JPH03284481A - Front body structure for automobile and body assembling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the number of parts items for a nose unit as a whole as well as to improve the assembling workability by molding a unit base of the nose unit, where plural units of body front constituent members are integrally assembled, with resins, and making these body front constituent members integrally formable. CONSTITUTION:In a nose unit being assembled in front of a car body, a unit base 20 being made up of molding a shroud panel 21, a shroud upper 22, a fan cowling 25, etc., as one body, is formed by fiber reinforced plastics. The fan cowling 25 is formed in space between both symmetrical shroud panels 21, 21, namely, in the central part of the unit base 20, and a first cross-member 15 made of metal is riveted to a support panel 26 consisting of a perpendicular between lower ends of both symmetrical shroud panels 21, 21. A lower end of a radiator 24B is supported on top of this cross-member 15 and a lower end of a condenser 24A on a support bracket 15b via a rubber mount member 27, respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a front body structure of an automobile and a method for assembling the body, and particularly to an automobile having a unitized front body.

(Prior Art) As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-312279, automobile assembly lines (main lines) have conventionally been used.
In, Bamba, radiator, radiator grill,
The front parts of the car body, such as headlamps, were individually assembled to the car body at separate stations.
The current situation is that the number of stations is increasing, which makes the assembly line longer and more complex. Furthermore, in a mixed flow line that assembles a plurality of types of automobiles, a worker must judge whether or not to install each of the above-mentioned parts depending on the type of car, which poses a problem particularly in terms of workability.

Therefore, it may be possible to simplify the work on the assembly line and reduce the number of stations by unitizing some of the attachment parts.

If this is done, the entire unit will be assembled separately, which is advantageous in terms of mounting accuracy of each mounting component within the unit.

Therefore, from this point of view, various parts such as bumpers, radiators, radiator grilles, headlamps, etc. are assembled into a unit by attaching them to a metal radiator core support that is a unit base, and this unit is attached to the front of the vehicle body. It has been proposed that it be assembled.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, if the front part of the vehicle body is made into a unit in this way, it is possible to improve the workability of assembling the vehicle body.
It is known that another means for improving assembly workability is to reduce the number of parts. However, the idea of unitizing the front part of the vehicle body as described above does not aim at reducing the number of parts, and the number of assembly operations has not been reduced. In addition, since the unit base is made of metal, it is difficult to integrally form accessories with complex shapes with the unit base, and even if they can be integrally formed, the metal parts will increase and the weight will increase. This is not desirable because it leads to increase.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and provides a front body structure for an automobile, which can improve assembly work efficiency by reducing the number of parts in a vehicle body in which the front body is unitized as described above, and its assembly. The purpose is to provide a method.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is such that the unit base is molded from resin. and,
The specific means are as follows.

The invention according to claim (1) provides a method for attaching the vehicle body front component to a vehicle body in which a nose unit in which a plurality of vehicle body front component members are integrally assembled is attached to the front portion of the vehicle body. The unit base constituting the base is molded from resin.

The invention according to claim (a) is the front body structure of an automobile according to claim (1), in which the unit base is provided with a shroud panel and a bumper beam, and the shroud panel and bumper beam are joined so that they can be separated by external force. It was configured so that

In the invention according to claim (3), after a plurality of vehicle body front component members are assembled to a unit base molded from resin to form a nose unit, a second nose unit is attached to the vehicle body. This is a vehicle body assembly method.

(effect) Effect 4 of the present invention using the above means is as follows.

In the invention according to claim (1), since the unit base of the nose unit is molded from resin, vehicle body front components such as the shroud panel, shroud upper, and fan cowling can be integrally formed as the unit base, and the nose unit Overall, the number of parts is reduced and assembly workability is improved.

Moreover, since it is made of resin, various parts of the nose unit can be integrally molded without increasing the weight.

In the invention according to claim [21], the shroud panel and the bumper beam are joined so that they can be separated by external force, so that when an external force is applied to the bumper beam from the front of the automobile, etc., the bumper beam is separated from the shroud panel. Therefore, external force is not transmitted to the shroud panel, and damage to members disposed around and around the shroud panel is prevented.

In the invention according to claim (3), since the base portion can be integrally molded to the unit base, the positional accuracy of the assembly of the vehicle body front component member is improved.

(First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1 showing the front part of an automobile, numeral 1 is an automobile, and a nose unit 3 is assembled to the front part of a main body 2 of the automobile. Front fenders 4.4 are provided on the outside of both sides of the vehicle main body 2, and a bonnet etc. are provided on the upper front side.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the vehicle body 2 has a front side frame 13.13 located below a wheel apron 12.12 that constitutes the left and right side walls of the engine compartment 11.
are joined to the wheel apron reinforcement 14.14 on the upper side of the wheel apron 12.12.
are joined to form a reinforcing structure that extends vertically in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. In addition, the front side frame 1
3 is divided into two near the front end portion into a front frame member 13a and a rear frame member 13b. In other words, the second
The solid line portion shown in the figure is the rear frame member 13b,
The portion indicated by the imaginary line is the front frame member 13a. The front frame member 13a is a component of the nose unit 3. Further, flanges 13c, 13c extending in the vehicle width direction are formed at the tip of the rear frame member 13b, and bolt holes 13 are formed in the flanges 13c.
d and 13d are arranged vertically in parallel.

Regarding the nose unit 3, as shown in FIG. 3, the unit base 20 is molded from synthetic resin such as FRP. This unit base 20 is formed by integrally molding a shroud panel 21, 21, a shroud upper 22, a fan cowling 25, etc. The shroud panel 21° 21 consists of a sloped surface portion 21a that slopes forward toward the center side in the vehicle width direction on both left and right sides in the vehicle width direction, and a vertical surface that extends in the vehicle width direction around the inner end of the sloped surface portion 21a. It has a mounting surface portion 21b. Mounting surface part 2
1b is provided with a similar bolt hole 21c at a position corresponding to the bolt hole 13d in the rear frame member 13b. A shroud upper 22 is installed between the upper ends of both shroud panels 21,21. The shroud upper 22 has a vertical wall portion 22A extending in the vertical direction, and a clay wall portion 22B extending rearward from the upper edge of the vertical wall portion 22A. In addition, both left and right shroud panels 21.21
A vertical support panel 26 is disposed between the lower ends of the .

A fan cowling 25 is formed between the left and right shroud panels 21, 21, that is, at the center of the unit base 20. The fan cowling 25 is
Between the left and right inclined surfaces that slope rearward from the inner ends of the left and right shroud panels 21.21 toward the center in the vehicle width direction, the lower end of the vertical wall portion 22A of the shroud upper 22, and the upper end of the support panel 26. It is formed by upper and lower sloped surfaces that slope rearward toward the center in the vertical direction. and,
A circular opening 25 is provided in the center of this fan cowling 25.
a is formed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a first metal cross member 15 is riveted to the support panel 26. As shown in FIGS. That is, the first cross member 15 and the front frame member 13a are integrally formed in advance, and the flange portion 1 formed at the rear end of the first cross member 15
5a is riveted to the support panel 26, while a flange 13e formed at the rear end of the front frame member 13a
A similar bolt hole 13f is bored at a position corresponding to the bolt hole 21c, and each of these bolt holes 13f,
By inserting the bolts 34 through 21c and 13d, the front frame member 13a is fastened to the rear frame member 13b via the mounting surface portion 21b of the shroud panel 21. In addition, L-shaped support brackets 15b, 1
5b is welded. And the first cross member 15
The lower end of the radiator 24B is supported on the upper surface, and the lower end of the capacitor 24A is supported on the support brackets 15b, 15b via rubber mount members 27 and 27, respectively. 24B are integrally connected by a member not shown, and their upper ends are connected to the mounting brackets 28 and 28.
It is fastened to the earthen wall portion 22B of the shroud upper 22 via bolts.

Further, the front frame member 13a is provided with a bumper reinforcement 32 to which the bumper 31 is bonded or a bolt 3.
3.33 is fastened and fixed.

Further, both ends (not shown) of the bumper 31 are connected to the front fender 4 through bolts provided upright on the bumper 31.
Connections are also fixed.

Further, bolt holes 22c are provided at both ends 22b, 22b of the earthen wall portion 22B of the shroud upper 22, and the both ends 22b are formed on the upper surface of the wheel apron reinforcement 14 by bolts (not shown). It is fastened to the bolt hole 14a.

In addition, a radiator grill 36, a headlamp 37, an intercooler (not shown), a bonnet locking means, harnesses for connecting an electrical system, etc. are integrally assembled into the nose unit 3.

Next, the assembly work when assembling the front vehicle body will be explained. First, the nose unit 3 is manufactured in a separate process from the car body 2.
Assemble. That is, first, the flange portion 15a of the first cross member 15 is riveted to the support panel 26 of the unit base 20 with respect to the unit base 20 made of synthetic resin in which the shroud panel 21, the shroud upper 22, and the fan cowling 25 are integrally molded. Along with stopping
Bolt holes 13f drilled in the flange 13e of the front frame member 13a and the mounting surface portion 2 of the shroud panel 21
The bolt 34 extends across the bolt hole 21c drilled in 1b.
Let it pass through. In this way, unit base 2
0, the first cross member 15 and the front frame member 13a
After supporting, the assembly of the cooling fan 35 and the like begins.

In this work, in advance, the cooling fan 35 is supported by bolts on the upper and lower ends of the back surface of the radiator 24B, and the condenser 24 is mounted on the front side of the radiator 24B.
Assemble A. In this state, the cooling fan 35 is inserted into the opening 25a of the fan cowling 25 from the front side of the fan cowling 25, and the lower end of the radiator 24B is attached to the first cross member 15, and the lower end of the condenser 24A is attached to the support bracket 15b using rubber mounting members. 27.
27 to support and assemble them. Thereafter, the upper ends of the capacitor 24A and the radiator 24B are supported on the earthen wall portion 22B of the shroud upper 22 via the mounting brackets 28.28. In this way, unit base 2
0, the first cross member 15, the front frame member 13a,
Cooling fan 35, radiator 24B1 condenser 24A
After that, other parts, namely bumper 31,
The nose unit 3 is constructed by assembling the radiator grille 36, headlamp 37, etc.

Thereafter, the nose unit 3 configured in this manner is moved horizontally from the front side to the vehicle body 2, positioned at a predetermined position, and assembled. 21c inserted into the flange 13 of the rear frame member 13b.
The flange 13 is inserted into the bolt hole 13d drilled in c.
The front frame member 13a is integrally assembled to the rear frame member 13b via the shroud panel 21 by screwing the nut 34g onto the bolt 34 from the rear side of the frame member c.

As described above, according to this example, by making the unit base 20 made of synthetic resin, the shroud panel 21, the shroud upper 22, the fan cowling 25, etc. can be integrally formed, and the number of assembly operations is reduced. , work efficiency can be improved. Moreover, since this unit base is made of synthetic resin, various parts of the nose unit can be integrally molded without increasing the weight. Furthermore, since the base can be integrally molded to the unit base, the positional accuracy of the members can be improved.

Note that the unit base 20 in this example includes a shroud panel 21, a shroud upper 22, and a fan cowling 2.
5 is integrally molded, however, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to integrally mold various members such as a bumper beam and a lamp housing.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 6 to 9. In this example, only the differences from the first example described above will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the unit base 40 in the nose unit 3 of this example is made of synthetic resin, and includes shroud panels 41, 41, and shroud upper 42.
, an upper base portion 40A on which lamp housings 43, 43, etc. are integrally formed, and a bumper beam 40B continuously formed on the lower side of the upper base portion 40A. A feature of this unit base 40 is that the upper base portion 40A and the bumper beam 40B are connected by a thin rib-shaped connecting member 44. That is, between the upper base portion 40A and the bumper beam 40B, there are a plurality of openings 45, 45. ... is formed, and this opening 45
．． 45. ... A connecting member 44 is formed between them. Therefore, the connection strength between the upper base portion 40A and the bumper beam 40B is relatively low, and if a large external force is applied to the bumper beam 40B, the connection member 44 will be cut and the bumper beam 40B will be connected to the upper base member. It is now being withdrawn from 40A.

When assembling the nose unit 3 equipped with the unit base 40 configured in this way, as shown in FIGS. ';, T--924B,
Bumper 31, radiator grill 36, headlamp 37
The nose unit 3 as shown in FIG. 7 is constructed by integrally assembling these components.

When the nose unit 3 constructed in this manner is assembled to the vehicle main body 2, the back side of the bumper beam 40B is fastened to the front side frame 13 with bolts 46, as shown in FIG.

As a result, the nose unit 3 is assembled to the front part of the vehicle body 2.

In the event of a collision in a vehicle configured as described above, a front load input from the front of the bumper 31 as shown by arrow A in FIG. 8 is transmitted to the bumper beam 40B. At this time, due to this load, the connecting member 44 connecting the Bamba beam 40B and the upper base portion 40A is cut, and the Bamba beam 40B is separated from the upper base portion 40A. This allows the front load to be transferred to the upper base portion 4.
The light is not transmitted to 0A, and as a result, damage to various members such as the headlamp 37 disposed in the upper base portion 40A is prevented.

In this way, in this embodiment, the unit base 4
0 is made of synthetic resin to reduce the number of parts, which not only improves workability during assembly, but also improves ease of assembly in the event of a vehicle collision.
The front load is not transmitted to the upper base portion 40A, resulting in high reliability.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects are exhibited.

In the invention according to claim (1), since the unit base of the nose unit is molded from resin, the shroud panel, shroud upper, fan cowling, etc. can be integrally formed as the unit base, and the number of parts for the entire nose unit is reduced. As a result, assembly work efficiency can be improved. Furthermore, by being made of resin, various components of the nozzle unit can be integrally molded without increasing the weight.

In the invention according to claim (2), when an external force is applied to the bumper beam by the front part of the automobile, etc., the bumper beam is separated from the shroud panel, so the external force is not transmitted to the shroud panel, and the area around the shroud panel is Damage to the disposed members is prevented, and the crash performance of an automobile having a unit base in which the pump beam is integrally molded can be improved.

In the invention according to claim (3), since the assembly of the members can be performed by integrally molding the base to the unit base, the positional accuracy of the members can be improved and the reliability of the product can be improved. do.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of an automobile, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the front of the vehicle body, and FIG. 3 is a nose. An exploded perspective view of some constituent members of the unit, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a portion corresponding to the line ■-■ in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a v-v in FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion corresponding to the line. Figures 6 to 9
The figures show a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the unit base, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the nose unit, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. 7, FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 7. 1...Car 2...Car body 3...North unit 20...Unit base 21...Shroud panel 40B...・Pampa Beam

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In a vehicle body in which a nose unit in which a plurality of vehicle body front component members are integrally assembled is attached to the front part of the vehicle body, the nose unit is a unit that constitutes a mounting base for the vehicle body component members. A front body structure for an automobile, characterized in that the base is molded from resin. (2) In the front body structure of an automobile according to claim (1), the unit base includes a shroud panel and a bumper beam, and the shroud panel and bumper beam are joined so that they can be separated by external force. Features the front body structure of a car. (3) A method for assembling a vehicle body, which comprises: forming a nose unit by assembling a plurality of vehicle body front components onto a unit base molded from resin, and then attaching the nose unit to the vehicle body.