Vehicle front body reinforcement structure

Abstract

Vehicle front body reinforcement structure, including: a pair of front elements (10) extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle in a lateral direction of the vehicle; a dashboard (30) which extends in the width and height direction of the vehicle and divides an engine compartment and a passenger compartment; a front pillar (40) which extends in the longitudinal and vertical direction of the vehicle and is connected to the dashboard (30); an upper fender skirt element (20) which is arranged outside of each of the pair of front elements (10) in the width direction of the vehicle, extends along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is connected to the pair of front elements (10), the instrument panel (30) and the front pillar (40); a first reinforcing element (50) extending along the vertical direction of the vehicle, of which a first end section is connected to the upper fender skirt element (20) and a second end section is connected to a lower section of the vehicle; a lower side element (12) which is connected to a floor section of the dashboard (30); and an outer side element (14) which is connected to the lower side element (12), wherein the second end section of the first reinforcement element is connected to the lower side element (12) and the outer side element (14), wherein the first reinforcing element (50) is provided in pairs and is arranged on both the left and right sides of the vehicle in the width direction of the vehicle, and wherein the pair of first reinforcing elements (50) on the left and right sides is connected to each other by a second reinforcing element (60) which extends in the width direction of the vehicle, furthermore with: a dashboard base plate (32) which is connected to the dashboard (30), wherein the dashboard floor plate (32) is connected to a third reinforcing element (80) which extends along the width direction of the vehicle, wherein each of the pair of front-end elements (10) has: a front inner element (11) arranged within each of the pair of front elements (10) along the width direction of the vehicle; and a front outer element (13) arranged outside of each of the pair of front elements (10) along the width direction of the vehicle, and furthermore with: a fourth reinforcement element (90) which is connected to the dashboard (30) and the dashboard base plate (32), wherein end sections of the fourth reinforcement element (90) are connected to the front inner element (11).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle front body structure, and more precisely a vehicle front body reinforcement structure, which improves the reaction behavior during a frontal impact when a vehicle is overlapped. BACKGROUND

[0002] Generally, a vehicle's front body is located at the front of the vehicle, based on its longitudinal direction, and contains a frame structure that forms the engine compartment. The front body includes a front-end module, which forms the front end of the engine compartment and houses a cooling module, headlights, and other components. A front fender skirt forms both the left and right sides of the engine compartment and provides space for the suspension system and wheels. A dashboard is located behind the engine compartment, separating the passenger compartment from the engine compartment.

[0003] Additionally, a front element extending longitudinally along the vehicle is positioned beneath the engine compartment to the left and right, laterally, to reinforce the structural strength of the vehicle's front body. A subframe for supporting the engine and transmission installed in the engine compartment, as well as the suspension system, is located on the lower section of the front element, vertically along the vehicle.

[0004] The front end section of the front element is mounted to a bumper support that extends laterally across the vehicle to improve frontal impact performance. The bumper support is connected to the front end section longitudinally by a crash box.

[0005] In particular, if a vehicle with a frontal body structure of the above design collides head-on with a collision object, such as an obstacle or another vehicle, during low-overlap operation (e.g., if a collision object, such as a low-overlap barrier, has deviated to one side along the vehicle's width and collides with the outer section of the vehicle body), the collision object displaces the frontal element to collide with the weak or soft outer section of the vehicle body. Consequently, the vehicle does not function effectively during a low-overlap frontal impact, occupant safety is compromised, and excessive collision damage to the vehicle body occurs.

[0006] To address the deficiencies described above, it has been proposed to reinforce the outer section of a vehicle body to cope with an impact at low overlap.

[0007] For example, a structure with a front end section of a front fender apron element extending to a front end section of a front element, and they being connected by a connecting element; a structure with a reinforcing element to prevent the penetration of a collision object is mounted on the outside of a front element; or a structure to reinforce a front pillar or side sill, have been proposed. However, the proposed structures have disadvantages, including an excessive increase in the weight and cost of the vehicle body and insufficient occupant protection during a low-overlap impact.

[0008] On the other hand, in the case of the electric vehicle, since the large-capacity battery is mounted on the floor of the vehicle body, structural reinforcement of the vehicle body is proposed due to the large-capacity battery, which means it cannot cope with a frontal impact and a low-overlap frontal impact.

[0009] The above information disclosed in this background section is intended only to enhance understanding of the background of the invention, and therefore may contain information that does not constitute prior art already known to a person skilled in the art in this country.

[0010] DE 10 2012 113 211 A1 relates to a reinforcement structure for the front of a vehicle body. A pair of inner fenders is arranged on the upper section of a vehicle, along the vehicle's vertical axis, on the left and right sides. A pair of longitudinal members, extending along the vehicle's longitudinal axis, are each arranged in the lower section of the pair of inner fenders. A front bulkhead crossmember, extending across the vehicle's transverse axis, is attached to the inner fenders. An upper portion of the inner fender is positioned outside the longitudinal member in the vehicle's width direction. A rear reinforcement rail, extending along the vehicle's vertical axis, is attached to the inner fender and the front bulkhead crossmember.A lower reinforcement part has a first and a second lower reinforcement part, wherein the second lower reinforcement part is inserted within a closed cross-section formed by means of the longitudinal beam.

[0011] JP H05-270 443 A relates to a front body component for an automobile. A front side panel is located in the engine compartment at the front of the vehicle body. The rear end of the front side panel is welded to an instrument panel that separates the engine compartment from the passenger compartment. An instrument panel reinforcement element is inserted into notches, and flanges formed at the edges of the notches are welded to the instrument panel reinforcement element. A side panel of the engine hood is located above a tire storage compartment along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and a rear end of the side panel of the engine hood is connected to a front pillar.

[0012] DE 10 2016 121 326 A1 relates to a front vehicle body reinforcement structure. A shock absorber housing side element is coupled to a cowl cross element, which is shaped along the vehicle width direction, with a shock absorber housing arranged at each end of the cowl cross element.

[0013] KR 10 2016 122 570 A concerns a vehicle body reinforcement structure. A dashboard cross brace is connected to the front lower end of a dashboard trim panel and the front end of a floor panel.

[0014] JP 2009- 248 585 A concerns a vehicle body reinforcement structure.

[0015] JP 2013- 159 156 A concerns a vehicle body front structure.

[0016] KR 101 488 425 B1 concerns an underbody for an electric vehicle. SUMMARY

[0017] The present disclosure provides a vehicle front body reinforcement structure that is capable of effectively reducing the deformation of an instrument panel by appropriately distributing the collision load in a frontal impact or frontal collision of a vehicle, preventing excessive damage to the vehicle by suppressing rotational behavior, and more effectively protecting the safety of the occupant by inducing the transverse direction behavior of the vehicle during a small-overlap frontal impact or frontal impact with a small overlap of the vehicle.

[0018] A vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is defined in claim 1 and comprises: a pair of front elements extending along a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and provided in plurality to be provided on the left and right sides along a lateral direction of the vehicle; a dashboard extending in the lateral and a vertical direction of the vehicle and enclosing an engine compartment and a passenger compartment respectively.a passenger compartment divided; a front pillar extending in the longitudinal and vertical direction of the vehicle and connected to the dashboard; an upper fender skirt element positioned outside each of the pair of front elements in the width direction of the vehicle, extending along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and connected to each of the pair of front elements, the dashboard and the front pillar; and a first reinforcing element extending along the height direction of the vehicle, of which a first end section is connected to the upper fender skirt element and a second end section is attached to or connected with a lower section of the vehicle.

[0019] A lower side element is attached to the bottom of the dashboard, an outer side element is attached to the lower side element, and the other end section of the first reinforcement element is attached to the lower side element and the outer side element.

[0020] The first reinforcement element is provided on both the left and right sides of the vehicle's width direction, and the first reinforcement elements on the left and right sides are connected to each other by a second reinforcement element that extends along the vehicle's width direction.

[0021] A dashboard base plate is attached to the dashboard, and the dashboard base plate is attached to a third reinforcing element designed to extend along the width direction of the vehicle.

[0022] The front element includes a front inner element, which is arranged inside along the width direction of the vehicle, and a front outer element, which is arranged on the outside along the width direction of the vehicle.

[0023] A fourth reinforcement element is attached to the dashboard and dashboard base plate, and both end sections of the fourth reinforcement element are attached to the front inner element.

[0024] The lower side element and the outer side element can form a U-shaped cross-section, and the other end section of the first reinforcing element can be inserted into the U-shaped cross-section to be joined to the lower side element and the outer side element.

[0025] The fourth reinforcing element can be shaped like a C.

[0026] The fourth reinforcement elements can be arranged on both sides of the left and right sides, and the fourth reinforcement elements on the left and right sides can be connected to each other by the third reinforcement element.

[0027] A subframe mounting bracket for mounting a subframe can be attached to the front inner element, and the second reinforcement element can be attached to the front inner element along with the subframe mounting bracket.

[0028] The first reinforcement element can be inserted into a space formed by the front inner element and the front outer element and joined to the front inner element and the front outer element.

[0029] The lower side element can be positioned between the first reinforcement element and the front inner element, in order to be joined to the first reinforcement element and the front inner element.

[0030] The front outer element and the first reinforcement element can be attached to the dashboard base plate.

[0031] A battery housing can be mounted on the second reinforcement element.

[0032] The second reinforcement element can be attached to the front inner element and the first reinforcement element.

[0033] A side sill designed to extend along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle may also be included, and a side sill front element may be attached to the front end section of the side sill along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0034] Both end sections of the lower side element can be connected to the side sill front element or the front element.

[0035] According to a vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in the case of a frontal impact or an offset collision with an object while the vehicle is moving, the impact load is preferably directed to the front element, and the impact load directed to the front element is effectively distributed to an upper part of the vehicle body via the upper fender skirt element connected to the front element.

[0036] Furthermore, the load applied to the front element is distributed by the cascade structure to the front pillar and the lower side element, thus reducing the load transferred to the dashboard and effectively reducing the deformation of the dashboard.

[0037] On the other hand, due to the cascading structure, the load applied to the upper fender apron element is appropriately distributed to the upper part of the roof, the second reinforcement element and the lower side element, so that the deformation of the dashboard can be effectively reduced.

[0038] On the other hand, with the low forward overlap of the vehicle, the collision load is distributed to the upper fender apron element and the front element, and the cascading structure of the first, second, third and fourth reinforcement elements causes a lateral movement of the vehicle body, thus preventing excessive damage to the vehicle body and providing safer protection for the occupant. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] The above and other functions, features and other advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 an exemplary perspective view of a vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 2 an exemplary top view of a part of the vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 3 an exemplary AA line cross-sectional view of Fig. 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 4 an exemplary other perspective view of a vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 5 is an exemplary perspective view when considering an occupant compartment of a vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 6 an exemplary BB line cross-sectional view of Fig. 4 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 7 another exemplary perspective view of a vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 8 an exemplary CC line cross-sectional view of Fig. 7 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and Fig. 9 is an exemplary lower perspective view of a part of the vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXECUTION FORMS

[0040] While the disclosure will be described in connection with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the disclosure to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended that the disclosure not only covers the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and other exemplary embodiments that may be included within the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

[0041] The terminology used herein serves only to describe particular embodiments and is not intended to limit the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, the terms "have" and / or "with," when used in this specification or description, will be understood to specify the presence of specified features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but will not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0042] As used herein, the term “and / or” encompasses any combination of one or more of the related listed items. For example, to clarify the description of the present disclosure, parts without reference are not shown, and the thicknesses of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. Furthermore, when it is stated that a layer is “on” or “at” another layer or substrate, the layer may be directly on top of another layer or substrate, or a third layer may be arranged between them.

[0043] It is understood that the term “vehicle” or “vehicle…” or any other similar term as used herein includes motor vehicles in general, such as passenger cars including off-road vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats, ships, aircraft, and the like, and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, combustion engine vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuels derived from resources other than petroleum). An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0044] With reference to Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3 comprises a vehicle front body applied to a reinforcement structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a front element 10 configured to extend in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle and arranged on both the left and right sides along the width direction of the vehicle, an upper fender apron element 20 arranged outside the front element 10 in the width direction of the vehicle and extending along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to connect to or join the front element 10, and a dashboard 30 configured to extend in the width and height direction of the vehicle and to divide an engine compartment and a passenger compartment.

[0045] A front pillar 40, designed to extend in the longitudinal and vertical direction of the vehicle, is coupled to the instrument panel 30, and the upper fender skirt element 20 is joined to the instrument panel 30 and the front pillar 40.

[0046] A lower side element 12 is attached to the lower end section of the instrument panel 30, an outer side element 14 is attached to the lower side element 12, and the lower side element 12 and the outer side element 14 can form an essentially U-shaped cross-section.

[0047] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention for reinforcing the vehicle front body structure, a first reinforcing element 50 is further provided. The first reinforcing element 50 extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle. One end section of the first reinforcing element 50 is joined to the upper fender skirt element 20, and the other end section of it can be inserted into the U-shaped cross-section in order to attach to or join the lower side element 12 and the outer side element 14.

[0048] The first reinforcement element 50 is arranged on both the left and right sides along the width direction of the vehicle to connect the upper fender skirt element 20, the lower side element 12 and the outer side element 14.

[0049] By connecting the upper fender skirt element 20 of the upper vehicle body and the lower side element 12 and the outer side element 14 of the lower vehicle body via the first reinforcement element 50 (hereinafter referred to as a cascade structure or cascading structure), the connection stiffness between the upper vehicle body and the lower vehicle body is increased, thereby effectively distributing the input load to the vehicle body.

[0050] With reference to Fig. 4, Fig. 5 to Fig. 6 the lower sections of the first reinforcing elements 50 on both the left and the right side are connected to each other by a second reinforcing element 60.

[0051] This means that both end sections of the second reinforcing element 60 can be attached to both side surfaces facing each other of the lower sections of the first reinforcing elements 50 on both the left and right sides.

[0052] By connecting the first reinforcement elements 50 on both the left and right sides through the second reinforcement element 60, the up-down and left-right stiffness of the vehicle body can be increased, and a large-capacity battery housing 70 can be attached to the second reinforcement element 60 to increase the mounting stiffness of the large-capacity battery.

[0053] Furthermore, a third reinforcing element 80, extending along the width direction of the vehicle, is attached to a dashboard base plate 32, which is continuously joined to the dashboard 30.

[0054] The front element 10 comprises a front inner element 11, positioned on the inside along the width direction of the vehicle, and a front outer element 13, positioned on the outside along the width direction of the vehicle. A fourth reinforcing element 90, which may be substantially C-shaped, is joined to the front inner element 11, the instrument panel 30, and the instrument panel base plate 32. Both end sections of the fourth reinforcing element 90 are joined to the front inner element 11.

[0055] The fourth reinforcing element 90 can be arranged on either the left or the right side. The fourth reinforcing elements 90 on both the left and the right sides can be connected to each other by the third reinforcing element 80.

[0056] This means that both end sections of the third reinforcing element 80 can be joined to the fourth reinforcing elements 90 on the left and right sides, so that the fourth reinforcing elements 90 on the left and right sides can be connected to each other by the third reinforcing element 80.

[0057] Since the fourth reinforcement element 90 can increase the rigidity of the dashboard 30 and the dashboard floor plate 32 to prevent the vehicle body from intruding into the passenger compartment in frontal or side collisions, it is possible to protect the occupants more safely. The third reinforcement element 80 not only increases the lateral rigidity of the vehicle body like the second reinforcement element 60, but also connects the fourth reinforcement elements 90 on both the left and right sides to effectively increase the front body rigidity.

[0058] With reference to Fig. 6, a subframe mounting bracket 100 for mounting a subframe on which the suspension system and so forth is mounted can be attached to the front inner element 11, and the second reinforcement element 60 can be attached to the front inner element 11 together with the subframe mounting bracket 100.

[0059] The first reinforcement element 50 can be inserted into the space formed by the front inner element 11 and the front outer element 13, and can be joined to the front inner element 11 and the front outer element 13. The lower side element 12 can be positioned between the first reinforcement element 50 and the front inner element 11 to be joined together. The front outer element 13 and the first reinforcement element 50 can be joined together to the dashboard base plate 32.

[0060] As in Fig. 7 and Fig. Figure 8 shows that if the battery housing 70 is not mounted directly on the second reinforcing element 60, the second reinforcing element 60 can be higher than the one shown in Figure 8. Fig. The second reinforcement element 60 shown in Figure 4 is positioned in the vertical direction of the vehicle to connect the first reinforcement element 50 on both the left and right sides.

[0061] In this case, the second reinforcement element 60 can be joined together with the front inner element 11 and the first reinforcement element 50.

[0062] With reference to Fig. 9. A side sill 110 can extend along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and be arranged on both sides along the width direction of the vehicle. A front end section of the side sill 110 along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle can be joined to a side sill front element 112.

[0063] Both end sections of the lower side element 12 can be connected to the side sill front element 112 or the front element 10, so that the longitudinal lateral stiffness along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle can be effectively increased, and the intrusion of the barrier and the tire into the occupant compartment at the time of an impact at or with a small overlap can be prevented.

[0064] According to the vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to the present disclosure, which is designed as described above, when the frontal impact or frontal impact with a small offset occurs with the collision object while the vehicle is moving, the collision load is preferably directed to the front element 10, and the collision load directed to the front element 10 is effectively distributed to the upper part of the vehicle body via the upper fender skirt element 20, which is connected to the front element 10.

[0065] The load applied to the front element 10 is distributed by the cascading structure to the front pillar 40 and the lower side element 12. Consequently, the load transferred to the dashboard 30 is reduced, thus minimizing the deformation of the dashboard 30.

[0066] On the other hand, the load supplied to the upper fender skirt element 20 is appropriately distributed by the cascading structure to the upper section of the roof, the second reinforcement element 60 and the lower side element 12, thereby effectively reducing deformation of the dashboard 30.

[0067] Furthermore, in the event of a frontal impact with a small overlap of the vehicle, the impact load is distributed to the upper fender apron element 20 and the front element 10, and the cascading structure formed by the first, second, third and fourth reinforcement elements causes the vehicle body to behave in the lateral direction, thus preventing excessive damage to the vehicle body and providing safer protection for the occupants.

[0068] While this invention has been described in connection with what are currently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements that are included within the scope of the attached claims.

Claims

[1] Vehicle front body reinforcement structure, with: a pair of front elements (10) extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle in a lateral direction of the vehicle; a dashboard (30) which extends in the width and height direction of the vehicle and divides an engine compartment and a passenger compartment; a front pillar (40) which extends in the longitudinal and vertical direction of the vehicle and is connected to the dashboard (30); an upper fender skirt element (20) which is arranged outside of each of the pair of front elements (10) in the width direction of the vehicle, extends along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is connected to the pair of front elements (10), the instrument panel (30) and the front pillar (40); a first reinforcing element (50) extending along the vertical direction of the vehicle, of which a first end section is connected to the upper fender skirt element (20) and a second end section is connected to a lower section of the vehicle; a lower side element (12) which is connected to a floor section of the dashboard (30); and an outer side element (14) which is connected to the lower side element (12), wherein the second end section of the first reinforcement element is connected to the lower side element (12) and the outer side element (14), wherein the first reinforcing element (50) is provided in pairs and is arranged on both the left and right sides of the vehicle in the width direction of the vehicle, and wherein the pair of first reinforcing elements (50) on the left and right sides is connected to each other by a second reinforcing element (60) which extends in the width direction of the vehicle, furthermore with: a dashboard base plate (32) which is connected to the dashboard (30), wherein the dashboard floor plate (32) is connected to a third reinforcing element (80) which extends along the width direction of the vehicle, wherein each of the pair of front-end elements (10) has: a front inner element (11) arranged within each of the pair of front elements (10) along the width direction of the vehicle; and a front outer element (13) arranged outside of each of the pair of front elements (10) along the width direction of the vehicle, and furthermore with: a fourth reinforcement element (90) which is connected to the dashboard (30) and the dashboard base plate (32), wherein end sections of the fourth reinforcement element (90) are connected to the front inner element (11). [2] Vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to claim 1, wherein each of the lower side element (12) and the outer side element (14) has a U-shaped cross-section, and wherein the second end section of the first reinforcing element (50) is inserted into the U-shaped cross-section to be connected to the lower side element (12) and the outer side element (14). [3] Vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to claim 1, wherein the fourth reinforcement element (90) has a C-shape. [4] Vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to claim 1, wherein the fourth reinforcement element (90) is provided in pairs and is arranged on both sides of the left and right sides, and wherein the pair of fourth reinforcement elements (90) on the left and right sides is connected to each other by the third reinforcement element (80). [5] Vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a subframe mounting bracket (100) for mounting a subframe, which is connected to the front inner element (11), wherein the second reinforcement element (60) is connected to the front inner element (11) together with the subframe mounting bracket (100). [6] Vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of first reinforcement elements (50) is inserted into a space between the front inner element (11) and the front outer element (13) and is connected to the front inner element (11) and the front outer element (13). [7] Vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to claim 1, wherein the lower side element (12) is arranged between and connected to each of the pair of first reinforcement elements (50) and the front inner element (11). [8] Vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to claim 1, wherein the front outer element (13) and each of the pair of first reinforcement elements (50) are connected to the dashboard floor panel (32). [9] Vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to claim 1, further comprising a battery housing (70) mounted on the second reinforcement element (60). [10] Vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to claim 1, wherein the second reinforcement element (60) is connected to the front inner element (11) and each of the pair of first reinforcement elements (50). [11] Vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a side sill (110) extending along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and a side sill front element (112) which is connected to a front end section of the side sill (110) along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. [12] Vehicle front body reinforcement structure according to claim 11, wherein end sections of the lower side elements (12) are connected to the side sill front element (112) or to each of the pair of front elements (10).

Images