JP4720428B2 - Front body structure of automobile - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a front body structure of an automobile, and more particularly, to an improvement in a reinforcing member that is bridged between left and right suspension towers that store suspensions of front wheels.

In general, a reinforcing member called a suspension tower bar or the like is bridged between the left and right suspension towers for storing the suspension of the front wheels in the engine room arranged in the front part of the automobile in order to strengthen the body rigidity. May be. In Patent Document 1, in order to improve not only the falling rigidity of the suspension tower but also the rigidity against torsional input from the left and right front wheels, the longitudinal center part of the reinforcing member is bent forward or backward in the vehicle. Further, it is disclosed that the both ends of the reinforcing member are connected to the suspension tower, and the central portion thereof is connected to the vehicle width direction central portion of the vehicle body side member with a soft mount structure. By doing so, it becomes possible to release the torsional input from the left and right front wheels to the vehicle body side member connected by the soft mount structure via the suspension tower reinforcing member.
JP 2000-118443 A

  As described above, the suspension tower reinforcing member is a member necessary to enhance the rigidity of the front body of the automobile, for example, to improve the steering response. By mounting such a reinforcing member, the suspension tower reinforcing member There is a concern that the weight of the vehicle body increases by the weight of the reinforcing member.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a front body structure of an automobile on which a suspension tower reinforcing member that is reduced in weight and that can suppress an increase in the weight of the body is mounted.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is attached to an upper part of a dash panel that separates the engine room and the passenger compartment and the engine room side of the dash panel, and extends forward. A front of an automobile having a cowl cross member, left and right suspension towers that are disposed in front of side end portions of the cowl cross member in the vehicle width direction and store suspensions of front wheels, and reinforcing members that are bridged between the suspension towers. The reinforcing member has a relatively short first left and right members whose both ends are coupled to the upper portion of the suspension tower and side end portions in the vehicle width direction of the cowl cross member, The plate is thinner than the member, extends a predetermined length in the vehicle width direction, is assembled to the cowl cross member, and both end portions are end portions on the cowl cross member side of the first member. Is composed of a second member of the bound relatively long and, and the cowl cross member, and a lower member attached to the dash panel, an upper member removably connected from above to the lower member The second member of the reinforcing member is arranged on the upper surface side of the upper member so as not to protrude forward from the front edge of the cowl cross member .

  Next, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the front body structure of the automobile according to the first aspect, the second member has a polygonal cross section with respect to the longitudinal direction.

Next, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the front body structure of the automobile according to the first or second aspect , the lower member and the upper member of the cowl cross member are coupled at a plurality of coupling points. The predetermined coupling point is common to the coupling point between the first member and the second member of the reinforcing member.

Next, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the front body structure of the automobile according to the third aspect, the first member of the reinforcing member is the lower member of the cowl cross member and the upper member at the common coupling point. It is characterized by being sandwiched between members.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the front vehicle body structure of the automobile according to the third or fourth aspect of the invention, the lower member is located upward at the connection point between the lower member and the upper member of the cowl cross member. It is characterized by being raised.

  First, according to the front body structure of an automobile according to claim 1, the reinforcing member includes a relatively short left and right first member and a plate thickness thinner than the first member, and a predetermined length in the vehicle width direction. A relatively long second member that extends, and both ends of the first member are coupled to the upper portion of the suspension tower and side end portions in the vehicle width direction of the cowl cross member near the suspension tower. Since the second member is assembled to the cowl cross member and both end portions of the second member are coupled to the end portion of the first member on the cowl cross member side, the first member having a relatively large plate thickness is The second member, whose length can be shortened and the relatively thin plate thickness, cooperates with the cowl cross member to connect the left and right first members, and thus the left and right suspension towers, Result, suspension tower While maintaining the reinforcing performance, it can reduce the weight of the entire reinforcing member, an increase in vehicle weight can be suppressed with.

  At the same time, since the first member is extended from the upper part of the suspension tower to the side end in the vehicle width direction of the cowl cross member near the suspension tower, the upper space between the left and right suspension towers is obstructed by the reinforcing member. Therefore, it will be widely opened, and serviceability in the engine room will be improved.

Furthermore, according to the front vehicle body structure of the automobile according to claim 1 , the cowl cross member is composed of a lower member attached to the dash panel and an upper member detachably coupled to the lower member from above, Since the second member is disposed on the upper surface side of the detachable upper member , the second member can be assembled to the cowl cross member or removed from the cowl cross member simultaneously with the detachment of the upper member. Thus, the assembling property of the reinforcing member can be improved. In addition, a part for making the second member detachable from the cowl cross member becomes unnecessary, and an increase in the number of parts can be avoided.

In this case, since the second member is disposed on the upper surface side of the upper member so as not to protrude forward from the front edge of the cowl cross member, the second member is disposed on the upper member. Thus, there is no problem that the space in the engine room is reduced, and the original layout of the cowl cross member is maintained.

Next, according to the front body structure of an automobile according to claim 2, since the cross-sectional shape with respect to the longitudinal direction of the second member is a polygonal shape (L-shaped, U-shaped, etc.), for example, thinning The cross-sectional rigidity of the second member, which has been reduced in weight, is improved, and the connection strength between the left and right first members, and thus the left and right suspension towers, does not decrease.

Next, according to the front vehicle body structure of an automobile according to claim 3 , the predetermined coupling point between the lower member and the upper member of the cowl cross member and the coupling point between the first member and the second member of the reinforcing member. Therefore, at the common coupling point, the operation of coupling the lower member and the upper member of the cowl cross member and the operation of coupling the first member and the second member of the reinforcing member are simultaneously performed. This improves the workability.

Next, according to the vehicle front body structure described in claim 4 , the first member of the reinforcing member is interposed between the lower member and the upper member of the cowl cross member at the common coupling point. That is, since the first member of the reinforcing member is overlaid on the lower member of the cowl cross member, when the first member of the reinforcing member is assembled to the suspension tower and the cowl cross member, the first member is It is possible to temporarily place it on the suspension tower and the lower member of the cowl cross member, so that the assembling property of the reinforcing member can be improved.

According to the front vehicle body structure of an automobile according to claim 5 , at the coupling point between the lower member and the upper member of the cowl cross member, the lower member is raised upward, that is, the coupling point. In this case, since the lower member is raised by one step, rainwater or the like that has entered the cowl cross member is prevented from entering the engine room through the gap between the members at the coupling point. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail through the best mode for carrying out the invention.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a front body structure 10 of an automobile 1 according to the present embodiment. The front body structure 10 of the automobile 1 includes a front bumper 11, headlamps 12 and 12, fender panels 13 and 13, and a hood panel 14 in appearance. The headlamp 12 is a combination headlamp in which a headlamp, a direction indicator lamp, and the like are integrated, and has a shape that extends relatively rearward at a corner portion between the front edge portion and the side edge portion of the automobile 1. is there. Door panels 15 and 15 are connected to the rear of the fender panels 13 and 13, and a windshield 16 is raised to the rear of the hood panel 14.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the left front portion of the automobile 1, and FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the right front portion of the automobile 1. Left and right front side frames 22, 22 extend forward in the engine room A from a dash panel 21 that separates the engine room A and the vehicle compartment B. Left and right upper frames 23, 23 are disposed above and to the side of the front side frames 22, 22. Between the front side frames 22 and 22 and the upper frames 23 and 23, wheel houses 24 and 24 for storing front wheels and suspension towers 25 and 25 for storing suspensions of front wheels are arranged.

4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. 2 (cross-sectional view passing through a connecting point 44 described later), and FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. It is sectional drawing which passes. The dash panel 21 that separates the engine room A and the vehicle compartment B is configured by joining an upper dash panel upper 21a and a lower dash panel lower 21b. A cowl cross member 26 extending in the vehicle width direction and extending forward is attached to an upper portion of the dash panel 21 on the engine room A side (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The left and right suspension towers 25, 25 are disposed in front of the side end portions of the cowl cross member 26 in the vehicle width direction.

  The cowl cross member 26 is configured by combining an upper cowl cross member upper (upper member) 26a and a lower cowl cross member lower (lower member) 26b. Among these, the lower member 26b is joined to the dash panel 21 (more specifically, the lower member 26b is overlapped and joined to the dash panel upper 21a and the dash panel lower 21b), and the upper member 26a is connected to the lower member 26b. In addition, the plurality of bolts 41... 41, 42... 42, 46 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) are detachably coupled from above.

In that case, the lower member 26b is formed at the joint surface between the upper member 26a and the lower member 26b of the cowl cross member 26 and at a plurality of connecting points, that is, at the arrangement points of the connecting bolts 41, 41, 42, 42, 46. , And is raised upward (see reference numeral a in FIGS . 4 and 5 ). That is, it is one step higher than the other parts [Configuration of Claim 5 ].

  A cowl grille 27 having a closed cross-sectional structure extending in the vehicle width direction is joined to the upper end portion of the dash panel 21, and the cowl grille 27, the dash panel upper 21a and the cowl cross member 26 open the front upper part open. A cowl structure is provided. Since the open cowl structure inevitably tends to have insufficient rigidity, the importance of providing a suspension tower reinforcing member that contributes to the rigidity enhancement of the front body is increasing in the automobile 1.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a suspension tower reinforcing member 30 is bridged between the left and right suspension towers 25, 25 in order to enhance the rigidity of the front body structure 10 of the automobile 1. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 , the suspension tower reinforcing member 30 is relatively short and relatively thick with the left and right first members 30a and 30b, which are relatively long, And it is comprised from the 2nd member 30c of the center with relatively thin plate | board thickness.

  In particular, as clearly shown in FIG. 2, the left first member 30 a has a front end portion coupled to the upper portion of the left suspension tower 25 using a plurality of bolts 43... 43, and a rear end portion a cowl cross member. A plurality of bolts 44... 44 are coupled to the left end portion in the vehicle width direction of 26. Further, as clearly shown in FIG. 3, the right first member 30 b has a front end portion coupled to the upper portion of the right suspension tower 25 using a plurality of bolts 45... 45, and a rear end portion that is a cowl. The cross member 26 is coupled to the right end in the vehicle width direction using a plurality of bolts 42. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the second member 30c is thinner than the first members 30a and 30b and extends a predetermined length in the vehicle width direction. A bolt 46 is attached to the cowl cross member 26. It is assembled using. As shown in FIG. 2, the left end portion is coupled to the end portion (that is, the rear end portion) of the left first member 30a on the cowl cross member 26 side using a plurality of bolts 44. 3, the right end portion is coupled to the end portion (that is, the rear end portion) of the right first member 30b on the cowl cross member 26 side using a plurality of bolts 42. Configuration of 1].

In this case, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 4, at the connection point of the rear end portion of the left first member 30 a, the rear end portion of the left first member 30 a and the upper member of the cowl cross member 26 in order from the bottom. 26 a and the second member 30 c are stacked and fastened by bolts 44 and nuts 54. On the other hand, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 5 , at the connection point of the rear end portion of the right first member 30b, the lower member 26b of the cowl cross member 26, the rear end portion of the right first member 30b, The upper member 26 a and the second member 30 c of the cowl cross member 26 are stacked and fastened by bolts 42 and nuts 52.

In this case, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the second member 30c has a polygonal cross section with respect to the longitudinal direction, more specifically, a U shape with an open top surface. Configuration of 2].

In this case, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the second member 30c is attached to the upper surface portion of the upper member 26a of the cowl cross member 26 before the upper member 26a is assembled to the lower member 26b. without protruding from the contour of the cowl cross member 26 are sub-assembly.

That is, as clearly shown in FIG. 9 , the second member 30c and the upper member 26a of the cowl cross member 26 are basically joined at a number of points w... W by spot welding or the like. The member 30c is already sub-assembled before the upper member 26a is bolted up to the lower member 26b. Then, a part of the fastening by the large number of bolts 41 ... 41, 42 ... 42, 44 ... 44, 46 is fastened with bolts between other members (for example, the left first member 30a and the upper member 26a). The fastening bolt 44 of the right, the fastening bolt 42 of the right first member 30b and the upper member 26a and the lower member 26b, the fastening bolt 46 of the upper member 26a and the lower member 26b, etc.) -ing

Further, as shown in FIG. 5 , a predetermined coupling point 42 ... 42 among the plurality of coupling points 41 ... 41, 42 ... 42 between the upper member 26a and the lower member 26b of the cowl cross member 26 is used to reinforce the suspension tower. the coupling point between the first member 30b and the second member 30c of the member 30 are common configuration of claim 3].

As shown in FIG. 5 , the first member 30b of the suspension tower reinforcing member 30 is sandwiched between the upper member 26a and the lower member 26b of the cowl cross member 26 at the common coupling points 42 ... 42. [Structure of claim 4 ].

  With the configuration as described above, first, in the front body structure 10 of the automobile 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. The first member 30a, 30b and a relatively long second member 30c that is thinner than the first member 30a, 30b and extends a predetermined length in the vehicle width direction. Both ends are coupled to upper portions of the suspension towers 25 and 25 and side end portions in the vehicle width direction of the cowl cross member 26 close to the suspension towers 25 and 25, and the second member 30 c is connected to the cowl cross member 26. Since both ends of the second member 30c are joined to the ends of the first members 30a and 30b on the cowl cross member 26 side, the first members 30a and 30b having a relatively large plate thickness are assembled. The second member 30c, which can be shortened in length and has a relatively thin plate thickness, cooperates with the cowl cross member 26, and the left and right first members 30a, 30b, and thus the left and right suspension towers 25, 25. As a result, the weight of the suspension tower reinforcement member 30 as a whole can be reduced while maintaining the reinforcement performance of the suspension towers 25 and 25, and the increase in the weight of the automobile 1 is suppressed.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first members 30a and 30b are arranged on the side end portions in the vehicle width direction of the cowl cross member 26 close to the suspension towers 25 and 25 from the upper portions of the suspension towers 25 and 25. Therefore, the upper space between the left and right suspension towers 25 and 25 is not obstructed by the suspension tower reinforcing member 30 and is widely opened, so that the serviceability in the engine room A can be improved.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , since the cross-sectional shape with respect to the longitudinal direction of the second member 30 c is a polygonal shape (L-shaped, U-shaped, etc.), for example, it has been reduced in thickness and weight. The cross-sectional rigidity of the second member 30c is improved, and the connection strength between the left and right first members 30a and 30b and the left and right suspension towers 25 and 25 does not decrease.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the cowl cross member 26 includes a lower member 26b attached to the dash panel 21 and an upper member 26a that is detachably coupled to the lower member 26b from above. Among these, since the second member 30c is assembled to the detachable upper member 26a, the second member 30c is assembled to the cowl cross member 26 or removed from the cowl cross member 26 simultaneously with the attachment / detachment of the upper member 26a. Thus, the assembly property of the suspension tower reinforcing member 30 can be improved. In addition, parts for making the second member 30c detachable from the cowl cross member 26 become unnecessary, and an increase in the number of parts can be avoided.

In this case, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , since the second member 30c is sub-assembled to the upper member 26a without protruding from the contour of the cowl cross member 26, the second member 30c is moved to the upper member. The problem that the space in the engine room A is narrowed due to the sub-assembly to 26a does not occur, and the original layout of the cowl cross member 26 is maintained.

  Moreover, since the second member 30c is sub-assembled to the upper surface side of the upper member 26a before the upper member 26a is assembled to the lower member 26b, when the second member 30c is sub-assembled to the upper member 26a, The second member 30c can be set on the upper member 26a, the sub-assembly can be facilitated, and the productivity can be improved.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5 , predetermined coupling points 42... 42 between the lower member 26b and the upper member 26a of the cowl cross member 26, the first member 30b and the second member on the right side of the suspension tower reinforcing member 30. Since the joint points 42... 42 with the 30 c are made common, the work of joining the lower member 26 b and the upper member 26 a of the cowl cross member 26 and the suspension tower reinforcing member 30 at the common joint points 42. The work of joining the first member 30b and the second member 30c on the right side can be performed at the same time, and workability can be improved.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5 , at the common coupling points 42... 42, the right first member 30b of the suspension tower reinforcing member 30 is connected to the lower member 26b and the upper member 26a of the cowl cross member 26. Since the first member 30b on the right side of the suspension tower reinforcing member 30 is superimposed on the lower member 26b of the cowl cross member 26, the right first member 30b on the suspension tower reinforcing member 30 is When the suspension tower 25 and the cowl cross member 26 are assembled, the right first member 30b can be temporarily placed on the suspension tower 25 and the lower member 26b of the cowl cross member 26. The assembling property of the tower reinforcing member 30 can be improved.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the lower member 26b is moved upward at the joint surfaces 41 and 41, 42,... 42 between the lower member 26b and the upper member 26a of the cowl cross member 26. In other words, since the lower member 26b is raised one step higher at the joint surface and joint points 41 ... 41, 42 ... 42, rainwater or the like that has entered the cowl cross member 26 is caused to rise from the joint surface and joint points 41 ... 41, 42 ... 42. Intrusion into the engine room A through the gaps between the members at points 41... 41, 42... 42 (for example, gaps between panels, bolt penetration holes, etc.) is suppressed.

  Each of the above embodiments is the best embodiment of the present invention, but it goes without saying that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

  As described above in detail with reference to specific examples, the present invention can reduce the weight of the suspension tower reinforcing member in the front body structure of an automobile, thereby suppressing an increase in the weight of the vehicle body. Suspension tower reinforcement member is bridged between the left and right suspension towers for storing the vehicle, and has wide industrial applicability in the technical field of the front body structure of an automobile.

1 is a plan view showing a front body structure of an automobile according to a best embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the internal structure of the left front part of the said motor vehicle. It is a top view which shows the internal structure of the right front part of the said motor vehicle. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view by the II line | wire of FIG. It is a longitudinal sectional view according to line II-II in FIG. It is a top view of the suspension tower reinforcement member mounted in the said motor vehicle. FIG. It is a perspective view from the left side and diagonally forward from the same. It is the perspective view which looked at the state by which the 2nd member of the said suspension tower reinforcement member is sub-assembled to the upper surface side of the upper member of a cowl cross member from the right side and diagonally backward upper direction.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car 10 Front body structure 21 Dash panel 21a Dash panel upper 21b Dash panel lower 22 Front side frame 25 Suspension tower 26 Cowl cross member 26a Cowl cross member upper (upper member)
26b Cowl cross member lower (lower member)
30 Suspension tower reinforcing members 30a and 30b First member 30c Second member 41 and 43 to 46 Bolt (joining point)
42 Common connection point A Engine room B Car compartment w Spot welding point

Claims (5)

A dash panel that separates the engine room and the vehicle compartment, a cowl cross member that is attached to the upper part of the surface of the dash panel on the engine room side, and extends forward, and in front of the side end of the cowl cross member in the vehicle width direction A vehicle front body structure having left and right suspension towers for storing a suspension of a front wheel and a reinforcing member bridged between the suspension towers,
The reinforcing member has relatively short left and right first members whose both ends are coupled to the upper portion of the suspension tower and the side end portions of the cowl cross member in the vehicle width direction, and the plate thickness is thinner than the first member. A relatively long second member extending a predetermined length in the vehicle width direction, assembled to the cowl cross member, and having both ends coupled to the end of the first member on the cowl cross member side. And
The cowl cross member includes a lower member attached to the dash panel and an upper member detachably coupled to the lower member from above, and the second member of the reinforcing member is an upper surface side of the upper member. Further, the front body structure of the automobile is arranged so as not to protrude forward from the front edge of the cowl cross member . In the front body structure of an automobile according to claim 1,
The front body structure of an automobile, wherein the second member has a polygonal cross section with respect to the longitudinal direction. In the front body structure of an automobile according to claim 1 or 2,
The lower member and the upper member of the cowl cross member are coupled at a plurality of coupling points, and a predetermined coupling point is common to the coupling point between the first member and the second member of the reinforcing member. front body structure for an automobile, characterized by being. In the front body structure of an automobile according to claim 3,
A front body structure of an automobile, wherein the first member of the reinforcing member is sandwiched between the lower member and the upper member of the cowl cross member at the common coupling point . In the front body structure of an automobile according to claim 3 or 4 ,
A front vehicle body structure for an automobile , wherein a lower member protrudes upward at a connection point between a lower member and an upper member of the cowl cross member .

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