JPS6144076A - Center pillar coupling structure in automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To secure supporting strength for a center pillar as well as to aim at the extension of an empty space inside a car room, by making the lower part of an outer panel in a center pillar longer in the power part along a side sill surface, while coupling the extension end with a lower end of the side sill. CONSTITUTION:A center pillar 12 in a 4-door hard top car is formed into a closed sectional structure by each of outer and inner panels 12a and 12b, and the lower part is coupled with a side sill 4. In this case, a lower part of the outer panel 12a is extended up to the lower part in making it go along the surface of a side sill outer 4a, and a flange 13 formed in bend in the extension end is superposed on the surface of a lower end joining flange part 9 of the side sill 4 and welded together. With this constitution, a coupling part of the outer panel 12a is formed in a double structure with the panel 12a and the side sill outer 14a. Therefore, rigidity in the side sill itself in the coupling part is heightened, thus the sectional form is securable.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a center pillar coupling structure for an automobile, and particularly to a lower coupling structure for a center pillar in a four-door hardtop vehicle.

In this type of vehicle, as shown in FIG. 10, in order to improve the feeling of openness above the side door 1, the upper end of the center pillar 2 is set at approximately the same height as the waist line 3 of the side door 1. In hardtop vehicles, the center pillar 2 is supported only at its lower end, so it is possible to cope with input from the side door 1 by making the connection strength greater than that of a general center pillar. ing.

[Prior art]

Conventionally, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, this type of joint structure has conventionally been such that the center pillar 2 is formed into a closed cross-section structure by a pillar outer panel 2a and a pillar inner panel 2b, and the lower part of the center pillar 2 is When connecting the pillar outer panel 2a to the side sill 4 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at the lower position of the side door 1, the lower part of the pillar outer panel 2a is welded to the upper part 5 of the side sill outer 4a, and the lower part of the pillar inner panel 2b is attached to the inside of the vehicle. By forming a large overhanging place part 6 and welding its lower end to the floor panel 7, the supporting strength is increased and the tension of this place part 6 prevents the place part 6 from falling toward the inside of the vehicle as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. was prevented.

The side sill 4 is formed into a closed cross section by joining the side sill outer 4a and the side sill inner 4b with respective flanges 8.9 at the upper and lower ends, and a reinforcement 10 is provided inside the side sill 4. 55-271
(See No. 57).

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in such a conventional pillar coupling structure, the amount of protrusion 1 of the place part 6 provided on the pillar inner panel 2b toward the inside of the vehicle interior increases, so the interior space of the vehicle interior is narrowed accordingly. In addition to the problem of lowering the interior comfort of the vehicle, there was a risk that the quality of the exterior appearance of the interior of the vehicle would be impaired.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides a center pillar coupling structure for an automobile that can expand the interior space of a vehicle without reducing the support strength of the pillar. A center pillar connection for an automobile, characterized in that the center pillar has a closed cross-section structure, the lower part of the pillar outer panel extends downward along the surface of the side sill outer, and the extended end is connected to the lower end of the side sill. Made by structure.

[Effect]

The center pillar joint structure according to the present invention has a double structure of the side sill outer and the pillar 7 outer panel that covers the surface of the side sill, thereby increasing the rigidity of the side sill itself at that part.
By preventing the side sills from deforming due to external forces applied to the center pillar, the supporting strength of the center pillar can be ensured as a result.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the accompanying drawings.

In the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3,
Center pillar-12 is the same pillar outer panel + as before.
2a and the pillar inner panel 12b are formed into a closed cross-sectional structure, and the lower end thereof is joined to the side sill 4. In this embodiment, the lower part of the pillar outer panel +2a is extended downward along the surface of the side sill outer 4a, In addition to overlapping and welding the flange 13 bent at the extended end on the surface of the lower end joining flange portion 8 of the side sill 4, the side sill outer 4a and reinforcement 10 together. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the side sill outer 4a is recessed at the overlapping portion with the pillar outer panel 12a with respect to the general surface 14, and the bent step 15 and the side end 1 of the pillar outer panel 12a are recessed.
6 are welded together. In this case, the pillar outer panel 12a may be directly overlaid and welded to the recess 21 of the side sill outer 4a as shown in FIG. A place part 17 is formed that overhangs the floor panel 7, and the lower end of the place part 17 is welded to the floor panel 7.
7, the amount of protrusion 2 toward the inside of the vehicle is smaller than the conventional amount of protrusion 1.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the connecting portion of the pillar outer panel +2a is connected to the side sill outer 4a.

Since the side sill 4 has a double structure with the pillar outer panel +2a placed over its surface, the rigidity of the side sill 4 itself in this area is increased, and its cross-sectional shape can be secured. Therefore, for example, when the door is closed, the side sill 4 can be prevented from twisting and deforming due to external force applied to the center pillar 12, and as a result, the supporting strength of the center pillar 12 is ensured, and the center pillar 12 is moved toward the inside of the vehicle. Fall down or
Moreover, the side door l does not vibrate as a result. Further, according to this embodiment, since sufficient support strength for the center pillar 12 can be ensured on the pillar outer panel 12a side, the place portion 1 of the pillar inner panel 12b
The amount of protrusion 2 required in 7 is reduced, which makes the interior of the vehicle wider and improves comfort.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the lower part of the pillar outer panel 12a is extended along the surface of the side sill outer 4a, and a flange 13 is formed at the extended end, similar to the above embodiment. is joined to the lower end flange part 8 of the side sill 4. However, in this embodiment, the cross-sectional structure of the side sill 4 is different from the above embodiment, and the side sill outer 4a extends to the upper part 5 and is welded to the reinforcement lO. In addition, a reinforcement 10 extends above it, and its upper end is welded to the side sill inner 4b to form the side sill 4. The pillar outer panel 12a is welded to the upper part 5 of this side sill outer 4a together with the reinforcement lO. Incidentally, the horizontal section at the joint portion is the same as that of the above embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Therefore, also in this embodiment, the pillar outer panel +2
Since the lower extension part of a and the side sill outer 4a form a double panel structure, the cross-sectional shape of the side sill 4 can be secured, and the supporting strength of the center pillar 12 can be maintained. panel +2b
The number of overhangs 2 of the place portion 17 can be reduced as in the above embodiment.

6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the lower end of the side sill outer 4a is cut out at the lower end joint portion of the center pillar 12, and this cutout 18
The lower part of the pillar outer panel 12a formed in substantially the same shape as the side sill outer 4d is extended, and the flange I3 formed at the extended end and the vicinity of its upper part are welded to the reinforcement 10. Pillar outer panel + 2a also on the upper part 5 of the outer 4a
It is welded. Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the side end portion 19 of the cutout portion 18 is recessed with respect to the negative surface 14, and the side end portion 19 of the pillar inner panel 12a is provided with a recessed stepped portion 20. The portions 16 are overlapped to provide a gap between the two panels, or the pillar outer panel +2a is overlapped and welded to the entire concave stepped portion. Incidentally, the protrusion amount intersection 2 of the place portion 17 is approximately the same as in the above embodiment.

Therefore, also in this embodiment, the pillar outer panel 1
Since the lower extension part 2a has a double structure with the side sill outer 4a at its side end 16, the cross-sectional shape of the side sill 4 can be maintained as in the above embodiment.
As a result, support for the center pillar 12 is ensured.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the coupling structure of the center pillar according to the present invention, the support strength of the center pillar can be ensured by the double structure of the side sill outer and the pillar outer panel covered on the surface of the side sill outer, so that the pillar It is possible to reduce the amount of protrusion of the inner panel into the vehicle interior, thereby increasing the interior space of the vehicle and improving comfort, as well as improving the quality of the exterior.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the center pillar coupling structure according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line H-II in FIG.
3 is a sectional view taken along the line ■-m in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the same part as FIG. 3 showing another coupling means, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the same part as the figure, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the center pillar showing the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in Figure 6, and the figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in Figure 6.
8 is a cross-sectional view of the same part as FIG. 8 showing another coupling means, FIG. 10 is a side view of a pillarless hardtop vehicle, and FIG. 11 is a coupling part showing a conventional center pillar coupling structure. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ``--'' in FIG. 11. 2.12... Center pillar 2a, 12a... Pillar outer panel 2b, 12b.
...Pillar inner panel 4...Side sill 4a...Side sill outer Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Fig. 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] The pillar outer panel and the pillar inner panel form a center pillar with a closed cross-section structure, and the lower part of the pillar outer panel extends downward along the surface of the side sill outer, and the extended end is connected to the lower end of the side sill. Features: Automotive center pillar connection structure.