JPH11321718A - Fender structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fender structure capable of surely protecting both small/ large obstacles from a shock. SOLUTION: When a fender is divided into front/rear parts by forming respectively an almost dogleg-shaped section in front/rear fenders 11, 31, a valley angle (θ1+θ2) of the almost dogleg-shaped section in the front fender 11 is lessened, a valley angle (θ3+θ4) of the almost dogleg-shaped section in the rear fender 31 is enlarged. Accordingly, a shock given to an obstruction part can be sufficiently absorbed when a small obstacle hits the front fender 11 and when a large obstacle hits the rear fender 31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a fender structure for absorbing a shock by deforming a vehicle body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a vehicle body structure, there is an impact absorbing structure for protecting an obstacle from an impact by deforming the vehicle body and absorbing the impact when the vehicle hits an obstacle. As a typical example of this shock absorbing structure, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 56-34571, entitled "Automobile with Flexible Body Front" has been proposed, and FIG. Will be described. In addition,
The code has been renewed.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are cross-sectional views showing a conventional fender structure. FIG. 11A is a configuration diagram, and FIG. 11B is an operation explanatory diagram. You. In (a), the fender structure is
The upper end of the deformable member 102 is caulked with the outer plate 101 of the fender 100, and the lower end of the deformable member 102 is
3 is attached with bolts 104. Deformation member 10
2 has a horizontal U-shaped portion 102a as shown, and the opening width W of the horizontal U-shaped portion 102a is a deformation allowance. In the bonnet structure, similarly to the fender structure, the upper end of the deformable member 111 is caulked with the bonnet 110, and the lower end of the deformable member 111 is attached to the load bearing reinforcing portion 112. In (b), the obstacle 114 hits the fender 100 and the hood 110, and the fender 100 and the hood 110 are subjected to an external force F1.
, The deformation members 102 and 111 are crushed, and the fender 100 and the hood 110 are deformed.

[0004]

According to the above technique, since the deformation member 103 is attached from the front end to the rear end of the fender 100, the rigidity of the fender 100 becomes constant over the entire area from the front end to the rear end. For this reason, if the rigidity of the fender is set high corresponding to a large obstacle, when a small obstacle hits the fender, the fender may not be sufficiently deformed and the small obstacle may not be reliably protected from impact. is there.

If the rigidity of the fender is set low so as to correspond to a small obstacle, when the large obstacle hits the fender, the deformation of the fender is completed while absorbing the impact, and the large obstacle is prevented. May not be reliably protected from impact. Furthermore, if the rigidity of the fender is set to correspond to both small obstacles and large obstacles, the rigidity is too high for small obstacles and too low for large obstacles. For this reason, both small obstacles and large obstacles may not be reliably protected from impact.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fender structure that can reliably protect both small and large obstacles from impacts.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems In the course of the shock absorption experiment, the present inventors distinguished a fender into a front part and a rear part, and a small obstacle hit a front fender, and a large obstacle By noticing that it hits the fender, by setting the rigidity of the front fender lower than the rigidity of the rear fender,
I got the prospect that the problem could be solved. Specifically, claim 1 bends the upper part of the fender outer plate downward in the vicinity of the bonnet, extends obliquely downward and laterally outward of the vehicle body, and then turns back the end to extend obliquely downward toward the vehicle body side. By extending the extension upward from the hollow section upper member that reinforces the wheel house, bending the extension outward to the side of the vehicle body, and connecting the end of the fender outer plate to the end of this extension, the extension and the fender A fender structure in which a substantially V-shaped cross section is formed with the outer plate, and when the fender structure is distinguished into a front part and a rear part, the angle of the trough of the substantially F-shaped cross section is reduced in the front fender, and the rear fender is substantially formed. It is characterized in that the angle of the valley in the cross section is increased.

The angle of the valley of the front fender in the substantially rectangular cross section is reduced, and the angle of the valley of the rear fender in the substantially rectangular cross section is increased. For this reason, the rigidity of the front fender with respect to the downward external force can be set low corresponding to a small obstacle, and the rigidity of the rear fender with respect to the downward external force can be set high corresponding to a large obstacle. As a result, when a small obstacle hits the front fender, the front fender can be sufficiently deformed to reliably absorb the impact on the small obstacle. Further, when a large obstacle hits the rear fender, the rear fender can be sufficiently deformed to reliably absorb the impact on the large obstacle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the upper portion of the fender outer plate is bent downward near the bonnet, extended obliquely outward to the side of the vehicle body, then folded back and extended obliquely downward to the vehicle body, and further extended at the end. By connecting this end to the upper member having a hollow cross-sectional structure that reinforces the wheel house, it is a fender structure in which a substantially rectangular cross section is formed on the fender outer plate, and when the fender structure is distinguished into a front part and a rear part. The angle of the valley having a substantially V-shaped cross section in the front fender is reduced, and the angle of the valley having a substantially V-shaped cross section is increased in the rear fender.

The angle of the trough of the front fender in the substantially rectangular cross section is reduced, and the angle of the trough of the rear fender in the substantially rectangular cross section is increased. For this reason, the rigidity of the front fender with respect to the downward external force can be set low corresponding to a small obstacle, and the rigidity of the rear fender with respect to the downward external force can be set high corresponding to a large obstacle. As a result, when a small obstacle hits the front fender, the front fender can be sufficiently deformed to reliably absorb the impact on the small obstacle. Further, when a large obstacle hits the rear fender, the rear fender can be sufficiently deformed to reliably absorb the impact on the large obstacle.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings should be viewed in the direction of the reference numerals. In the description, “left”, “right”, “front” and “rear” indicate directions or positions as viewed from the driver. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle body employing a fender structure (first embodiment) according to the present invention. Body 1 is bonnet 2
Are provided with fender structures 10, 10 on the left and right sides of the fender. Since the left and right fender structures 10, 10 have the same configuration, the same reference numerals are given, and the left fender structure 10 will be described below. The fender structure 10 is distinguished between a front fender 11 and a rear fender 31. The front fender 11 and the rear fender 31 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. 4 is a front wheel, 6 is a front window glass, and 8 is a front side door.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and shows the front fender 11. In the front fender 11, an upper member 13 for reinforcing the wheel house 12 is disposed above a front wheel (not shown), a side facing the engine room of the upper member 13 is formed by an inner side surface 14, and the inner side surface 14 is directed upward. Extend it before extension (extension) 1
8 and the front end 18a of the extension 18 is formed.
The front end (end) 20a of the fender outer plate 20 is connected with a connecting bolt 23 and a nut 24. In addition,
Reference numeral 3 denotes an outer plate of the hood 2, and 4 denotes a reinforcing member for reinforcing the outer plate 3.

The upper member 13 has a hollow sectional structure with the inner side surface 14, the upper surface 15, the outer side surface 16 and the bottom surface 17, and the recess 15a of the upper surface 15
Is set to a depth D1 corresponding to. The front extension 18 is a plate material having the inner surface 14 of the upper member 13 extended upward, and is a cantilever that is bent obliquely outward and laterally outward of the vehicle body.

The fender outer plate 20 has a front upper portion (upper portion) 21.
Of the outer bent piece 21a of the hood 2
"Bonnet edge". ) Bend down at 2a,
The inside bent piece 21b of the front upper portion 21 is extended obliquely downward and laterally outward of the vehicle body, and then the front end portion 20a is turned back and extended obliquely downward toward the vehicle body, and the front end portion 20a is extended forward. By connecting to the tip 18a of the extension 18 with the connecting bolt 23 and the nut 24, the front extension 1
8 and the inside bent piece 21b form a substantially rectangular cross section. The front extension 18 is largely bent outwardly to the side of the vehicle body, and the inclination angle θ1 of the front extension 18 is
Is set to be small, and the inside bent piece 21b is largely bent toward the side outward of the vehicle body, and the inclination angle θ of the inside bent piece 21b is set.
2 was set small.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. In the rear fender 31, similarly to the front fender 11, an upper member 13 for reinforcing the wheel house 12 is disposed above a front wheel (not shown), and a side of the upper member 13 facing the engine room is formed on the inner side surface 14. The inner side surface 14 is extended upward to form a rear extension (extension) 32, and then the rear end (end) 20 b of the fender outer plate 20 is connected to the front end 32 a of the extension 32 by the connection bolt 23 and the nut 24. It was done.

As described for the front fender 11, the upper member 13 has a hollow cross-sectional structure with the inner side surface 14, the upper surface 15, the outer side surface 16 and the bottom surface 17, and the recess 15a of the upper surface 15
Is set to a depth D1 corresponding to the protrusion allowance S of the connection bolt 23. The rear extension 32 is a plate member having the inner surface 14 of the upper member 13 extended upward,
The cantilever is bent obliquely upward to the outside of the side of the vehicle body.

The fender outer panel 20 has a rear upper part (upper part) 35.
Is bent downward at the bonnet edge 2a, the inner bent piece 35b of the front upper portion 35 is extended obliquely downward and laterally outward of the vehicle body, and then the rear end portion 20b is turned back to the vehicle body side. The rear end 20b is connected to the front end 32a of the rear extension 32 by connecting bolts 23
And the nut 24, a substantially rectangular cross section is formed by the rear extension 32 and the inner bent piece 35b. The rear extension 32 is bent slightly outward toward the side of the vehicle body so that the inclination angle θ3 of the rear extension 32 is set to be larger than the inclination angle θ1 (see FIG. 2), and the inner bent piece 35b is directed outward toward the side of the vehicle body. And the inclination angle θ4 of the inner bent piece 35b was set to be larger than the inclination angle θ2 (see FIG. 2).

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the left fender structure (first embodiment) according to the present invention. Areas E1 and E2 before and after the fender structure 10 are respectively constituted by a front fender 11 and a rear fender 31. Further, a state in which the front and rear fender structures 11 and 31 are continuously connected by an intermediate fender structure 41 is shown.

The front fender 11 is provided with inclination angles θ1, θ2 of the front extension 18 and the inner bent piece 21b, respectively.
(See FIG. 2), the valley angle (θ
1 + θ2), the front fender 11
Are set to have relatively low rigidity against a downward external force. The reason why the rigidity is set low is that the area E1 is likely to be hit by a small obstacle, so that the area E1 can be deformed by a small external force.

Further, the rear fender 31 has a tilt angle θ3 of the rear extension 32 and a tilt angle θ3 of the inner bent piece 35b, respectively.
By increasing θ4 (see FIG. 3) and making the angle (θ3 + θ4) of the trough of the substantially rectangular cross section larger than the angle (θ1 + θ2), the rigidity of the rear fender 31 with respect to the downward external force is made larger than the rigidity of the front fender 11. It is set high. The reason why the rigidity is set high is that the area E2 is likely to be hit by a large obstacle, so that the area E2 can be deformed by a large external force.

The front and rear fender structures 11, 3 described above
The operation of 1 will now be described. FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory views of the operation of the front fender (first embodiment) according to the present invention. 5A, a small obstacle 47 hits the front upper portion 21 of the fender outer panel 20, and a small downward downward external force f acts on the front upper portion 21. The front fender 11 has a small valley angle (θ1 + θ2) with a substantially rectangular cross section, and therefore has low rigidity against a downward external force.

In (b), even if the external force f (see (a)) is small because the rigidity of the fender 11 is low, the inner bent piece 21b and the front extension 18 are sufficiently bent, and the protrusion S of the connecting bolt 23 is reduced. Is the depression 15 in the upper plate 15
a. As a result, the front upper portion 2 of the fender outer plate 20
1 can be sufficiently deformed, so that the impact on the small obstacle 47 can be reliably absorbed.

FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are views for explaining the operation of the rear fender (first embodiment) according to the present invention. In (a), a large obstacle 48 is located in the rear upper part 3 of the fender outer panel 20.
5, a large downward downward external force F acts on the rear upper portion 35. The rear fender 31 has a valley angle (θ3
+ Θ4), the rigidity against a downward external force is relatively high.

In FIG. 2B, since the rigidity of the rear fender 31 is high, there is a possibility that the inner bent piece 35b and the rear extension 32 will not be bent by a small external force, but the downward external force F (see (a)) is large. Inside bent piece 35b
And the rear extension 32 is sufficiently bent, and the protrusion S of the connecting bolt 23 enters the recess 15 a of the upper plate 15. As a result, the rear upper portion 35 of the fender outer plate 20 can be sufficiently deformed, so that the impact on the large obstacle 48 can be reliably absorbed.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. The same members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a front fender (second embodiment) according to the present invention. The fender structure 50 has a first
As in the embodiment, the front fender 51 and the rear fender are included. In the front fender 51, an upper member 52 for reinforcing the wheel house 53 is disposed above a front wheel (not shown).
It is connected by.

The upper member 52 is a member having a hollow sectional structure having an inner side surface 52a, an upper surface 52b, an outer side surface 52c, and a bottom surface 52d, and having a flange 54 at a position lower than the upper surface 52b by a depth D2. The fender outer plate 55 connects the outer bent piece 56a of the upper front (upper) 56 to the bonnet edge 2.
a, bent downward in the vicinity of a, and the first inner bent piece 5 of the front upper part 56
6b is extended obliquely downward and laterally outward of the vehicle body, then the second inner bent piece 56c is turned back and extended obliquely downward to the vehicle body side, and further the front end portion 55a is extended. This front end portion 55a is connected to the upper member 52. The first inner bent piece 56b and the second inner bent piece 56c form a substantially rectangular cross-section by being connected to the upper surface 52b of the base member with a connecting bolt 58 and a nut 59.

The first inner bent piece 56b is largely bent outward and laterally of the vehicle body so that the inclination angle θ of the first inner bent piece 56b is increased.
5 is set to be small, and the second inner bent piece 56c is largely bent toward the vehicle body side to set the inclination angle θ6 of the second inner bent piece 56c to be small. As a result, the valley angle (θ5 + θ6) of the substantially rectangular cross section is reduced, and the rigidity of the front fender 51 with respect to a downward external force is set low.

Next, the operation of the front fender 51 will be described. FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view of a front fender (second embodiment) according to the present invention. Small obstacle 47 is fender skin 5
5, a small downward downward external force f acts on the front upper portion 56. Since the rigidity of the front fender 51 is low, the first inner bent piece 56b and the second inner bent piece 56c are sufficiently bent even if the external force f is small.

Here, since the flange 54 is provided at a position lower than the upper surface 52a of the upper member 52 by the depth D2, the second inner bent piece 56c can be sufficiently bent without interfering with the flange 54. As a result, the front upper portion 56 of the fender outer plate 55 can be sufficiently deformed, so that the impact on the large obstacle 48 can be reliably absorbed.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a rear fender (second embodiment) according to the present invention. The rear fender 61 arranges an upper member 52 for reinforcing the wheel house 53 above a front wheel (not shown), and an upper surface 52b of the upper member 52.
The rear end (end) 55b of the fender outer plate 55 is connected to the connecting bolt 58 and the nut 59.

The fender outer plate 55 has a rear upper part (upper part) 62.
Is bent downward in the vicinity of the bonnet edge 2a, the first inner bent piece 62b of the rear upper portion 56 is extended obliquely downward to the side of the vehicle body, and then the second inner bent piece 62c
And extend diagonally downward to the vehicle body side, and furthermore, the rear end 5
5b, and the rear end 55b is connected to the upper member 52.
The first inner bent piece 62b and the second inner bent piece 62c form a substantially rectangular cross-section by being connected to the upper surface 52b of the base member by a connecting bolt 58 and a nut 59.

The first inner bent piece 62b is bent slightly outward toward the side of the vehicle body to form an inclination angle θ of the first inner bent piece 62b.
7 is set large, and the inclination angle θ8 of the second inside bent piece 62c is set large by bending the second inside bent piece 62c toward the vehicle body side. As a result, the valley angle (θ7 + θ8) of the substantially rectangular cross section is increased, and the rigidity of the rear fender 61 with respect to a downward external force is set high.

Next, the operation of the rear fender 61 will be described. FIG. 10 shows a rear fender according to the present invention (second embodiment).
FIG. The large obstacle 48 hits the rear upper portion 62 of the fender outer panel 55, and a large downward downward external force F acts on the rear upper portion 62. Since the rear fender 61 has high rigidity, the first inner bent piece 62b and the second inner bent piece 62c may not be bent by a small external force, but the first inner bent piece 62b may be bent by a large external force F. And the 2nd inside bent piece 62c is fully bent.

Here, since the flange 54 is provided at a position lower than the upper surface 52a of the upper member 52 by the depth D2, the second inner bent piece 62c can be sufficiently bent without interfering with the flange 54. As a result, the rear upper portion 62 of the fender outer plate 55 can be sufficiently deformed, so that the impact on the large obstacle 48 can be reliably absorbed.

In the above-described embodiment, the contents of setting the front fender to a relatively low rigidity and setting the rear fender to a relatively high rigidity by changing the angle of the substantially V-shaped valley in the front and rear fender structures will be described. But, for example,
By reducing the thickness of the related members of the front fender and increasing the thickness of the related members of the rear fender, the rigidity of the front fender can be set low and the rigidity of the rear fender can be set high. .

In the above embodiment, the front and rear fender structures have been adopted for the front fender, and the contents have been described. However, the fender structure can be applied to the rear fender.

[0037]

According to the present invention, the following effects are exhibited by the above configuration. In the first aspect, the angle of the valley of the substantially f-shaped cross section of the front fender is set small, and the angle of the valley of the substantially f-shaped cross section of the rear fender is set large. For this reason, the rigidity of the front fender with respect to the downward external force can be set low corresponding to a small obstacle, and the rigidity of the rear fender with respect to the downward external force can be set high corresponding to a large obstacle. As a result, when a small obstacle hits the front fender, the front fender can be sufficiently deformed to reliably absorb the impact on the small obstacle,
Small obstacles can be reliably protected from impact. Further, when a large obstacle hits the rear fender, the rear fender can be sufficiently deformed to reliably absorb the impact on the large obstacle, so that the large obstacle can be reliably protected from the impact.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the angle of the valley of the substantially f-shaped cross section of the front fender is reduced, and the angle of the valley of the substantially f-shaped cross section of the rear fender is set large. For this reason, the rigidity of the front fender with respect to the downward external force can be set low corresponding to a small obstacle, and the rigidity of the rear fender with respect to the downward external force can be set high corresponding to a large obstacle. As a result, when a small obstacle hits the front fender, the front fender can be sufficiently deformed to absorb the impact on the small obstacle, so that the small obstacle can be reliably protected from the impact. Can be. Also, when a big obstacle hits the rear fender,
Since the rear fender can be sufficiently deformed to absorb the impact on a large obstacle, the large obstacle can be reliably protected from the impact.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle body employing a fender structure (first embodiment) according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.

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

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a left fender structure (first embodiment) according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view of a front fender (first embodiment) according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of the rear fender (first embodiment) according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a front fender (second embodiment) according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view of a front fender (second embodiment) according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a rear fender (second embodiment) according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a rear fender (second embodiment) according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a conventional fender structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Body, 2 ... Bonnet, 2a ... Edge, 10, 50
... Fender structure, 11,51 ... Front fender, 12,5
3 ... wheel house, 13, 52 ... upper member, 18
... front extension (extension), 18a ...
Front end, 20, 55: fender outer plate, 21, 56: front upper (upper), 20a, 55a: front end (end), 20
b, 55a: rear end (end), 31, 61: rear fender, 32: rear extension (extension), 32a: front end, 35, 62: rear upper (upper),
(Θ1 + θ2), (θ3 + θ4), (θ5 + θ6),
(Θ7 + θ8) ... The angle of the valley in the substantially rectangular cross section.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An upper part of a fender outer panel is bent downward near a bonnet, extends obliquely downward and laterally outward of the vehicle body, and then is folded back to extend obliquely downward toward the vehicle body. The extension is extended upward from the upper member of the hollow cross-sectional structure to be reinforced, and the extension is bent laterally outward of the vehicle body, and the end of the fender outer plate is connected to the end of the extension, so that the extension and the fender outer plate are connected to each other. The fender structure has a substantially V-shaped cross section. When the fender structure is distinguished into a front part and a rear part, the angle of the valley of the substantially F-shaped cross section is reduced in the front fender, and the substantially F-shaped cross section is formed in the rear fender. Fender structure characterized by increasing the angle of the valley. 2. The upper part of the fender outer panel is bent downward near the bonnet, extended diagonally downward to the side of the vehicle body, then folded back and extended diagonally downward to the vehicle body, and further extended at the end. Is connected to an upper member having a hollow cross-sectional structure that reinforces the wheel house, thereby forming a substantially fender-shaped cross section on the fender outer plate. When the fender structure is divided into a front part and a rear part, the front part A fender structure characterized in that the angle of the valley having a substantially V-shaped cross section is reduced in the fender, and the angle of the valley having a substantially V-shaped cross section is increased in the rear fender.