JP4147638B2 - Vehicle body structure - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement in a vehicle body structure of a vehicle, and more particularly to a countermeasure against a collision of a front pillar.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to secure a large cabin in the vehicle with the same dimensional length and width, the front part of the cabin is positioned in front of the vehicle body from the dash panel. In this case, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-38047, the front end portion of the roof side rail that inclines forward and downward toward the front of the vehicle body, the front pillar upper end portion that extends in the vertical direction, and the vehicle body longitudinal direction. A triangular space is formed between these three by connecting the extending wheel apron reinforcement. If this space is closed with a panel, the field of view on the side of the vehicle body deteriorates. Therefore, it is a common practice to use a window glass as a triangular window by fitting it in place.
[0003]
In addition, when a front door is mounted between the front pillar and the center pillar at the rear of the vehicle body and the front pillar has a triangular window as described above, the lower part of the front pillar triangular window is used as a hinge pillar portion. A front door is pivotally attached to the part so that it can be opened and closed.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when the vehicle collides, the collision load is applied to the wheel apron reinforcement, and the wheel apron reinforcement moves backward. If the wheel apron reinforcement and the front pillar are connected as in the above publication example, there is a concern that the front pillar is pushed back by the wheel apron reinforcement when the collision load is large. For this reason, it is necessary to take measures such as providing an impact absorbing portion of the vehicle at the front portion of the vehicle.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the object of the present invention is to prevent the front pillar from undergoing backward deformation so that the impact of the collision load applied to the wheel apron reinforcement during the collision does not act strongly on the front pillar. It is to prevent.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the relationship between the connection portion of the wheel apron reinforcement and the front pillar is devised.
[0007]
Specifically, the present invention is based on the vehicle body structure of a vehicle having a triangular window at the front pillar front portion extending in the vertical direction on the side of the vehicle body and having a door opening behind the triangular window. A solution was taken.
[0008]
That is, in the first aspect of the present invention, the lower rear portion of the front pillar of the triangular window is configured as a hinge pillar portion on which the front door is pivotably mounted. Furthermore, the front side portion corresponding to the upper end of the hinge pillar portion of the front pillar and the rear end of the wheel apron reinforcement extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body in front of the front pillar are made weaker in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body than the hinge pillar portion. A dash panel extending to the vehicle width direction center side is fixed to the front side portion corresponding to the upper end of the hinge pillar portion while being connected at the strength weakening portion . Further, the wheel apron reinforcement in front of the dash panel is formed with a folding region for bending the wheel apron reinforcement inward by a collision load .
[0009]
With the above configuration, in the first aspect of the invention, when the vehicle collides and the wheel apron reinforcement moves backward, the strength in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body connected to the rear end thereof is weaker than that of the hinge pillar portion. The above-described collision load is applied to the weakened strength portion, and the portion is deformed to withstand the collision load, and the collision energy is absorbed and relaxed by this deformation.
[0010]
Therefore, even if a large collision load is applied to the wheel apron reinforcement, the impact of the collision load does not act strongly on the upper end (upper part of the hinge pillar part) below the triangular window of the front pillar, and the hinge pillar part moves backward. Even if the vehicle is retreated, the amount of retreat is very small, so that the situation where the door does not open is resolved and the occupant can escape.
[0011]
Furthermore, compared to the case where the wheel apron reinforcement is bent inward by the collision load in the bending region provided at the connection portion between the rear end of the wheel apron reinforcement and the front end of the pillar inner upper panel, and thus retracts straight. The amount of retraction is reduced, and the impact of the collision load on the hinge pillar is further reduced.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a cowl panel extending to the vehicle width direction center side in front of the dash panel is fixed to the front portion corresponding to the upper end of the hinge pillar portion. Further, the folding region is formed in the vicinity of the connection portion between the cowl panel and the wheel apron reinforcement.
[0013]
With the configuration described above, in the invention described in claim 2, since the bent region is formed in the vicinity of the connection portion between the cowl panel and the wheel apron reinforcement, the bent region is more easily bent.
[0014]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the above premise, the rear rear portion of the front pillar of the triangular window is configured as a hinge pillar portion on which the front door is pivotably mounted. Further, a front portion corresponding to the upper end of the hinge pillar portion of the front pillar and a rear end of a wheel apron reinforcement extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body in front of the front pillar are connected to the front portion corresponding to the upper end of the hinge pillar portion. Fix the dash panel that extends toward the center of the direction. Further, the wheel apron reinforcement in front of the dash panel is formed with a folding region for bending the wheel apron reinforcement inward by a collision load.
[0015]
With the configuration described above, the invention described in claim 3 can achieve the same effects as those of claim 1.
[0016]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, based on the above premise , the rear rear portion of the front pillar of the triangular window is configured as a hinge pillar portion on which the front door is pivotably mounted. Furthermore, the front side portion corresponding to the upper end of the hinge pillar portion of the front pillar and the rear end of the wheel apron reinforcement extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body in front of the front pillar are made weaker in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body than the hinge pillar portion. Connect at the weakened part. The front pillar is composed of a front pillar outer panel and a front pillar inner panel. Further, the front pillar inner panel is constituted by an upper pillar inner upper panel and a lower hinge pillar reinforcement. Also, connecting each front end of the front pillar outer panel and the pillar inner upper panel to the wheel apron reinforcement rear. In addition, the strength weakening portion in which the strength in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body is weakened is configured by providing a gap between the rear end of the wheel apron reinforcement and the front end of the hinge pillar reinforcement.
[0017]
With the configuration described above, the invention according to claim 4 can achieve the effects of the weakened portion of claim 1. Further, the configuration of the strength weakening portion in which the strength in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body is weakened is embodied. That is, the front end portions of the front pillar outer panel and the pillar inner upper panel are deformed by the collision load.
[0018]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fourth aspect , a folding region in which the wheel apron reinforcement is bent inward by a collision load is formed between the rear end of the wheel apron reinforcement and the front end of the pillar inner upper panel. It is provided in the connection part.
[0019]
According to the above configuration, in the invention described in claim 5 , the wheel apron reinforcement is moved inward by the collision load in the bending region provided at the connection portion between the rear end of the wheel apron reinforcement and the front end of the pillar inner upper panel. The amount of retraction is reduced as compared with the case of being bent and thus retreating straight, and the influence of the collision load on the hinge pillar is further reduced.
[0020]
The invention described in claim 6 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 5 , the folding region is inclined outward in the vehicle width direction as it goes rearward of the vehicle body.
[0021]
With the above configuration, in the invention according to the sixth aspect , the configuration of the bent region is realized. That is, the wheel apron reinforcement is reliably bent inward by the collision load.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0023]
1 to 4 show a vehicle body structure of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein 1 is a front pillar extending in the vertical direction at the side of the vehicle body, 2 is a front and rear of the vehicle body in front of the front pillar 1 and at the side of the engine room A wheel apron reinforcement that extends in the direction.
[0024]
The front pillar 1 has a triangular window 3 for securing a field of view on the side of the vehicle body on the front side, and a rear side of the triangular window 3 is a door opening. The rear rear portion of the front pillar 1 below the triangular window 3 is configured as a hinge pillar portion H to which a front door (not shown) is pivotably attached. The front pillar 1 is composed of a front pillar outer panel 4 and a front pillar inner panel 5 inside thereof. The front pillar inner panel 5 includes an upper pillar inner upper panel 6 and a lower hinge pillar reinforcement. Ment 7. Among these three, the front pillar outer panel 4 and the pillar inner upper panel 6 have a front end portion extending forward of the vehicle body and provided with front extension portions 4a and 6a at the upper end, whereas a hinge pillar reinforcement 7 There is no such extension, and the front pillar outer panel 4 and the pillar inner upper panel 6 are shorter than the front pillar outer panel 4 and the pillar inner upper panel 6 as much as there is no extension.
[0025]
The wheel apron reinforcement 2 is configured by connecting an upper frame 8 and a lower frame 9 made of channel steel material in a vertically stacked manner, and of these, a connecting piece 8a is provided on the inner side of the rear end of the upper frame 8. Is extended to the rear of the car body.
[0026]
The front end of the front extension 4a of the front pillar outer panel 4 is connected to the rear ends of the upper frame 8 and the lower frame 9 of the wheel apron reinforcement 2 by a connection plate 10, and the front of the pillar inner upper panel 6 is forwarded. The front end of the extending portion 6a is connected to a connection piece 8a that is the rear end of the upper frame 8 of the wheel apron reinforcement 2. In this connected state, panels such as the dash upper panel 11, the cowl front 12, the cowl panel 13, and the cowl side 14 are assembled to the connection parts of the two.
[0027]
Further, as described above, the front end of the wheel apron reinforcement 2 and the hinge pillar reinforcement in the state where the front ends of the front pillar outer panel 4 and the pillar inner upper panel 6 are connected to the rear end of the wheel apron reinforcement 2. 7 A gap C is formed between the front end. This interval C is formed by the forward extension portions 4a, 6a such as the front pillar outer panel 4 and the pillar inner upper panel 6 not being provided in the hinge pillar reinforcement 7 and being shortened accordingly. is there. The distance C forms a strength weakening portion in which the strength in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body is weaker than the hinge pillar portion H of the portion where the hinge pillar reinforcement 7 is present.
[0028]
As described above, since the gap C is formed between the rear end of the wheel apron reinforcement 2 and the front end of the hinge pillar reinforcement 7, the portion deformed by the collision load of the vehicle is the hinge pillar reinforcement 7. Is the above-mentioned interval C portion in which the strength is weakened only by the front extension portions 4a and 6a of the front pillar outer panel 4 and the pillar inner upper panel 6, and thus the wheel apron that moves backward due to the collision of the vehicle. The collision energy of the reinforcement 2 can be absorbed and relaxed by deforming the portion of the collision load of the reinforcement 2.
[0029]
As a result, even if a large collision load is applied to the wheel apron reinforcement 2, the influence of the collision load is attenuated and transmitted to the hinge pillar portion H that is behind the interval C portion (the front extension portions 4a and 6a). The front pillar 1 can be prevented from moving backward. In addition, even if the vehicle is retreated, the amount of retreat can be made extremely small, and the situation where the front door is sandwiched between the front pillar 1 and the center pillar and cannot be opened can be eliminated. Can be possible.
[0030]
Further, the connecting portion between the connecting piece 8a, which is the rear end of the upper frame 8 of the wheel apron reinforcement 2, and the front end of the pillar inner upper panel 6 is inclined outward in the vehicle width direction toward the rear of the vehicle body. A bending region 15 is formed, and the wheel apron reinforcement 2 is bent inward as shown by an arrow A in FIG.
[0031]
In other words, the collision load can be applied to the inside of the vehicle body by inclining the folding region 15 toward the vehicle width direction outside as it goes rearward of the vehicle body, thereby ensuring that the wheel apron reinforcement 2 is secured by the collision load. The amount of retraction can be reduced as compared with the case where it is bent inwardly and retreats straight, and the influence of the collision load on the hinge pillar portion H can be further reduced.
[0032]
In more detail, in the above description, as shown in FIG. 5, the connection member 15 that connects the rear upper surface of the upper frame 8 of the wheel apron reinforcement 2 and the front extension 4a, and the upper frame 8 A connecting member 16 that connects the lower portion and the front extending portion 4a can be provided. A gusset plate 17 may be provided on the inner rear side surface of the upper frame 8.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the front side portion corresponding to the upper end of the hinge pillar portion of the front pillar and the rear end of the wheel apron reinforcement extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body in front thereof have a strength in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. part Ri connected by the strength weakened portion becomes weaker than, or the front portion corresponding to the hinge pillar top end, a dash panel extending toward the center of the vehicle width direction is fixed, the front side of the from the dash panel A folding region was formed in the wheel apron reinforcement to bend the wheel apron reinforcement inward by a collision load. Therefore , the impact- weakening part that deforms the above-mentioned strength by the collision load acting on the wheel apron reinforcement due to the collision of the vehicle is deformed to absorb and relax the collision energy so as not to adversely affect the opening and closing of the front door. The influence of collision energy on the front pillar portion can be reduced as much as possible. Also, compared to the case where the wheel apron reinforcement is bent inward by the collision load in the bending area provided at the connection part between the rear end of the wheel apron reinforcement and the front end of the pillar inner upper panel, thereby making it recede straightly. Thus, the retraction amount can be reduced, and the influence of the collision load on the hinge pillar can be further reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II of FIG.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the vehicle body structure according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front left side.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the vehicle body structure according to the embodiment of the present invention as seen from the front right side.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a detailed vehicle body structure corresponding to FIG. 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Front pillar 2 Wheel apron reinforcement 3 Triangular window 4 Front pillar outer panel 4a, 6a Front extension part 5 Front pillar inner panel 6 Pillar inner upper panel 7 Hinge pillar reinforcement 15 Bending area C Clearance (vehicle body front-back direction) The strength- weakening part so that the strength of
H Hinge pillar

Claims (6)

A vehicle body structure of a vehicle having a triangular window at the front pillar front portion extending in the vertical direction on the side of the vehicle body and having a door opening behind the triangular window,
The lower rear portion of the triangular front window of the front pillar is configured as a hinge pillar portion on which the front door is pivotally mounted so as to be freely opened and closed.
The front side portion of the front pillar corresponding to the upper end of the hinge pillar portion and the rear end of the wheel apron reinforcement extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body in front of the front pillar are weakened so that the strength in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body is weaker than that of the hinge pillar portion. A dash panel extending to the vehicle width direction center side is fixed to the front side portion corresponding to the upper end of the hinge pillar portion, and connected to the upper portion of the hinge pillar portion.
A vehicle body structure for a vehicle, wherein the wheel apron reinforcement on the front side of the dash panel is formed with a folding region for bending the wheel apron reinforcement inward by a collision load . The vehicle body structure according to claim 1,
A cowl panel is fixed to the front side portion corresponding to the upper end of the hinge pillar portion, extending from the dash panel to the center side in the vehicle width direction,
A vehicle body structure for a vehicle, wherein the folding region is formed in the vicinity of a connection portion between the cowl panel and the wheel apron reinforcement. A vehicle body structure of a vehicle having a triangular window at the front pillar front portion extending in the vertical direction on the side of the vehicle body and having a door opening behind the triangular window,
  The lower rear portion of the front pillar of the triangular window is configured as a hinge pillar portion on which the front door is pivotally mounted so as to be freely opened and closed.
  A front side portion corresponding to the upper end of the hinge pillar portion of the front pillar is connected to a rear end of a wheel apron reinforcement extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body in front of the front pillar, and a front portion corresponding to the upper end of the hinge pillar portion is connected to a vehicle. The dash panel extending to the center in the width direction is fixed,
  A vehicle body structure for a vehicle, wherein the wheel apron reinforcement on the front side of the dash panel is formed with a folding region for bending the wheel apron reinforcement inward by a collision load. A vehicle body structure of a vehicle having a triangular window at the front pillar front portion extending in the vertical direction on the side of the vehicle body and having a door opening behind the triangular window,
The lower rear portion of the triangular front window of the front pillar is configured as a hinge pillar portion on which the front door is pivotally mounted so as to be freely opened and closed.
The front side portion of the front pillar corresponding to the upper end of the hinge pillar portion and the rear end of the wheel apron reinforcement extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body in front of the front pillar are weakened so that the strength in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body is weaker than that of the hinge pillar portion. Connected in part,
The front pillar is composed of a front pillar outer panel and a front pillar inner panel,
The front pillar inner panel is composed of an upper pillar inner upper panel and a lower hinge pillar reinforcement,
Above each front end of the front pillar outer panel and the pillar inner upper panel is connected to the wheel apron reinforcement rear,
A vehicle in which the strength-weakening portion that reduces the strength in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body is configured with a space between the rear end of the wheel apron reinforcement and the front end of the hinge pillar reinforcement. Car body structure. The vehicle body structure according to claim 4 ,
A vehicle body structure of a vehicle characterized in that a bending region for bending the wheel apron reinforcement inward by a collision load is provided at a connection portion between the rear end of the wheel apron reinforcement and the front end of the pillar inner upper panel. . The vehicle body structure according to claim 5 ,
A vehicle body structure for a vehicle, wherein the folding region is inclined outward in the vehicle width direction as it goes rearward of the vehicle body.

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