Vehicle structure

Abstract

This suppresses the displacement of the detection wave passage section of the exterior component. [Solution] The vehicle structure 10 comprises a first exterior member 1 that constitutes the design surface on the outside of the vehicle at the front, rear, or side of the vehicle, and a second exterior member 2 that is arranged on the outside of a part of the first exterior member 1. The first exterior member 1 has a sensor opening 11 through which detection waves detected by a sensor device pass, and the second exterior member 2 has a detection wave passing portion 21 that covers the sensor opening 11 from the outside of the vehicle and through which detection waves pass. The peripheral portion of the detection wave passing portion 21 of the second exterior member 2 is attached to the peripheral portion of the sensor opening 11 of the first exterior member 1. The vehicle structure 10 further comprises a reinforcing member 3 that reinforces the peripheral portion of the sensor opening 11 of the first exterior member 1.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the vehicle structure of automobiles and the like, and more particularly to the vehicle structure of the front, rear or side of a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Sensor devices for detecting the vehicle exterior environment are provided at the front and rear of vehicles such as automobiles. Examples of sensor devices include millimeter-wave radars that use electromagnetic waves in the millimeter-wave band as detection waves, acoustic sensors (ultrasonic sensors / sonars) that use sound waves as detection waves, cameras (imaging devices), and the like. The sensor device is disposed on the back surface of an exterior member such as a bumper or a grill that constitutes the design surface on the outside of the vehicle, and the exterior member has a detection wave passage portion through which the detection wave passes.

[0003] As an example of a conventional vehicle structure having a structure for disposing a sensor device at the front or rear of a vehicle, the structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. The structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a lower grill disposed outside the vehicle body of a radar module, and a protective cover attached to the opening of the lower grill and covering the radar module. The protective cover transmits millimeter waves or microwaves transmitted and received by the radar module.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Exterior components, such as the lower grille and protective cover in Patent Document 1, are often made of resin, and their rigidity is lower than that of the vehicle body structure components. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, when the exterior components are subjected to external forces such as vehicle vibrations during driving or minor collisions, the protective cover, which acts as a detection wave passage section, may be displaced, potentially changing the relative positional relationship (distance and angle) between the protective cover and the radar module. Such changes in the relative positional relationship between the detection wave passage section and the sensor device may lead to a decrease in the detection accuracy of the sensor device.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle structure that can suppress the displacement of the detection wave passage portion of the exterior member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a vehicle structure comprising: a first exterior member that constitutes the design surface on the outside of the vehicle at the front, rear, or side of the vehicle, the first exterior member having a sensor opening through which detection waves detected by a sensor device arranged on the inside of the vehicle pass; and a second exterior member that is arranged on the outside of a part of the first exterior member and constitutes the design surface on the outside of the vehicle, the second exterior member having a detection wave passing portion that covers the sensor opening from the outside of the vehicle and through which the detection waves pass. In this vehicle structure, the peripheral portion of the detection wave passing portion of the second exterior member is attached to the peripheral portion of the sensor opening of the first exterior member. The vehicle structure further comprises a reinforcing member that reinforces the peripheral portion of the sensor opening of the first exterior member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle structure that can suppress the displacement of the detection wave passage portion of the exterior member. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is an exploded perspective view of the front of a vehicle to which a vehicle structure according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied, as seen from the front of the vehicle. [Figure 2] This is a partial front view of the vehicle structure as seen from the front of the vehicle. [Figure 3] This is a partial rear view of the vehicle structure, seen from the rear of the vehicle. [Figure 4] This is a partial rear view of the vehicle structure, seen from the rear of the vehicle with the reinforcing members removed. [Figure 5] This is a partial perspective view of the vehicle structure as seen from the rear. [Figure 6] This is a partial perspective view of the vehicle structure as seen from the rear of the vehicle with the reinforcing members removed. [Figure 7] This is a partial rear view of the vehicle structure illustrating the arrangement of the second exterior member side connecting portion and the reinforcing member side connecting portion. [Figure 8] This is a partial rear view of the sensor support member attached to the first exterior component. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the direction of arrow Fr indicates the front of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction. The direction of arrow L indicates the left side in the vehicle width direction when the vehicle is viewed from the rear towards the front. The direction of arrow U indicates the top of the vehicle in the vertical direction (hereinafter referred to as the vertical direction). In the following description, "front" and "rear" correspond to the front and rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, respectively, and "up" and "down" correspond to the top and bottom in the vehicle vertical direction, respectively. "Left" and "right" correspond to the left and right in the vehicle width direction when the vehicle is viewed from the rear towards the front.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the vehicle structure 10 according to this embodiment includes a first exterior member 1 and a second exterior member 2, which are arranged on the front, rear, or side of a vehicle such as an automobile. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, the vehicle structure 10 includes a reinforcing member 3 attached to the first exterior member 1. In this embodiment, the vehicle structure 10 is applied to the front of the vehicle, and the first exterior member 1 and the second exterior member 2 are arranged on the front of the vehicle. Therefore, in this embodiment, "outside of the vehicle" and "outside of the vehicle" according to the present invention refer to the front side and the front of the vehicle, respectively, and "inside of the vehicle" and "inside of the vehicle" according to the present invention refer to the rear side and the rear of the vehicle, respectively. Note that the front of the vehicle includes not only the central part in the width direction facing the front of the vehicle, but also the side ends on both sides in the width direction facing diagonally to the front.

[0012] The front of the vehicle is provided with an exterior panel 20 including a first exterior member 1 and a second exterior member 2, a sensor support member 30 for supporting a sensor device S for detecting the external environment, and a vehicle body structure member 40. In this embodiment, the exterior panel 20 is a bumper panel, the first exterior member 1 is a grille panel having a plurality of ventilation holes penetrating in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the second exterior member 2 is a decorative panel attached to the first exterior member 1 from the front of the vehicle. The exterior panel 20 may further include other exterior members such as side panels arranged on both sides of the first exterior member 1 in the vehicle width direction.

[0013] The sensor support member 30 is positioned on the rear side (inside the vehicle) of the first exterior member 1 and supports the sensor device S (see Figures 1 and 8) at the sensor support portion 30a. The sensor device S is, for example, a millimeter-wave radar that uses millimeter-wave electromagnetic waves as detection waves and transmits (irradiates) and receives (detects) detection waves. The vehicle body structure member 40 is a highly rigid member that constitutes the vehicle's frame, made of steel plates or the like, and has a plurality of cross members 40a, a pair of left and right column members 40b, and a pair of left and right side members 40c. The sensor support member 30 is fixed to the vehicle body structure member 40 and supported from the rear side of the vehicle by the vehicle body structure member 40. The exterior panels 20 (first exterior member 1 and second exterior member 2) are fixed to the vehicle body structure member 40 directly or indirectly via the sensor support member 30 and supported from the rear side of the vehicle by the vehicle body structure member 40.

[0014] The first exterior member 1 constitutes the exterior design surface of the vehicle at the front of the vehicle. The first exterior member 1 extends in the vertical and vehicle width directions and is positioned to generally face the front (outside) of the vehicle. The first exterior member 1 constitutes the design surface of the central part in the vehicle width direction of the front design surface of the vehicle. On the rear side (inside) of the first exterior member 1, a sensor device S is positioned with its sensor surface (not shown) facing the front (outside) of the vehicle. In the illustrated example, the sensor device S is generally a rectangular parallelepiped and is fixed to the sensor support portion 30a of the sensor support member 30 by a sensor bracket (not shown).

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first exterior member 1 has a sensor opening 11 through which the detection wave detected by the sensor device S passes. The sensor opening 11 penetrates the first exterior member 1 in the vehicle front-rear direction (vehicle interior-exterior direction), which is the thickness direction of the first exterior member 1, and is opened larger than the sensor surface. The detection wave passes through the sensor opening 11 in the vehicle front-rear direction (vehicle interior-exterior direction). In the present embodiment, the sensor opening 11 is generally T-shaped in a plan view seen from one side in the vehicle front-rear direction, and as will be described in detail later, has an upper opening main body portion 11a for the sensor device S and a lower extended opening portion 11b for the camera. The sensor opening 11 is provided at the center in the vehicle width direction and the center in the vertical direction of the first exterior member 1.

[0016] The second exterior member 2 is disposed on the vehicle front side (vehicle outer side) of a part of the first exterior member 1 and covers the part of the first exterior member 1 from the vehicle front side (vehicle outer side). In the present embodiment, the second exterior member 2, which is a decorative panel, covers the center in the vehicle width direction and the upper part of the first exterior member 1. In the following description, the part of the first exterior member 1 covered by the second exterior member 2 is referred to as the covered portion, and the part of the first exterior member 1 other than the covered portion is referred to as the non-covered portion. The covered portion includes at least a part of the sensor opening 11.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the second exterior member 2 has a detection wave passage portion 21 that covers at least a part of the sensor opening 11 from the vehicle front side (vehicle outer side) and through which the detection wave passes. In the present embodiment, the detection wave passage portion 21 covers the opening main body portion 11a of the sensor opening 11. The peripheral portion of the detection wave passage portion 21 of the second exterior member 2 is attached to the peripheral portion of the sensor opening 11 by being connected to the peripheral portion of the sensor opening 11 at a second exterior member side connecting portion 12 described later.

[0018] The detection wave passing portion 21 is a thin plate-like portion generally facing the front of the vehicle, and is formed of a material having the property that detection waves can pass through, such as synthetic resin or the like. The detection wave passing portion 21 is formed larger than the sensor surface and faces the sensor surface in the vehicle longitudinal direction (vehicle interior and exterior direction) through the sensor opening 11. In the illustrated example, the detection wave passing portion 21 is trapezoidal in reverse in a plan view seen from one side in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The detection wave transmitted from the sensor device S passes through (penetrates) the detection wave passing portion 21 and is irradiated to the front of the vehicle. When there is an obstacle in front of the vehicle, the detection wave reflected by the obstacle and passing through (penetrating) the detection wave passing portion 21 is received and detected by the sensor device S.

[0019] Note that the sensor device S is not limited to a millimeter-wave radar, and may be an acoustic wave sensor (ultrasonic sensor / sonar) using acoustic waves as detection waves, or a camera (imaging device) using electromagnetic waves in the visible light band or electromagnetic waves in the infrared band as detection waves. In this case, the detection wave passing portion 21 may have a through-hole (opening). The detection wave may be sunlight or transmitted from a detection wave transmission device provided separately from the sensor device S. In this case, the sensor device S does not have to transmit the detection wave.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the reinforcing member 3 reinforces the peripheral portion of the sensor opening 11 in the first exterior member 1. Specifically, the reinforcing member 3 is connected and attached to the peripheral portion of the sensor opening 11 from the rear side (inside the vehicle) of the vehicle, and reinforces the peripheral portion of the sensor opening 11 from the inside of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the reinforcing member 3 is a cover member attached to the first exterior member 1 to protect a camera that images an obstacle or the like in front of the vehicle (outside the vehicle), and is also an exterior member that constitutes a part of the design surface on the outside of the vehicle at the front of the vehicle. The reinforcing member 3 is attached to the lower portion (specifically, the peripheral portion of the extended opening portion 11b) of the peripheral portion of the sensor opening 11.

[0021] Specifically, the reinforcing member 3 has a protruding portion 31 that is inserted into the extension opening 11b from the rear side (inside the vehicle) and protrudes forward (outside the vehicle) relative to the first exterior member 1, and a mounting portion 32 that is provided around the protruding portion 31 and attached to the first exterior member 1 from the rear side of the vehicle. The protruding portion 31 has a convex shape that bulges forward (outside the vehicle) and opens to the rear side (inside the vehicle), and a camera is housed inside the protruding portion 31. A camera exposure hole 31a is opened in the front wall of the protruding portion 31 that faces forward, and the front surface of the camera is exposed to the outside of the vehicle through the camera exposure hole 31a. The mounting portion 32 has an edge portion 321 that surrounds the protruding portion 31, and three flange portions 322a, 322b, and 322c that extend from the edge portion 321 to the opposite side of the protruding portion 31. The three flange portions 322a, 322b, and 322c are provided to the left, right, and below the protrusion 31, respectively, and extend to the right, left, and below the protrusion 31, respectively. Each flange portion 322a, 322b, and 322c is connected to the first exterior member 1 at the reinforcing member side connecting portion 13 (13a, 13b, 13c), which will be described later, thereby attaching the reinforcing member 3 to the periphery of the sensor opening 11.

[0022] To maintain the desired detection accuracy of the sensor device S, it is necessary to maintain the relative positional relationship (distance and angle) between the sensor device S and the detection wave passing section 21. In particular, in the case of a sensor device S such as a millimeter-wave radar that uses detection waves with high directivity, high precision in the relative positional relationship is required to maintain detection accuracy. According to this embodiment, the peripheral portion of the detection wave passing section 21 is attached to the peripheral portion of the sensor aperture 11, and the peripheral portion of the sensor aperture 11 is reinforced by the reinforcing member 3. This increases the support rigidity of the detection wave passing section 21. Therefore, even when the first and second exterior members 1 and 2 are subjected to external forces such as vibrations of the vehicle during driving or minor collisions, the displacement of the detection wave passing section 21 of the second exterior member 2 can be suppressed, and as a result, the detection accuracy of the sensor device S can be maintained.

[0023] Next, the vehicle structure 10 will be described in detail. As shown in Figures 3 and 5, in this embodiment, the reinforcing member 3 is connected not only to the first exterior member 1 but also to the second exterior member 2. With this configuration, the support rigidity of the second exterior member 2 by the reinforcing member 3 is increased, and as a result the support rigidity of the detection wave passage section 21 is further increased. Therefore, the displacement of the detection wave passage section 21 can be suppressed more reliably, and the detection accuracy of the sensor device S can be maintained more reliably.

[0024] Specifically, as shown in Figures 3 to 6, a reinforcing connecting portion 22 is provided around the detection wave passing portion 21 of the second exterior member 2, to which the reinforcing member 3 is connected. The reinforcing member 3 is connected to the second exterior member 2 at the reinforcing connecting portion 22. In the illustrated example, the reinforcing connecting portion 22 has an engaging claw that protrudes toward the rear of the vehicle, and an engaging hole is provided in the portion of the reinforcing member 3 corresponding to the engaging claw. The reinforcing member 3 is directly connected to the second exterior member 2 by the engagement of the engaging claw and the engaging hole. The reinforcing member 3 may also be connected to the second exterior member 2 using other connecting members such as bolts. Alternatively, the reinforcing member 3 may be connected to the second exterior member 2 via the first exterior member 1.

[0025] As shown in Figure 7, in this embodiment, the reinforcing member 3 may be provided with a bracket 4 that reinforces the reinforcing member 3. With this configuration, the rigidity of the reinforcing member 3 is increased, thereby further increasing the support rigidity of the detection wave passage section 21. Therefore, the displacement of the detection wave passage section 21 can be suppressed more reliably, and the detection accuracy of the sensor device S can be maintained more reliably.

[0026] In this embodiment, the bracket 4 is a component for attaching the camera to the reinforcing member 3, or a component for concealing the camera exposure hole 31a in a configuration without a camera. The bracket 4 is attached to the reinforcing member 3 from the rear side (inside the vehicle) and reinforces the reinforcing member 3 from the rear side (inside the vehicle). In the illustrated example, the bracket 4 is a plate-shaped component, and in a plan view taken in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, it is a roughly rectangular shape that is long in the vehicle width direction. The bracket 4 has a camera mounting portion to which the camera is attached from the front, and a pair of reinforcing member mounting portions on both the left and right sides of the camera mounting portion. The camera attached to the camera mounting portion is positioned inside the protrusion 31. The pair of reinforcing member mounting portions are attached (fixed) to the mounting portions 32 (322a, 322b) of the reinforcing member 3 on both sides of the protrusion 31 in the vehicle width direction.

[0027] As shown in Figures 2 to 6, in this embodiment, the second exterior member 2 has a passage-side bulge 23 adjacent to the detection wave passage section 21 and bulging forward (outside the vehicle). The reinforcing member 3 is connected to the peripheral portion of the passage-side bulge 23 of the second exterior member 2. The passage-side bulge 23 and its peripheral portion have high rigidity. Therefore, by providing the passage-side bulge 23 in a position adjacent to the detection wave passage section 21, the rigidity of the detection wave passage section 21 and its peripheral portion is increased, thereby more reliably suppressing the displacement of the detection wave passage section 21. Furthermore, by connecting the reinforcing member 3 to the peripheral portion of the passage-side bulge 23, the support rigidity of the detection wave passage section 21 by the reinforcing member 3 is further increased, and the displacement of the detection wave passage section 21 can be suppressed even more reliably.

[0028] Specifically, the aforementioned reinforcing connecting portion 22 is provided on the periphery of the passage-side bulge portion 23. In the illustrated example, the passage-side bulge portion 23 is adjacent to the lower side of the detection wave passage portion 21 and is provided in the central part of the detection wave passage portion 21 in the vehicle width direction. The reinforcing connecting portion 22 is provided on the lower wall of the passage-side bulge portion 23, and the engaging claw of the aforementioned reinforcing connecting portion 22 protrudes toward the rear of the vehicle from the rear end of the lower wall. The reinforcing member 3 is connected to the periphery of the passage-side bulge portion 23 by engagement between the engaging claw and the engaging hole of the reinforcing member 3.

[0029] As shown in Figures 3 to 6, in this embodiment, the first exterior member 1 has a plurality of second exterior member-side connecting portions 12 to which the second exterior member 2 is connected, and a plurality of reinforcing member-side connecting portions 13 to which the reinforcing member 3 is connected. The plurality of second exterior member-side connecting portions 12 are arranged over the entire covering portion of the first exterior member 1, and the plurality of reinforcing member-side connecting portions 13 are arranged around the sensor opening 11. In the referenced drawings, only some of the second exterior member-side connecting portions 12 are labeled with reference numerals.

[0030] The multiple second exterior member-side connecting portions 12 include at least one reinforcing member-near connecting portion 12a, which is positioned near one of the multiple reinforcing member-side connecting portions 13 in the periphery of the sensor opening 11. Each reinforcing member-side connecting portion 13 and its periphery have high rigidity. Therefore, by positioning the reinforcing member-near connecting portions 12a near the reinforcing member-side connecting portions 13 in the periphery of the sensor opening 11, the support rigidity of the detection wave passage portion 21 by the first exterior member 1 is increased, thereby more reliably suppressing the displacement of the detection wave passage portion 21.

[0031] In the illustrated example, two reinforcing member proximity connecting portions 12a are arranged near the first and second reinforcing member side connecting portions 13a and 13b, respectively, of the multiple reinforcing member side connecting portions 13. Specifically, the multiple reinforcing member side connecting portions 13 are arranged to the left, right, and below the extension opening 11b, respectively, and include the first reinforcing member side connecting portion 13a, the second reinforcing member side connecting portion 13b, and the third reinforcing member side connecting portion 13c, to which the flange portions 322a, 322b, and 322c of the reinforcing member 3 are connected, respectively. Two reinforcing member proximity connecting portions 12a are arranged above and below the first and second reinforcing member side connecting portions 13a and 13b, respectively.

[0032] At each second exterior member side connecting portion 12, the second exterior member 2 is connected to the first exterior member 1 by using connecting members such as bolts or clips, or by the engagement of the engaging claws of the second exterior member 2 with the engaging holes of the first exterior member 1. At each reinforcing member side connecting portion 13, the reinforcing member 3 is connected to the first exterior member 1 by using connecting members such as bolts or clips, or by the engagement of the engaging claws with the engaging holes. In the illustrated example, at each reinforcing member side connecting portion 13, the two elements of the first exterior member 1 and the reinforcing member 3 are connected in an overlapping manner. At least one reinforcing member side connecting portion 13 (for example, the first and second reinforcing member side connecting portions 13a, 13b) may have three elements, the first exterior member 1, the second exterior member 2, and the reinforcing member 3, connected in an overlapping manner.

[0033] As shown in Figures 2 to 6, in this embodiment, the first exterior member 1 has a recess 14 provided around the sensor opening 11. The recess 14 extends in the vertical direction and is recessed inward or outward from the vehicle. The first exterior member 1 also has the aforementioned plurality of second exterior member side connecting portions 12, and the plurality of second exterior member side connecting portions 12 include at least one recess connecting portion 12b located in the recess 14.

[0034] The recess 14, which extends in the vertical direction, has high rigidity in the vertical direction. Therefore, the placement of the recess connecting portion 12b in the recess 14 increases the rigidity of the peripheral part of the sensor opening 11 in the vertical direction, thereby increasing the support rigidity of the reinforcing member 3 in the vertical direction. As a result, the support rigidity of the detection wave passage portion 21 is further increased, and the displacement of the detection wave passage portion 21 can be suppressed more reliably. In particular, by combining the recess connecting portion 12b with the aforementioned bracket 4, the support rigidity of the reinforcing member 3 is effectively increased, thereby further reliably suppressing the displacement of the detection wave passage portion 21.

[0035] In the illustrated example, the first exterior member 1 has recesses 14, which are recesses 14a that are recessed toward the rear (inward) of the vehicle and two second recesses 14b that are recessed toward the front (outward) of the vehicle. The two first recesses 14a are located on both sides of the opening body 11a in the vehicle width direction and extend along the opening edge of the opening body 11a. The two second recesses 14b are located on both sides of the extending opening 11b in the vehicle width direction and extend along the opening edge of the extending opening 11b. The recess connecting portion 12b is provided on the bottom wall of each first recess 14a facing the front of the vehicle. The second recesses 14b are provided around the recess connecting portion 12b. In other words, the plurality of second exterior member side connecting portions 12 include recess peripheral connecting portions (12b) that are located around the recesses (14b).

[0036] Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the first recess 14a and the second recess 14b are located near the first and second reinforcing member side connecting portions 13a and 13b, respectively. Specifically, the lower end of the first recess 14a and the second recess 14b are located on both sides in the vehicle width direction of the first and second reinforcing member side connecting portions 13a and 13b, respectively. This arrangement increases the rigidity of the first and second reinforcing member side connecting portions 13a and 13b and their surrounding areas. Therefore, the support rigidity of the reinforcing member 3 is increased, and the displacement of the detection wave passing portion 21 can be suppressed more reliably.

[0037] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, in this embodiment, the first exterior member 1 has a plate support portion 15 that supports the number plate from the inside of the vehicle, and the reinforcing member 3 is also connected to the plate support portion 15. The number plate is also called a license plate. The plate support portion 15 that supports the number plate has high rigidity. Therefore, by connecting the reinforcing member 3 to the plate support portion 15, the support rigidity of the peripheral part of the sensor opening 11 by the reinforcing member 3 is increased, and the displacement of the peripheral part of the sensor opening 11 can be suppressed. Furthermore, when the reinforcing member 3 is connected to the second exterior member 2, the support rigidity of the detection wave passage portion 21 is effectively increased, and the displacement of the detection wave passage portion 21 can be suppressed more effectively.

[0038] Specifically, the plate support portion 15 has a rectangular support wall 151 that extends vertically and in the vehicle width direction and faces the front of the vehicle. The number plate is attached to the front surface of the support wall 151 using bolts. The plate support portion 15 is provided in the uncovered portion of the first exterior member 1, around the sensor opening 11. In the illustrated example, the plate support portion 15 is adjacent to the lower side of the sensor opening 11 (extended opening 11b). At least one of the multiple reinforcing member side connecting portions 13 is positioned on the plate support portion 15. In the illustrated example, the lower third reinforcing member side connecting portion 13c is positioned at the upper end of the plate support portion 15, and the lower flange portion 322c of the reinforcing member 3 is connected to the plate support portion 15 at the third reinforcing member side connecting portion 13c.

[0039] As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the plate support portion 15 has a support portion-side bulge portion 152 that bulges out from the support wall 151 toward the rear (inward) of the vehicle, and the aforementioned third reinforcing member-side connecting portion (reinforcing member-side connecting portion) 13c. The third reinforcing member-side connecting portion 13c is connected (fixed) to the support wall 151 and the support portion-side bulge portion 152. With this configuration, since both the support wall 151 to which the number plate is attached and the support portion-side bulge portion 152 have high rigidity, the third reinforcing member-side connecting portion 13c also has high rigidity. By connecting the reinforcing member 3 to such a third reinforcing member-side connecting portion 13c, the support rigidity of the reinforcing member 3 by the first exterior member 1 is increased. As a result, the support rigidity of the detection wave passage portion 21 is further increased, and the displacement of the detection wave passage portion 21 can be suppressed even more reliably.

[0040] Specifically, the support-side bulge 152 is provided near the third reinforcing member-side connecting portion 13c. In the illustrated example, the support-side bulge 152 is roughly frustoconical in shape, tapering towards the rear of the vehicle, and is provided below the third reinforcing member-side connecting portion 13c. As shown in Figure 6, the third reinforcing member-side connecting portion 13c is connected (fixed) to the rear surface of the support wall 151 and the upper surface of the support-side bulge 152.

[0041] More specifically, the third reinforcing member side connecting portion 13c has a cylindrical boss 13c1 with a screw hole formed therein, and a plurality of ribs 13c2 projecting radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the boss 13c1. The boss 13c1 projects toward the rear of the vehicle from the rear surface of the support wall 151, and the front end surface of the boss 13c1 is connected (fixed or secured) to the rear surface of the support wall 151. The reinforcing member 3 is connected to the third reinforcing member side connecting portion 13c by a bolt screwed into the screw hole from the front side of the vehicle. The plurality of ribs 13c2 are arranged with spacing in the circumferential direction and each extends in the longitudinal direction of the boss 13c1. In the illustrated example, four ribs 13c2 are provided on the top, bottom, left, and right of the boss 13c1. The lower rib 13c2 that projects downward is connected (fixed or secured) to the upper surface of the support side bulge 152.

[0042] In this embodiment, as described above, the sensor opening 11 has an opening body portion 11a through which the detected wave passes, and an extended opening 11b that extends from the opening body portion 11a to the peripheral portion of the covering. Also, as described above, the reinforcing member 3 has a protruding portion 31 that is inserted into the extended opening 11b from the rear side (inside the vehicle) and protrudes forward (outside the vehicle) relative to the first exterior member 1. As shown in Figure 2, the protruding portion 31 is an exposed portion that is exposed to the outside of the vehicle and is arranged adjacent to the second exterior member 2. As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the edge portion 321 of the mounting portion 32 that surrounds the protruding portion 31 is connected to the peripheral portion of the detected wave passing portion 21. In the illustrated example, the protruding portion 31 is arranged adjacent to the lower side of the second exterior member 2, and the upper portion of the edge portion 321 is connected to the peripheral portion of the detected wave passing portion 21 at the reinforcing connecting portion 22.

[0043] With this configuration, in the assembly process of the vehicle structure 10, it becomes easy to align the reinforcing member 3 with respect to the second exterior member 2 attached to the first exterior member 1 with high precision so that the width of the gap between the reinforcing member 3 (specifically, the protruding portion 31) and the second exterior member 2 is constant. This improves the precision of the gap width between the second exterior member 2 and the reinforcing member 3. Furthermore, if the reinforcing member 3 is a cover for a camera or the like, with a portion of it exposed to the outside of the vehicle, as in this embodiment, the quality of the appearance of the front of the vehicle can be improved. In the illustrated example, the width of the gap between the lower end of the through-section bulge 23 and the upper end of the protruding portion 31 can be kept constant.

[0044] Specifically, the opening body portion 11a is provided on the covered portion of the first exterior member 1 and is covered from the front of the vehicle by a part of the second exterior member 2, which includes the detection wave passing portion 21. The extension opening 11b is provided on the uncovered portion of the first exterior member 1 and is closed from the rear of the vehicle (inside the vehicle) by the reinforcing member 3. As described above, in this embodiment, the sensor opening 11 is generally T-shaped, the opening body portion 11a consists of the upper part of the sensor opening 11, and the extension opening 11b consists of the lower part of the sensor opening 11 that extends downward from the opening body portion 11a.

[0045] The projection 31 has a front wall facing the front of the vehicle and side walls projecting toward the rear of the vehicle from the periphery of the front wall. The front wall is roughly rectangular, extending in the vertical and vehicle width directions. The side walls are roughly U-shaped in a plan view taken in the vehicle's longitudinal direction and extend along the left, right, and lower edges of the front wall. The extension opening 11b has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the projection 31, and the projection 31 is fitted into the extension opening 11b from the rear side (inside the vehicle). The edge 321 is roughly rectangular and annular in a plan view taken from one side in the vehicle's longitudinal direction and extends along the upper end of the front wall and the rear end of the roughly U-shaped side wall.

[0046] Figure 7 is a partial plan view of the vehicle structure 10 as seen from the rear of the vehicle, illustrating the preferred arrangement of the second exterior member side connecting portion 12 and the reinforcing member side connecting portion 13 in this embodiment.

[0047] Some of the second exterior member side connecting parts 12 and some of the reinforcing member side connecting parts 13 are arranged to surround the detection wave passing part 21 (or opening body part 11a). Specifically, in a plan view from one of the vehicle's longitudinal direction (vehicle interior / exterior direction), some of the second exterior member side connecting parts 12 and some of the reinforcing member side connecting parts 13 are arranged along a circular imaginary line A surrounding the detection wave passing part 21 (or opening body part 11a). In the illustrated example, three second exterior member side connecting parts 12 and two reinforcing member side connecting parts 13 (13a, 13b) are arranged along the imaginary line A. Two positioning parts 16, to which the first exterior member 1 and the second exterior member 2 are positioned relative to each other, are also arranged along the imaginary line A. This arrangement of the connecting parts 12, 13 (and positioning parts 16) effectively increases the support rigidity of the detection wave passing part 21 by the first exterior member 1 and the reinforcing member 3, and more reliably suppresses the displacement of the detection wave passing part 21.

[0048] Figure 7 shows three positioning parts 16. In a plan view from one end of the vehicle's front-rear direction, the three positioning parts 16 are positioned at the three vertices of an upwardly convex virtual triangle E. For example, the first exterior member 1 has an insertion hole in the positioning part 16, and the second exterior member 2 has a positioning projection, such as a boss, that protrudes toward the rear of the vehicle at a position corresponding to the insertion hole. The second exterior member 2 is positioned relative to the first exterior member 1 such that the sensor opening 11 and the detection wave passing part 21 are positioned at a predetermined relative position when the positioning projection is inserted into the insertion hole from the front of the vehicle. The positioning part 16 is not limited to a combination of a positioning projection and a positioning hole, but may also be configured to be positioned using a connecting member such as a bolt. That is, the positioning part 16 may constitute a connecting part 12 on the second exterior member side.

[0049] The lines virtually connecting the three second exterior member side connecting portions 12 surrounding the detection wave passing portion 21 (or opening body portion 11a) form a first virtual triangle B. In a plan view taken in the vehicle's longitudinal direction (vehicle interior-exterior direction), the center of the first virtual triangle B is located approximately in the center of the detection wave passing portion 21. This arrangement effectively increases the support rigidity of the detection wave passing portion 21 by the first exterior member 1, and more reliably suppresses the displacement of the detection wave passing portion 21. As shown in Figure 8, the sensor support member 30 is also connected to these three second exterior member side connecting portions 12. That is, at the three second exterior member side connecting portions 12, the first exterior member 1, the second exterior member 2, and the sensor support member 30 are connected in an overlapping manner in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. This increases the rigidity of the peripheral portion of each of the three second exterior member side connecting portions 12, and as a result, the displacement of the detection wave passing portion 21 can be suppressed even more reliably.

[0050] In a plan view in the vehicle's longitudinal direction (inside-outside direction), the detection wave passage section 21 is rectangular (an inverted trapezoid in the illustrated example), and the two second exterior member side connecting sections 12 and the two positioning sections 16 are located near the four corners of the detection wave passage section 21. Therefore, the lines virtually connecting the two second exterior member side connecting sections 12 and the two positioning sections 16 form a virtual rectangle C (a virtual rectangle in the illustrated example). With this arrangement, the displacement of the detection wave passage section 21 can be suppressed more reliably.

[0051] In a plan view in the vehicle's longitudinal direction (inward and outward direction), the lines virtually connecting the first to third reinforcing member side connecting portions 13a, 13b, and 13c form a second virtual triangle D. The second virtual triangle D is located below the first virtual triangle B, the first virtual triangle B is convex upward, and the second virtual triangle D is convex downward. In other words, the first virtual triangle B and the second virtual triangle D are outward-facing relative to each other. With this arrangement, deformation of the sensor opening 11 and its surrounding area can be effectively suppressed.

[0052] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and further modifications and changes are possible based on the technical concept of the present invention.

[0053] For example, in the embodiment described above, the reinforcing member 3 is a cover for protecting the camera and constitutes the exterior design surface of the vehicle, but it is not limited to this and may be other members attached to the periphery of the sensor opening 11. For example, the entire reinforcing member 3 may be located outside the sensor opening 11 and may not constitute the design surface. Also, the reinforcing member 3 may be attached to other parts of the periphery of the sensor opening 11, either in place of or in addition to the lower part of the periphery of the sensor opening 11.

[0054] In the above-described embodiment, the sensor opening 11 is generally T-shaped, having an opening body portion 11a and an extension opening 11b. However, the specific configuration of the sensor opening 11 is not limited to this, and it may have other configurations. For example, the sensor opening 11 may have a shape other than T. Also, the sensor opening 11 does not have to have an extension opening 11b, in which case the entire sensor opening 11 may be covered by the second exterior member 2.

[0055] In the embodiment described above, the vehicle structure 10 comprises a first exterior member 1 which is a grille and a second exterior member 2 which is a decorative panel. However, the vehicle structure 10 is not limited to this and may comprise other types of first exterior member 1 and second exterior member 2. That is, the vehicle structure 10 of the present invention may be applied to the front of a vehicle that has an exterior panel with a different structure from the exterior panel 20 described above, and the "first exterior member" and "second exterior member" according to the present invention may comprise other types of exterior members arranged on the front of the vehicle.

[0056] In the embodiments described above, the vehicle structure 10 is applied to the front of the vehicle, but it is not limited to this, and the vehicle structure 10 may also be applied to the rear or side of the vehicle. That is, the first exterior member 1 and the second exterior member 2 may be located at the rear or side of the vehicle. When the vehicle structure 10 is applied to the rear of the vehicle, the first exterior member 1 and the second exterior member 2 are the rear bumper, rear grille, back panel, or rear door panel, etc. In this case, "outside of the vehicle" and "outer side of the vehicle" according to the present invention refer to the rear side and rear of the vehicle, respectively, and "inside of the vehicle" and "inner side of the vehicle" according to the present invention refer to the front side and front of the vehicle, respectively. When the vehicle structure is applied to the side of the vehicle, the first exterior member 1 and the second exterior member 2 are the side panel or side door panel, etc. In this case, "outside of the vehicle" and "outer side of the vehicle" according to the present invention refer to the outside in the vehicle width direction and the outer side of the vehicle width, respectively, and "inside of the vehicle" and "inner side of the vehicle" according to the present invention refer to the inside in the vehicle width direction and the inner side in the vehicle width direction, respectively. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0057] 1. First exterior component 11 Sensor aperture 11a Opening main body 11b Extension opening 12. Second exterior member side connecting section 12a Connection portion near the reinforcing member 12b Recessed connecting part 13. Reinforcement member side connection part 13a First reinforcing member side connecting portion 13b Second reinforcing member side connecting section 13c Third reinforcing member side connection part 13c1 Boss 13c2 Rib 14 recess 14a First recess 14b Second recess 15 Plate support section 151 Supporting wall 152 Support side bulge 16 Positioning section 2. Second exterior component 21 Detection wave passage section 22 Reinforcement connecting section 23 Passage section side bulge 3. Reinforcement members 31 Protrusion 31a Camera exposure hole 32 Mounting part 321 Edge 322a, 322b, 322c Flange section 4 brackets 10. Vehicle Structure 20 Exterior Panels 30 Sensor support member 30a Sensor support section 40. Body structural components A virtual line B. First virtual triangle C Virtual quadrilateral D Second virtual triangle S Sensor Device

Claims

1. A first exterior member that constitutes the design surface on the outside of the vehicle at the front, rear, or side of the vehicle, the first exterior member having a sensor opening through which a detection wave detected by a sensor device located on the inside of the vehicle passes, A second exterior member is positioned on the outside of a part of the first exterior member and constitutes the design surface on the outside of the vehicle, and the second exterior member has a detection wave passing portion that covers the sensor opening from the outside of the vehicle and through which the detection wave passes, A vehicle structure that includes, The peripheral portion of the detection wave transmission section of the second exterior member is attached to the peripheral portion of the sensor opening of the first exterior member. The vehicle structure is characterized by further comprising a reinforcing member that reinforces the peripheral portion of the first exterior member that contains the sensor opening.

2. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcing member is connected to the second exterior member.

3. The vehicle structure according to claim 2, characterized in that the reinforcing member is provided with a bracket that reinforces the reinforcing member.

4. The second exterior member has a bulging portion on the passage side that is adjacent to the detection wave passage portion and bulges outward from the vehicle, The vehicle structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reinforcing member is connected to the peripheral portion of the bulging portion on the passage side of the second exterior member.

5. The first exterior member is, A plurality of second exterior member side connecting portions to which the second exterior member is connected, The reinforcing member has a plurality of reinforcing member side connecting portions to which the reinforcing member is connected, The vehicle structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plurality of second exterior member side connecting portions include at least one reinforcing member vicinity connecting portion located near one of the plurality of reinforcing member side connecting portions in the peripheral portion of the sensor opening.

6. The first exterior member is, A plurality of second exterior member side connecting portions to which the second exterior member is connected, The sensor opening is provided in the periphery of the sensor, and has a recess that extends vertically and is recessed inward or outward from the vehicle, The vehicle structure according to claim 3, characterized in that the plurality of second exterior member side connecting portions include at least one recess connecting portion disposed in the recess.

7. The first exterior member has a plate support portion that supports the license plate from the inside of the vehicle, The vehicle structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reinforcing member is connected to the plate support portion.

8. The aforementioned plate support portion is A support wall extending vertically and to which the number plate is attached from the outside of the vehicle, with a support-side bulge that bulges inward towards the vehicle, The support wall has a reinforcing member side connecting portion which is located on the vehicle side and to which the reinforcing member is connected, The vehicle structure according to claim 7, characterized in that the reinforcing member side connecting portion is connected to the support wall and the support portion side bulge portion.

9. The sensor opening is The aperture body portion through which the detected wave passes, It has an extended opening that extends from the main opening portion and extends to a part of the peripheral portion that is covered by the second exterior member, The reinforcing member is a protruding portion that is inserted into the extension opening from the inside of the vehicle and protrudes outward from the first exterior member, and has a protruding portion that is positioned adjacent to the second exterior member. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the edge portion of the reinforcing member surrounding the protruding portion is connected to the peripheral portion of the detection wave passing portion.

Images