the vehicle, and an instrument panel reinforcement having an outer end in the vehicle width direction connected to the connecting portion.

Therefore, the vehicle width direction outer end of the instrument panel reinforcement is connected to the truss structure formed by the cowl, the mounting member, and the front pillar via the connecting portion formed on the mounting member. The support rigidity of the instrument panel reinforcement against the vibration in the width direction increases. As a result, it is possible to suppress the vibration in the vehicle width direction generated in the instrument panel reinforcement during running of the vehicle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the cowl side structure according to the first aspect, the mounting member is connected to a vicinity of a ridge portion extending substantially in the vertical direction of the vehicle and formed at a rear portion inside the front pillar in the vehicle width direction. It is characterized by doing.

Accordingly, the surface vibration (panel vibration) of the flat portion of the front pillar can be reduced as compared with the case where the mounting member is connected to the center of the flat portion of the front pillar.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the cowl side structure according to the first aspect, the connecting portion is welded to an outer end in the vehicle width direction of the inner panel reinforcement so as to cover the end. It is characterized by having.

Therefore, since the end of the instrument panel reinforcement is closed by the connecting portion to have a closed cross section, the cross section of the instrument panel reinforcement can be prevented from collapsing, and the vertical support rigidity of the steering shaft fixed to the instrument panel reinforcement is improved.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a cowl side 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 IN indicates a vehicle width inside direction, and an arrow UP indicates a vehicle upward direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the front pillar 10 of the vehicle body is
And a front pillar inner panel 14 that forms the inside of the front pillar 10 in the vehicle width direction, and has a closed cross-sectional structure extending in the vehicle vertical direction. . A rear wall portion 14B is formed at the rear end of the flat portion 14A of the front pillar inner panel 14 toward the outside in the vehicle width direction. A joining flange 14C is formed toward the rear of the vehicle. The boundary between the flat portion 14A of the front pillar inner panel 14 and the rear wall portion 14B is a ridge line 14D extending substantially in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

A cowl side panel 16 is disposed in front of a bent portion formed substantially at the center of the front pillar 10 in the vehicle vertical direction.
A cowl 18 extending in the vehicle width direction is provided between the six. The cross-sectional shape of the cowl 18 as viewed from the vehicle width direction is a hat shape with an opening directed upward. A cowl reinforcement 20 is provided in the cowl 18, and the cowl reinforcement 20 is provided with the cowl 18.
And a rear portion, a cowl reinforcing portion 22 having a closed cross-sectional structure extending in the vehicle width direction is formed.

The rear wall of the cowl reinforcing portion 22 (the rear wall of the cowl 18 in this embodiment) 24 is mounted on the rear side surface in the vehicle front-rear direction near the outer end in the vehicle width direction via a mounting panel 25. A bracket 26 as means is fixed at two upper and lower points by fixing members 28 such as bolts and nuts. Also,
The fastening positions of the fixing members 28 are respectively set behind ridge lines 27 and 29 formed at both upper and lower ends of the rear wall portion 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rear wall 24 is gently inclined toward the rear of the vehicle as it goes outward in the vehicle width direction.
However, it extends toward the front diagonally outside of the vehicle. Also,
A flange 24B formed at the vehicle width direction outer end of the vehicle width direction outer portion 24A is formed at the front end of the front pillar inner panel 14 toward the vehicle width inside.
E and the cowl reinforcement 20 are welded to the outside end 20A in the vehicle width direction.

The bracket 26 is provided on the top 24 of the rear wall 24.
B extends from the vicinity of B to the vehicle rear diagonally outside, and is fixed at two upper and lower points by a fixing member 30 such as a bolt and a nut near the ridge line 14D in the plane portion 14A of the front pillar inner panel 14. Accordingly, the vehicle width direction outer portion 24A of the rear wall portion 24 of the cowl reinforcing portion 22, the plane portion 14A of the front pillar inner panel 14, and the bracket 26 allow the vehicle to be viewed from above (in plan view from above the vehicle).
The truss structure 32 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 1, reinforcing flanges 26A and 26B are formed at both ends in the vertical direction of the bracket 26 inward in the vehicle width direction.
At the center in the up-down direction, a convex portion 34 for reinforcement is formed by press working toward the inside in the vehicle width direction. Convex part 34
, The length H in the up-down direction and the length W in the vehicle width direction gradually increase toward the rear of the vehicle.
4 is formed of a pipe material, and the cowl 1
8 is welded to an outer peripheral portion of the instrument panel reinforcement 36 extending in the vehicle width direction along the vehicle width direction.

A portion of the bracket 26 on the front pillar side extends toward the rear of the vehicle and forms a connecting portion 38. The connecting portion 38 is connected to an end 36A of the inner panel reinforcement 36, It is welded over 36A.

The inner panel reinforcement 36 is connected to the inner panel reinforcement 36 via a steering support bracket 40.
A steering shaft (not shown) is supported, and a front end portion 40A of the steering support bracket 40 is provided.
Is connected to the rear wall portion 24 of the cowl reinforcing portion 22 via a mounting panel 42.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the instrument panel reinforcement 36 is connected to the truss structure 32 formed by the rear wall portion 24 of the cowl reinforcing portion 22, the bracket 26, and the front pillar inner panel 14 via the connecting portion 38 formed on the bracket 26.
Is firmly welded at the outer end in the vehicle width direction. For this reason,
The support rigidity of the instrument panel reinforcement 36 against vibration in the vehicle width direction increases. As a result, the vibration in the vehicle width direction of the instrument panel reinforcement 36 at the time of running the vehicle (FIG. 2)
Vibration in the direction of arrow A) can be suppressed. Further, vibration of the steering shaft supported by the instrument panel reinforcement 36 can be suppressed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the bracket 26 is provided with the fixing members 3 such as bolts and nuts near the ridgeline 14D in the plane portion 14A of the front pillar inner panel 14.
As a result, the surface vibration (panel vibration) of the flat portion 14A of the front pillar inner panel 14 can be reduced as compared with the case where the bracket 26 is connected to the center of the flat portion 14A of the front pillar inner panel 14.

In the present embodiment, the connecting portion 38 of the bracket 26 is connected to the inner panel reinforcement 36.
Is welded to the end 36A to cover the end 36A,
The end 36A of the instrument panel reinforcement 36 has a closed cross section. For this reason, the section collapse of the instrument panel reinforcement 36 can be prevented, and the vertical support rigidity of the steering shaft fixed to the instrument panel reinforcement 36 is improved.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, when the rear wall 24 of the cowl reinforcing portion 22 moves rearward due to an input from the front of the vehicle (arrow F in FIG. 3) during a collision. In addition, the flat portion 14A of the front pillar inner panel 14 is compressed in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the truss structure 32 is
The vehicle is folded in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. As a result, the amount of movement of the instrument panel reinforcement 36 toward the rear of the vehicle (the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 3) can be reduced, and the amount of movement of the steering shaft supported by the instrument panel reinforcement 36 toward the rear of the vehicle can be reduced.

In this embodiment, before the bracket 26 is fixed to the mounting panel 25 fixed to the rear wall portion 24 by the fixing members 28 such as bolts and nuts in the assembling process, a two-dot chain line in FIG. A soundproof material 46 such as a dash silencer shown in FIG.
It is possible to securely adhere to the outer portion 24A in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the soundproofing effect is also improved.

In this embodiment, the bracket 26 welded to the instrument panel reinforcement 36 is fixed to the fixing members 28 and 30 such as bolts and nuts in the assembling process.
As a result, the flange 24B of the rear wall 24, the flange 14B of the front pillar inner panel 14, and the outer end 20A in the vehicle width direction of the cowl reinforcement 20 are welded to fix the rear wall 24 and the front pillar inner panel 14. There is no need to drill a working hole for the bracket 26. As a result, the rigidity of the bracket 26 is improved, and the welding workability of the welding portion is also 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 within 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 present invention is applied to a configuration in which the cowl reinforcement 20 is provided inside the cowl 18, but instead, as shown in FIG. The present invention may be applied to a configuration in which the cowl reinforcement 50 is provided and the cowl reinforcement 50 is formed by the cowl reinforcement 50 and the rear portion of the cowl 18.

[0029]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cowl side structure for connecting a front pillar and a cowl, forming a truss structure together with the front pillar and the cowl when viewed from above the vehicle, and a front pillar of the mounting member. Side portion extending substantially toward the rear of the vehicle, and an instrument panel reinforcement having a vehicle width direction outer end coupled to the connection portion, so that the instrument panel reinforcement in the vehicle width direction when the vehicle is traveling. It has an excellent effect that vibration can be suppressed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the cowl side structure according to the first aspect, the mounting member is connected to a vicinity of a ridge portion extending substantially in the vertical direction of the vehicle and formed at a rear portion inside the front pillar in the vehicle width direction. In addition to the effects described in claim 1, there is an excellent effect that surface vibration of the flat portion of the front pillar can be reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the cowl side structure according to the first aspect, the connecting portion is welded to the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the inner panel reinforcement so as to cover the end. In addition to the effects described in claim 1, there is an excellent effect that the vertical support rigidity of the steering shaft is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cowl side structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from the rear inside a vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view showing a cowl side structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view showing a deformed state at the time of collision of the cowl side structure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a cowl having a cowl side structure and a cowl reinforcement according to a modification of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a cowl side structure according to a conventional embodiment, viewed from an obliquely rear inner side of a vehicle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 front pillar 14 front pillar inner panel 14A flat portion of front pillar inner panel 14D ridgeline of front pillar inner panel 18 cowl 20 cowl reinforcement 22 cowl reinforcing portion 24 rear wall portion of cowl reinforcing portion 26 bracket (attachment means) 32 truss structure 34 Convex part of bracket 34A Rear end wall part of convex part 36 Instrument panel reinforcement 38 Connecting part 50 Cowl reinforcement

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A mounting member for connecting a front pillar and a cowl, forming a truss structure together with the front pillar and the cowl when viewed from above the vehicle, and extending a portion of the mounting member on the front pillar side substantially rearward of the vehicle. A cowl side structure comprising: a connecting portion provided; and an instrument panel reinforcement having a vehicle width direction outer end portion connected to the connecting portion. 2. The cowl side structure according to claim 1, wherein the attachment member is connected to a vicinity of a ridge portion extending substantially in the vertical direction of the vehicle and formed at a rear portion of the front pillar inward in the vehicle width direction. 3. The cowl side structure according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is welded to an outer end in the vehicle width direction of the inner panel reinforcement so as to cover the end.