JP3275751B2 - Undercar front pillar structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a lower structure of a front pillar of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 6 to 9 show a lower structure of a front pillar of a conventional automobile, wherein 1 is a front pillar constituting a vertical frame member at a front portion of a vehicle body, and 2 is a front frame member at a floor side. The side sills are shown, and the front pillar outer 3 and the side sill outer 4 are integrally press-formed.

An extension 5 is formed at the front end of the side sill outer 4 so as to protrude forward from the lower part 3A of the front pillar outer 3 and to close the front end in a bag-like shape substantially on the extension of the side wall and the bottom wall. is there.

The upper portion of the extending portion 5 rises substantially vertically, and its upper edge is continuous with the flange 3a at the front edge of the lower portion 3A of the front pillar outer 3, and is flush with the flange 3a. 5a, these flanges 3
a, 5a joined to the dash side panel 6,
The outside is separated.

The side sill inner 7 is formed to have a length corresponding to the length of the side sill outer 4 including the extending portion 5, and the upper and lower edge flanges 7a and 7b are connected to the upper edge flange 4a and the upper edge flange 4a. It joined to the flange 4b of the lower edge which went around to the front edge of the extension part 5, and the flange 7C of the front edge of the side sill inner 7 went around the front edge side of the flange 4b of the lower edge of the side sill outer 4. A closed cross-section 8 in the front-rear direction is formed by joining to the portion.

The lower part 9A of the front pillar inner 9 is
The lower edge is joined to the upper edge flange 7a of the side sill inner 7, the flange 10a of the front wall 10 is joined to the front edge flange 3a of the lower portion 3A of the front pillar outer 3, and the rear edge flange 9a is joined to the front pillar outer. 3 is joined to the flange 3b on the rear wall side edge of the lower portion 3A to form a closed section 11 in the vertical direction.

The upper part 3B of the front pillar outer 3 is joined to an upper part (not shown) formed separately from the lower part 9A of the front pillar inner 9.

The lower part of the front pillar outer 3, that is,
The door hinge brace 12 is joined to the lower portion 3A along the inside thereof.

The door hinge brace 12 is formed in an inverted T-shape by forming an extended portion 13 at the lower end thereof into the closed cross section 8 of the side sill 2 and extending in the front-rear direction.

In the door hinge brace 12, the side edge flange 14a of the rear wall 14 is joined between the front pillar outer 3 and the flanges 3b, 9a of the lower portions 3A, 9A of the front pillar inner 9, and the front wall 15 is joined. Is overlapped on the inner surface of the front wall 10 of the lower portion 9A, and the peripheral flange 13a of the extension portion 13 is connected to the upper and lower edge flanges 4a and 4b of the side sill outer 4 and the upper and lower edge flanges 7a and 7b of the side sill inner 7. To form a second closed cross-section 16 connected to the closed cross-section 11 of the front pillar 1 in the closed cross-section 8 of the side sill 2.

[0011]

As described above, the portion of the side sill 2 where the front pillar 1 is connected is provided within the closed cross section 8 of the side sill 2 with the extension 13 of the door hinge brace 12 and the side sill inner 7. Since the second closed cross-section 16 is formed, the strength and rigidity of the continuous portion can be enhanced, but the front end portion of the side sill 2, that is, the upper portion of the extension portion 5 of the side sill outer 4, is formed. Since the opening 17 is formed apart from the side sill inner 7, it is undeniable that the front end portion of the side sill 2 is disadvantageous in strength.

When the opening 17 is formed above the front end portion of the side sill 2, the dash side panel 6 is connected to the front edge flange 3a of the lower portion 3A of the front pillar outer 3 and the side sill 2 as described above. Since the opening 17 is joined to the flange 5a of the extension portion 5 of the outer 4 and the opening 17 opens toward the vehicle interior, the chipping sound hitting the side sill 2 reverberates from the opening 17 into the vehicle interior.

Further, when water stays in the closed section 8 of the side sill 2, the water moves to the front end of the side sill 2 due to inertia at the time of braking of the vehicle, etc. As shown by an arrow a in FIG. 6, there is a possibility that the vehicle enters the vehicle interior, or flows into the closed cross section 11 of the front pillar 1 and enters the vehicle interior through the working hole 18.

Therefore, the present invention can further increase the strength and rigidity of the connecting portion between the front pillar and the side sill, and can reliably prevent chipping noise and water from entering the vehicle interior from the front end of the side sill. It is intended to provide a lower structure of a front pillar of an automobile that can be used.

[0015]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the front pillar outer and the side sill outer are integrally formed, and the side sill outer is extended forward of the front pillar outer on a substantially extended side wall and a bottom wall. Forming an extended portion that protrudes and closes the front end in a bag-like shape, while extending into the closed cross section of the side sill at the lower end of the door hinge brace disposed along the inside of the lower portion of the front pillar outer and extending in the front-rear direction An extended portion is formed, and a peripheral flange of the extended portion is sandwiched between upper and lower edge flanges of the side sill inner and the side sill outer, and is joined to the closed cross section of the front pillar within the closed cross section of the side sill. In the structure in which the second closed cross-section portion is formed, the partition member is disposed substantially horizontally in the front-rear direction through the front wall of the second closed cross-section portion. An opening formed between the upper side of the extension of the dosill outer and the upper side of the front end of the side sill inner is closed, and the second closed section and the closed section of the front pillar are separated. I have.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the partition wall member according to the first aspect, flanges are formed by bending both sides and a front edge in a vertical direction, and these flanges are formed on an upper edge flange of the side sill inner. At the same time, the side sill outer is joined from the inner surface of the front end wall and the side wall of the extended portion to the inner surface of the side wall of the extended portion of the lower end of the door hinge brace, and the rear end of the partition member is attached to the lower end of the door hinge brace. It is characterized by being joined to the inner surface of the upper wall on the rear side of the extension.

[0017]

According to the first aspect, the opening formed between the upper side of the extension of the side sill outer and the upper side of the front end of the side sill inner is closed by the partition member, and the door hinge brace extends. A second closed section formed in the closed section of the side sill by the portion and the side sill inner, and a closed section of the front pillar are separated by the partition member, and the partition member is formed by the second closed section. Since it exists as a reinforcing rib in the horizontal direction between the front pillar and the closed cross section of the front pillar, the strength and rigidity of the continuous portion between the front pillar and the side sill can be further improved.

Further, since the upper opening at the front end of the side sill is closed by the partition member, chipping noise generated by hitting the side sill enters the vehicle interior through the opening, and water staying in the side sill is removed by the opening. Thus, it is possible to prevent the vehicle from entering the passenger compartment from the inside.

Further, since the partition member separates the second closed section and the closed section of the front pillar, the water staying in the side sill moves and the closed section of the front pillar is moved in the same manner as described above. It is possible to prevent the vehicle from passing through the vehicle and entering the vehicle interior.

According to the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the rear end of the partition member is joined to the inner surface of the upper wall on the rear side of the extension of the lower end of the door hinge brace, so that the partition member has When the vehicle is collided with the side sill outer, the side sill inner and the door hinge brace through the vertically bent flange, the flange can be positioned easily in the vertical direction at the time of joining. Since the impact load is received in the shearing direction which is advantageous in strength at the joint portion of the above, the partition wall member serves as a stiffener to suppress deformation of not only the front end portion of the side sill but also the continuous portion of the side sill and the front pillar. be able to.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals are assigned to the same parts as in the above-mentioned conventional configuration.

In FIGS. 1 to 5, a front pillar outer 3 of a front pillar 1 and a side sill outer 4 of a side sill 2 are integrally press-formed, and a front end of the side sill outer 4 has substantially side walls and a bottom wall. On the extension, an extended portion 5 is formed which projects forward from the lower portion 3A of the front pillar outer 3 and has a front end closed in a bag shape.

The upper portion of the extension portion 5 rises substantially vertically, and its upper edge is continuous with the flange 3a at the front edge of the lower portion 3A of the front pillar outer 3, and is flush with the flange 3a. 5a, these flanges 3
a, 5a joined to the dash side panel 6,
The outside is separated.

The side sill inner 7 is formed to have a length corresponding to the length of the side sill outer 4 including the extended portion 5, and the upper and lower edge flanges 7a and 7b are connected to the upper edge flange 4a and the upper edge flange 4a. It joined to the flange 4b of the lower edge which went around to the front edge of the extension part 5, and the flange 7c of the front edge of the side sill inner 7 went around the front edge side of the flange 4b of the lower edge of the side sill outer 4. A closed cross-section 8 in the front-rear direction is formed by joining to the portion.

The lower part 9A of the front pillar inner 9 is
The lower edge is joined to the upper edge flange 7a of the side sill inner 7, the flange 10a of the front wall 10 is joined to the front edge flange 3a of the lower portion 3A of the front pillar outer 3, and the rear edge flange 9a is joined to the front pillar outer. 3 is joined to the flange 3b on the rear wall side edge of the lower portion 3A to form a closed section 11 in the vertical direction.

The upper part 3B of the front pillar outer 3 is joined to an upper part (not shown) formed separately from the lower part 9A of the front pillar inner 9.

The lower portion of the front pillar outer 3, that is,
The door hinge brace 20 is joined to the lower portion 3A along the inside thereof.

The door hinge brace 20 is formed at its lower end with an extension 21 extending into the closed section 8 of the side sill 2 and extending in the front-rear direction.

In this embodiment, the door hinge brace 20
Is formed on the extension of the front end wall of the extension portion 21 so as to widen the side wall 23 of the door hinge brace 20, and the door hinge brace 20 is formed in a substantially L-shaped side surface.

In the door hinge brace 20, the side edge flange 24a of the rear wall 24 is sandwiched between the front pillar outer 3 and the rear edge flanges 3b, 9a of the lower portions 3A, 9A of the front pillar inner 9, and joined together. Front wall 2
2 is the flange 10 of the front wall 10 of the front pillar inner 9
a, and the front edge of the side wall 23 is
a and a front flange 3a of the front pillar outer 3 and are joined together.
1a, upper and lower edge flanges 4a, 4 of side sill outer 4
b, upper and lower edge flanges 7a, 7b of the side sill inner 7
To form a second closed cross-section 16 connected to the closed cross-section 11 of the front pillar 1 in the closed cross-section 8 of the side sill 2.

A notch 21b is formed in the front end wall of the extension 21. A partition member 25 is disposed substantially horizontally through the notch 21b. The opening 17 formed between the upper side of the front end portion of the inner 7 is closed, and the second closed section 16 and the closed section 11 of the front pillar 1 are separated from each other.

The partition wall member 25 has a flange 26 bent upward on one side edge, and flanges 27 and 28 bent downward on the other side edge and the front edge. The side sill inner 7 is joined to the upper edge flange 7a, the flange 28 is joined to the inner surface of the front end wall of the extending portion 5 of the side sill outer 4, and the flange 27 is joined to the door hinge brace 2 from the inner surface of the side wall of the extending portion 5.
The extending portion 21 is joined to the inner surface of the side wall, and the rear end of the partition member 25 is joined to the inner surface of the upper wall on the rear side of the extending portion 21.

In this embodiment, a recess 29 is formed at the side edge of the front part of the partition wall member 25 to avoid interference with the toe of the notch 21b. The recess 29 may be unnecessary by being formed around the side wall.

According to the structure of the above embodiment, the upper portion of the extension 5 of the side sill outer 4 is formed substantially vertically in relation to the peripheral panel layout, and the flange 5 at the upper edge thereof is formed.
Since the dash side panel 6 is joined to the upper side a, the upper part of the extension part 5 and the upper part of the front end of the side sill inner 7 are separated from each other to form an opening 17. Is closed by a partition member 25, a second closed section 16 formed in the closed section 8 of the side sill 2 by the extension 21 of the door hinge brace 20 and the side sill inner 7, and a front pillar 1 is closed. Since the section 11 is separated by the partition member 25, and the partition member 25 exists as a horizontal reinforcing rib between the second closed section 16 and the closed section 11 of the front pillar 1, The strength and rigidity of the continuous portion between the front pillar 1 and the side sill 2 can be further improved.

Further, as described above, since the opening 17 above the front end of the side sill 2 is closed by the partition wall member 25, the chipping noise generated by hitting the side sill 2 may enter the vehicle interior through the opening 17. Alternatively, the water retained in the side sill 2 during the braking of the vehicle can be reliably prevented from moving forward due to inertia and entering the vehicle interior through the opening 17 to provide a sense of quality and reliability. Performance can be improved.

Further, the extension 2 of the door hinge brace 20
The first peripheral flange 21a is sandwiched between upper and lower edge flanges 4a and 4b of the side sill outer 4 and upper and lower edge flanges 7a and 7b of the side sill inner 7, and the second closed cross section 16 described above is formed. Before and after the extension,
The water remaining in the closed section 8 of the side sill inner 2 is in communication with the closed section 8 of the side sill 2 through the gap between the side sill inner 7 and the second closed section 16. Although the second closed section 16 and the closed section 11 of the front pillar 1 are vertically separated by the partition member 25, the second section 16 and the second section 16 are separated from each other when the vehicle is braked. It can be prevented from flowing into the closed cross-section 11 of the front pillar 1 and entering the vehicle interior through the working hole 18, and the quality and reliability can be further improved.

On the other hand, since the rear end of the partition member 25 is joined to the inner surface of the rear upper wall of the extending portion 21 of the door hinge brace 20, the partition member 25 can be positioned vertically when the partition member 25 is joined. Thus, the joining operation can be easily performed.

Further, since the partition wall member 25 is joined to the side sill outer 4, the side sill inner 7 and the door hinge brace 20 via flanges 26, 27 and 28 which are bent in the vertical direction, these flanges 26 are provided at the time of collision of the vehicle. , 27 and 28 receive a collision load in a shear direction which is advantageous in strength, so that the partition wall member 25 serves as a projecting member, so that not only the front end of the side sill 2 but also the side sill 2 and the front pillar 1 are connected. The deformation of the provided portion can be suppressed to a small value.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of a main part of the embodiment in a cutaway manner.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a conventional structure.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional structure.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Front pillar 2 Side sill 3 Front pillar outer 4 Side sill outer 4a, 4b Upper and lower edge flange 5 Side sill outer extension part 7 Side sill inner 7a, 7b Upper and lower edge flange 8 Side sill closed section 9 Front pillar inner 11 Closed section of front pillar Part 16 Second closed section 17 Opening 20 Door hinge brace 21 Extension part of door hinge brace 21a Peripheral flange 25 Partition member 26, 27, 28 Flange

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B62D 25/04 B62D 25/20

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An extension part in which a front pillar outer and a side sill outer are integrally formed, and the side sill outer projects forward from the front pillar outer on a substantially extension of a side wall and a bottom wall and a front end is closed in a bag shape. On the other hand, at the lower end of the door hinge brace disposed along the inside of the lower portion of the front pillar outer, an extended portion extending in the closed cross section of the side sill and extending in the front-rear direction is formed. A structure in which the peripheral flange of the set portion is sandwiched between the upper and lower edge flanges of the side sill inner and the side sill outer to form a second closed cross section connected to the front pillar closed cross section in the closed cross section of the side sill. , A partition member is disposed substantially horizontally in the front-rear direction through the front wall of the second closed cross-section, and the partition member is provided on the upper side and the side of the extension of the side sill outer. A lower front pillar structure for an automobile, wherein an opening formed between the upper front end of the sill inner is closed and a second closed cross section is separated from a closed cross section of the front pillar. 2. The partition wall member is formed by bending flanges on both side edges and a front edge thereof in a vertical direction, and these flanges are joined to an upper edge flange of the side sill inner, and a front end wall of an extended portion of the side sill outer. From the inner surface of the side wall to the inner surface of the side wall of the extended portion at the lower end of the door hinge brace, and the rear end of the partition member is joined to the inner surface of the upper wall behind the extended portion of the lower end of the door hinge brace. The lower structure of a front pillar of an automobile according to claim 1, wherein: