Roof structure

Abstract

This provides a roof structure that can suppress indentation of the roof panel toward the passenger compartment. [Solution] A roof structure for a vehicle, comprising a roof panel, a plurality of roof rails arranged in the vehicle width direction on the passenger compartment side surface of the roof panel and extending in the vehicle length direction, and an overhang portion whose ends are connected to different roof rails, which curves convexly toward the roof panel and contacts the passenger compartment side surface of the roof panel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a roof structure.

Background Art

[0002] The roof of a bus includes a roof panel, a roof frame, etc. as disclosed in Patent Document 1, and the cabin side of the roof panel is supported by the roof frame.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In recent years, for the purpose of weight reduction of the roof, materials containing resins such as fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) may be used as the material of the roof panel.

[0005] When a material containing resin is used as the material of the roof panel, in the manufacturing process of the roof, for example, in the painting process after assembling the roof frame and the roof panel, unintended dents may occur due to thermal distortion in a part of the roof panel.

[0006] The roof frame includes roof rails extending in the vehicle length direction. In the manufacturing process of the roof, specifically, the portion of the roof panel between the roof rails may be slightly recessed toward the roof frame side.

[0007] Therefore, in buses where the passenger compartment side of the roof panel is supported by the roof frame, the portion of the roof panel between the roof rails may slightly indent towards the passenger compartment. In such cases, water and dust may accumulate on the outside of the bus's roof panel, potentially increasing the effort required for cleaning the bus.

[0008] This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a roof structure that can suppress indentation of the roof panel toward the passenger compartment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention has been made to solve at least some of the aforementioned problems and can be realized in the following embodiments or application examples.

[0010] The roof structure according to this application example is a roof structure for a vehicle, comprising a roof panel, a plurality of roof rails arranged in the vehicle width direction on the passenger compartment side surface of the roof panel and extending in the vehicle length direction of the vehicle, and an overhang portion whose ends are connected to different roof rails, which curves convexly toward the roof panel and contacts the passenger compartment side surface of the roof panel.

[0011] In the roof structure according to this application example, the protruding portions are connected to different roof rails, curve convexly toward the roof panel, and contact the passenger compartment side surface of the roof panel. According to the roof structure according to this application example, it is possible to suppress the recession toward the passenger compartment side of the portion of the roof panel between the roof rails. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the roof of the vehicle in this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic perspective view showing a magnified portion of the roof of the vehicle in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the roof of this embodiment. [Figure 4]This is a schematic end view of the roof panel and overhang portion of this embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the roof of a modified example. [Figure 6] This is a schematic end view of a modified roof panel and overhang. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the roof 12 of the vehicle 10 of this embodiment. Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an enlarged portion of the roof 12 of the vehicle 10 of this embodiment. The roof 12 of the vehicle 10, such as a bus, comprises a roof panel 20 and a roof frame 30, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 1.

[0014] The roof panel 20 is a plate-shaped member supported from the passenger compartment side of the vehicle 10 by the roof frame 30. The roof panel 20 includes a top plate portion 22 and a curved portion 24, etc.

[0015] The top plate portion 22 is formed in a substantially flat shape. The curved portion 24 is formed to curve downward from both ends of the top plate portion 22 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the roof panel 20 as a whole is formed in an inverted U shape that opens downward when viewed in cross-section.

[0016] The roof frame 30 supports the roof panel 20 from the passenger compartment side of the vehicle 10. The roof frame 30 includes a plurality of roof bows 32, a plurality of roof rails 34, and a plurality of overhangs 36, etc.

[0017] Although not shown in the diagram, the roof frame 30 includes, in addition to the roof bows 32, a curved support section that supports the curved portion 24 of the roof panel 20 from the passenger compartment side of the vehicle 10, and reinforcements.

[0018] The roof bow 32 is a columnar member extending in the vehicle width direction. A plurality of roof bows 32 are arranged side by side in the vehicle length direction on the vehicle compartment side surface 22a (see FIG. 3) of the top plate portion 22. Also, each roof bow 32 is adjacent with an interval in the vehicle length direction.

[0019] The roof rail 34 is a columnar member extending in the vehicle length direction. A plurality of roof rails 34 are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction on the vehicle compartment side surface 22a (see FIG. 3) of the top plate portion 22. Also, each roof rail 34 is adjacent with an interval in the vehicle width direction. Further, both ends of the roof rail 34 are connected to the adjacent roof bows 32 with an interval in the vehicle length direction.

[0020] In addition, a plurality of roof rails 34 are also arranged side by side in the vehicle length direction on the vehicle compartment side surface 22a (see FIG. 3) of the top plate portion 22. A roof bow 32 is interposed between the roof rails 34 arranged side by side in the vehicle length direction.

[0021] The overhang portion 36 extends in the vehicle width direction, and both ends thereof are connected to different roof rails 34. Specifically, both ends of the overhang portion 36 are connected to the adjacent roof rails 34 with an interval in the vehicle width direction.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the roof 12 of the present embodiment. Also, FIG. 3 shows a cross section at the A-A position in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a schematic end view of the roof panel 20 and the overhang portion 36 of the present embodiment. Also, FIG. 4 shows an end face at the B-B position in FIG. 3. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the specific configuration of the overhang portion 36 of the present embodiment will be described.

[0023] The overhang portion 36 extends in the vehicle width direction while curving convexly toward the top plate portion 22 side. Also, the overhang portion 36 contacts the vehicle compartment side surface 22a of the top plate portion 22. Specifically, the apex and its periphery on the top plate portion 22 side surface 36a of the overhang portion 36 contact the portion between the adjacent roof rails 34 in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle compartment side surface 22a of the top plate portion 22.

[0024] The overhang portion 36 includes an overhang frame 38 and a buffer portion 40, etc. The overhang frame 38 in this embodiment is formed in a shape that can absorb compressive force in the vehicle height direction (vertical direction). The overhang frame 38 is formed in a roughly Z-shape in cross-sectional view in the vehicle width direction, for example, as shown in Figure 4.

[0025] The cushioning portion 40 is provided on the surface 38a of the overhanging frame 38 on the side of the top plate portion 22. An elastic member or a viscoelastic member can be used as the cushioning portion 40. For example, foamed resin and foamed rubber can be used as the cushioning portion 40. A closed-cell foam or an open-cell foam can be used as the foam.

[0026] Since the buffer portion 40 is provided on the surface 38a of the overhanging frame 38 on the top plate portion 22 side, the surface 36a of the overhanging portion 36 on the top plate portion 22 side is the surface 40a of the buffer portion 40 on the top plate portion 22 side.

[0027] In this type of roof 12, as described above, both ends of the overhang 36 are connected to adjacent roof rails 34 with a gap in the vehicle width direction. The overhang 36 extends in the vehicle width direction and curves convexly toward the top plate portion 22. Furthermore, the apex of the overhang 36 on the top plate portion 22 side surface 36a and its surrounding area are in contact with the portion of the top plate portion 22a on the passenger compartment side surface 22a between adjacent roof rails 34 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, with this structure of roof 12, even if the portion of the top plate portion 22 between adjacent roof rails 34 in the vehicle width direction is slightly recessed toward the passenger compartment, that recess is eliminated. In addition, with the structure of the roof 12 of this embodiment, it is possible to suppress the recess toward the passenger compartment of the portion of the top plate portion 22 between adjacent roof rails 34 in the vehicle width direction.

[0028] Furthermore, in the roof 12, the overhang 36 is provided between the roof rails 34 which are arranged in the width direction of the vehicle. Therefore, with this structure of the roof 12, the weight of the roof 12 can be reduced compared to increasing the number of roof bows 32 to eliminate the recess of the top plate portion 22 toward the passenger compartment. In other words, it is possible to create a structure that suppresses recession of the roof panel 20 while suppressing an increase in the weight of the roof 12.

[0029] Furthermore, in the roof 12, a buffer portion 40 is provided on the surface 38a of the overhanging frame 38 on the side of the top plate portion 22, which suppresses the generation of vibration noise or resonance noise (so-called rattling noise) associated with the vibration of the top plate portion 22 of the roof panel 20 and the vibration of the overhanging frame 38 of the overhang portion 36.

[0030] This concludes the description of this embodiment. However, the specific configuration shown in this embodiment is merely an example, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the configuration shown in this embodiment.

[0031] Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the modified roof 12. Figure 5 also shows a cross-section at the position corresponding to position AA in Figure 2. Figure 6 is a schematic end view of the modified roof panel 20 and the overhang 36. Figure 6 also shows the end face at position CC in Figure 5. The specific configuration of the modified overhang 36 will now be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6.

[0032] In the modified example, the overhang frame 38 of the overhang portion 36 is formed in a shape that can resist compressive forces in the vehicle height direction (vertical direction). The overhang frame 38 is formed in a roughly inverted U-shape in cross-sectional view in the vehicle width direction, for example, as shown in Figure 6.

[0033] Furthermore, in the above embodiment and modified examples, the vertex of the surface 36a of the overhang 36 on the top plate portion 22 side, and its surrounding area, may be bonded to the portion of the top plate portion 22a on the passenger compartment side between adjacent roof rails 34 in the vehicle width direction. For example, the surface 36a of the overhang 36 on the top plate portion 22 side and the passenger compartment side surface 22a of the top plate portion 22 may be elastically bonded together with an elastic adhesive or the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 10 vehicles 12 Roof 20 Roof Panels 22 Top panel 22a side 30 Roof Frame 34 Roof rails 36 Overhang 36a side 38. Projection Frame 40 Buffer 40a side

Claims

[Claim 1] The roof structure of a vehicle, Roof panel and Multiple roof rails are provided on the passenger compartment side surface of the roof panel, arranged in the vehicle width direction and extending in the vehicle length direction, A roof structure comprising a roof rail whose two ends are connected to different roof rails, and an overhang that curves convexly toward the roof panel and contacts the passenger compartment side surface of the roof panel.

Images