Body structure

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle body structure comprising: a front pillar, a front side member, a side beam, a rear lower member, and a connecting member, wherein the front pillar is joined to a front bulkhead; the front side member extends from the front bulkhead toward the front of the vehicle; the side beam is connected to the bottom end of the front pillar; the rear lower member connects the rear portion of the front side member and the front portion of the side beam; and the connecting member connects at least two of the front pillar, the side beam, and the rear lower member.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application is based on and claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0167382, filed on December 3, 2020, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates to a vehicle body structure, and more specifically, to a vehicle body structure that securely connects the front pillars, side beams and rear lower components, thereby improving crashworthiness and uniformly distributing impact energy. Background Technology

[0004] As is known in the art, a vehicle body structure includes a front bulkhead separating a front compartment and a passenger compartment, and includes a pair of front side members disposed in front of the bulkhead. The pair of front side members may be spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction of the vehicle. A pair of side beams may be connected to the pair of front side members, respectively. The front portion of each side beam may be connected to the rear portion of each front side member via a rear lower member. A pair of front pillars (e.g., A-pillars) may be respectively engaged to the side edges of the front bulkhead.

[0005] In recent years, to achieve vehicle lightweighting, front pillars, rear lower components, and side beams can be made of aluminum-based materials. During the assembly of the vehicle body structure, the front structure of the front bulkhead, rear floor, and center floor can be loaded along the height of the vehicle. Then, a pair of front pillars can be loaded along the lateral direction of the vehicle onto the side edges of the front bulkhead. The bottom portion of each front pillar can be joined to the rear lower component using fasteners, welding, and / or similar methods. The bottom portion of the front pillar can be joined along the lateral direction of the vehicle to the top portion of the rear lower component.

[0006] When the front of the vehicle, including the front pillar, deforms during a vehicle impact / collision, the front doors may become stuck, potentially causing safety issues. Specifically, during a frontal collision, the bottom portion of the front pillar and the top portion of the rear lower frame can easily separate.

[0007] The information described above in this background section is provided to aid in understanding the background of the inventive concept, and therefore may include any technical concept that is not to be regarded as prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0008] While maintaining the advantages achieved by the prior art, the present invention has solved the aforementioned problems arising in the prior art.

[0009] One aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle body structure that securely connects the front pillar, side beams and rear lower component, thereby improving crashworthiness and distributing impact energy evenly.

[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, the vehicle body structure may include: a front pillar, a front side member, a side beam, a rear lower member, and a connecting member, wherein the front pillar is joined to a front bulkhead; the front side member extends from the front bulkhead toward the front of the vehicle; the side beam is connected to the bottom end of the front pillar; the rear lower member connects the rear portion of the front side member and the front portion of the side beam; and the connecting member connects at least two of the front pillar, the side beam, and the rear lower member.

[0011] The connecting member may include a first mounting wall parallel to the mounting surface of the front pillar and the mounting surface of the rear lower member, and may include a second mounting wall parallel to the mounting surface of the side beam.

[0012] The first mounting wall can engage with the mounting surface of the front pillar.

[0013] The first mounting wall can engage with the mounting surface of the rear lower component.

[0014] The second mounting wall can be engaged with the mounting surface of the side beam.

[0015] The rear lower member may have a horizontal flange that engages with the bottom wall of the side beam.

[0016] The rear lower member may include a front-side connection portion connected to the rear of the front member, and may include a rear-side connection portion connected to the front of the side beam.

[0017] The top wall of the rear-side connection portion can be joined to the top wall of the side beam.

[0018] The inner wall of the rear-side connection portion can be joined to the inner wall of the side beam.

[0019] The side beam may have a concave wall at the front of the side beam and a cavity defined by the concave wall. The rear-side connection portion of the rear lower member may be accommodated in the cavity.

[0020] The outer wall of the rear-side connection portion can be engaged with the concave wall of the side beam.

[0021] The connecting member can be integrally connected to the front pillar, so that the connecting member and the front pillar can form a one-piece structure.

[0022] The connecting member may include an extension wall extending vertically from the bottom end of the front pillar and a mounting wall extending horizontally from the bottom end of the extension wall. The mounting wall may be parallel to the mounting surface of the side beam and may engage with the mounting surface of the side beam.

[0023] The mounting surface of the front pillar can be engaged with the mounting surface of the rear lower component.

[0024] The connecting member can be integrally connected to the side beam, so that the connecting member and the side beam can form an integral one-piece structure.

[0025] The connecting member can be a mounting wall extending vertically from the top of the side beam. The connecting member can be parallel to the mounting surface of the front pillar and the mounting surface of the rear lower member. The connecting member can engage with the mounting surfaces of the front pillar and the rear lower member.

[0026] The connecting member can be integrally connected to the rear lower member, so that the connecting member and the rear lower member can form an integral one-piece structure.

[0027] The connecting member may be a mounting wall extending from the rear lower member toward the side beam. The connecting member may be parallel to the top surface of the side beam, and the connecting member may engage with the top surface of the side beam.

[0028] The mounting surface of the front pillar can be engaged with the mounting surface of the rear lower component. Attached Figure Description

[0029] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more clearly understood from the detailed description presented thereafter in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

[0030] Figure 1 A perspective view of a vehicle body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0031] Figure 2 An exploded perspective view of a vehicle body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0032] Figure 3 A portion of the vehicle body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from inside the vehicle, is shown;

[0033] Figure 4 It shows along Figure 3 The cross-sectional view presented by line AA in the diagram;

[0034] Figure 5 It shows along Figure 3 The cross-sectional view presented by line BB in the middle;

[0035] Figure 6 A portion of the vehicle body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown as viewed from the outside of the vehicle;

[0036] Figure 7 It shows Figure 4 The variation of the vehicle body structure shown;

[0037] Figure 8The load transfer on the inner side of the vehicle body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0038] Figure 9 The load transfer on the outer side of the vehicle body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0039] Figure 10 The load transfer on a flat floor of a vehicle body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated;

[0040] Figure 11 A vehicle body structure according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0041] Figure 12 A vehicle body structure according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown; and

[0042] Figure 13 A vehicle body structure according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0043] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0044] 2: Front panel

[0045] 3: Front component

[0046] 5: Floor

[0047] 11: Front Post

[0048] 12: Side beam

[0049] 12a: Top wall

[0050] 12b: Bottom wall

[0051] 12c: Inner wall

[0052] 12d: Lateral wall

[0053] 12e: Vertical rib

[0054] 12f: Horizontal rib

[0055] 12h: concave wall

[0056] 12g: cavity

[0057] 13: Lower rear component

[0058] 20: Main Body

[0059] 20a: Top wall

[0060] 20b: Bottom wall

[0061] 20c: Inner wall

[0062] 20d: Cavity

[0063] 20f: Vertical flange

[0064] 20g: Horizontal flange

[0065] 21: Front-side connection section

[0066] 21a: Top wall

[0067] 21b: Bottom wall

[0068] 21c: Inner wall

[0069] 21d: Cavity

[0070] 22: Rear-side connection section

[0071] 22a: Top wall

[0072] 22b: Bottom wall

[0073] 22c: Inner wall

[0074] 22d: Lateral wall

[0075] 22e: Horizontal wall

[0076] 30: Connecting components

[0077] 31: First mounting wall

[0078] 32: Second mounting wall

[0079] 130: Connecting component

[0080] 131: Extended Wall

[0081] 132: Installation wall

[0082] 230: Connecting component

[0083] 330: Connecting component. Detailed Implementation

[0084] In the following, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same or equivalent elements. Furthermore, detailed descriptions of well-known technologies associated with the invention will be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the gist of the invention.

[0085] Terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used to describe elements in embodiments of the invention. These terms are used only to distinguish one element from another, and the inherent characteristics, order, or sequence of corresponding elements are not limited by these terms. Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical or scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Terms defined in general dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the context of the relevant technical field. These terms should not be interpreted as having an ideal or overly formal meaning unless expressly defined as having such a meaning in this application.

[0086] refer to Figure 1 According to an embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle body structure may include: a front bulkhead 2, a pair of front side members 3, a pair of front pillars 11 and a pair of side beams 12, wherein the pair of front side members 3 extend from the front bulkhead 2 toward the front of the vehicle; the pair of front pillars 11 are joined to the two side edges of the front bulkhead 2; and the pair of side beams 12 are respectively connected to the bottom ends of the pair of front pillars 11.

[0087] The forward compartment and passenger compartment can be separated by the front bulkhead 2. The forward compartment may contain a powertrain, which may include an electric motor or an internal combustion engine. The transverse member 2a of the front bulkhead may be attached to the front of the front bulkhead 2.

[0088] A pair of front side members 3 may be spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction of the vehicle, and each front side member 3 may extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Each front side member 3 may have a front portion and a rear portion. A bumper (not shown) may be connected between the front portions of the pair of front side members 3. The rear portion of each front side member 3 may be connected to the front portion of each side beam 12 via a rear lower member 13.

[0089] A pair of front pillars 11 can be respectively engaged to the two side edges of the front bulkhead 2. Each front pillar 11 can be connected to the front of the rear lower member 13 and the side beam 12. The front pillar 11 can be an inner front pillar panel located in the side structure of the vehicle body facing the vehicle interior.

[0090] The front pillar 11 may have an inner surface facing the vehicle interior and an outer surface facing the vehicle exterior. According to an embodiment, the front pillar 11 may be any one of a steel stamping part, an aluminum stamping part, an aluminum die-casting part, or an aluminum low-pressure casting part.

[0091] A pair of side beams 12 can be respectively engaged with the two side edges of the floor 5. Each side beam 12 can extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Multiple seat transverse members 5a can be mounted on the floor 5, and a middle member 6 can be mounted on the rear edge of the floor 5. (Reference) Figure 4Each side beam 12 may have a top wall 12a facing the top of the vehicle, a bottom wall 12b facing the bottom of the vehicle, an inner side wall 12c facing the interior of the vehicle, and an outer side wall 12d facing the exterior of the vehicle. The side beam 12 may have a closed transverse section defined by the top wall 12a, bottom wall 12b, inner side wall 12c, and outer side wall 12d. A plurality of vertical ribs 12e and a plurality of horizontal ribs 12f may be disposed within the interior space of the side beam 12. The vertical ribs 12e may extend vertically, and the horizontal ribs 12f may extend horizontally. According to embodiments, the side beam 12 may be any one of an aluminum extrusion component, an aluminum die-cast component, a steel stamping component and a steel stamping reinforcement, a steel stamping component and an aluminum extrusion reinforcement, or an aluminum low-pressure casting component.

[0092] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 5 Each side beam 12 may have a recessed wall 12h disposed at the front of the side beam 12 and a cavity 12g defined by the recessed wall 12h. The recessed wall 12h is recessed from the inner side wall 12c toward the outer side wall 12d. The cavity 12g is openable to the interior of the vehicle and is spaced a predetermined distance from the front end surface of the side beam 12. The cavity 12g may have a volume sufficient to accommodate the rear portion of the rear lower member 13. (Reference) Figure 3 and Figure 5 The rear part of the lower rear member 13 can be accommodated in the cavity 12g of the side beam 12.

[0093] A pair of rear lower members 13 may be symmetrically arranged on both sides of the front bulkhead 2. Each rear lower member 13 may connect the rear of each front member 3 and the front of the corresponding side beam 12. According to the embodiment, the rear lower member 13 may be either an aluminum die-cast component or an aluminum low-pressure cast component.

[0094] Each rear lower component 13 may include a main body 20, a front-side connecting portion 21 disposed in front of the main body 20, and a rear-side connecting portion 22 disposed behind the main body 20.

[0095] The main body 20 can be bent from the longitudinal axis of the front member 3 toward the longitudinal axis of the side beam 12. (Reference) Figure 4 The main body 20 may include a top wall 20a facing the top of the vehicle, a bottom wall 20b facing the bottom of the vehicle, and an inner wall 20c facing the interior of the vehicle. The main body 20 may have a cavity 20d opening to the exterior of the vehicle and a plurality of horizontal ribs 20e extending horizontally within the cavity 20d. The cavity 20d may be defined by the top wall 20a, the bottom wall 20b, and the inner wall 20c. The main body 20 may have a vertical flange 20f extending vertically from the top wall 20a and a horizontal flange 20g extending horizontally from the bottom wall 20b.

[0096] The front-side connecting portion 21 extends from the main body 20 toward the front of the vehicle. The front-side connecting portion 21 can be aligned with the front side member 3 along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The front-side connecting portion 21 can be connected to the rear of the front side member 3 using fasteners, welding, and / or similar methods. (Reference) Figure 2 The front-side connecting portion 21 may have a top wall 21a facing the top of the vehicle, a bottom wall 21b facing the bottom of the vehicle, and an inner wall 21c facing the interior of the vehicle. The front-side connecting portion 21 may have a cavity 21d opening to the exterior of the vehicle. The rear portion of the front member 3 may be accommodated in the cavity 21d of the front-side connecting portion 21.

[0097] The rear-side connection portion 22 extends from the main body 20 toward the rear of the vehicle. The rear-side connection portion 22 can be aligned with the side beam 12 along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The rear-side connection portion 22 can be attached to the front of the side beam 12 using fasteners, welding, and / or similar methods. (Reference) Figure 5 The rear-side connecting portion 22 may have a top wall 22a facing the top of the vehicle, a bottom wall 22b facing the bottom of the vehicle, an inner wall 22c facing the interior of the vehicle, an outer wall 22d facing the exterior of the vehicle, a horizontal wall 22e connecting the inner wall 22c and the outer wall 22d, and a horizontal rib 22f protruding horizontally from the outer wall 22d.

[0098] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 Each rear lower member 13 may have an inner flange 25 projecting toward the interior of the vehicle. The inner flange 25 may be joined to each side edge of the floor 5 by means of fasteners, welding and / or similar methods.

[0099] A pair of mudguard components 4 can each extend from a pair of front pillars 11 toward the front of the vehicle. Each mudguard component 4 can extend from each front pillar 11 toward a corresponding front side component 3. The rear of the mudguard component 4 can be connected to the front pillar 11, and the front of the mudguard component 4 can be connected to the front side component 3.

[0100] refer to Figure 4 The front pillar 11 may have a mounting surface 61 to which the first mounting wall 31 of the connecting member 30 engages. For example, the mounting surface 61 may be an inner surface of the front pillar 11, and the mounting surface 61 may be a vertically extending flat surface. Specifically, the mounting surface 61 may be provided on the inner surface of the bottom end portion of the front pillar 11.

[0101] refer to Figure 4The rear lower member 13 may have a mounting surface 63 to which the first mounting wall 31 of the connecting member 30 engages. For example, the mounting surface 63 may be an outer surface of the rear lower member 13, and the mounting surface 63 may be a vertically extending flat surface. Specifically, the mounting surface 63 may be provided on the vertical flange 20f of the rear lower member 13.

[0102] refer to Figure 4 The side beam 12 may have a mounting surface 62 to which the second mounting wall 32 of the connecting member 30 engages. For example, the mounting surface 62 may be the top surface of the side beam 12, and the mounting surface 62 may be a flat surface extending horizontally. Specifically, the mounting surface 62 may be provided on the top wall 12a of the side beam 12.

[0103] refer to Figure 2 A pair of connecting members 30 can be symmetrically arranged on both sides of the vehicle. Each connecting member 30 can connect at least two of the front pillar 11, side beam 12 and rear lower member 13.

[0104] Each connecting member 30 may include a first mounting wall 31 that engages with the mounting surface 61 of the front pillar 11 and the mounting surface 63 of the rear lower member 13, and a second mounting wall 32 that engages with the top wall 12a of the side beam 12. According to an embodiment, the connecting member 30 may be any one of a steel stamping part, an aluminum stamping part, an aluminum extrusion part, an aluminum die-casting part, or an aluminum low-pressure casting part.

[0105] The first mounting wall 31 may be parallel to the mounting surface 61 of the front pillar 11 and the mounting surface 63 of the rear lower member 13. Since the first mounting wall 31 is located between the mounting surface 61 of the front pillar 11 and the mounting surface 63 of the rear lower member 13, the first mounting wall 31 can be in close contact with both the mounting surfaces 61 and 63. The first mounting wall 31 may be joined to the mounting surfaces 61 and 63 of the front pillar 11 and the rear lower member 13 using fasteners, welding, and / or similar methods.

[0106] The vertical length of the first mounting wall 31 can be greater than the vertical length of the vertical flange 20f of the rear lower member 13. The top end of the first mounting wall 31 can be set higher than the top end of the vertical flange 20f of the rear lower member 13. (Reference) Figure 4 The upper part of the first mounting wall 31 can be engaged with the mounting surface 61 of the front pillar 11 via the first connector 51. The mounting surface 61 of the front pillar 11 can be the inner surface of the bottom portion of the front pillar 11 facing the vehicle interior. The lower part of the first mounting wall 31 can be engaged with the mounting surface 63 of the rear lower member 13 via the second connector 52. The mounting surface 63 of the rear lower member 13 can be the outer surface of the vertical flange 20f facing the vehicle exterior.

[0107] For example, the first joint 51 can be any fastener or joint used for single-sided assembly, double-sided assembly, dissimilar jointing, or welding. In other words, the first joint 51 can be any of a single-sided fastener, a double-sided fastener, a dissimilar joint, or a welded joint. Specifically, the first joint 51 can be any fastener or joint used for friction element welding (FEW), RIVTAC, blind rivets, bolted connections, self-piercing rivets (SPR), resistance element welding (REW), rivetless self-piercing riveting, or spot welding using steel or aluminum.

[0108] For example, the second connector 52 can be any type of single-sided or double-sided fastener. Specifically, the second connector 52 can be any fastener or connector used for flow drill screws (FDS), RIVTAC, blind rivets, bolted connections, SPR, or REW.

[0109] The second mounting wall 32 may be parallel to the mounting surface 62 of the side beam 12. The second mounting wall 32 may be joined to the mounting surface 62 of the side beam 12 using fasteners, welding, and / or similar methods. (See reference) Figure 4 The second mounting wall 32 can be engaged with the mounting surface 62 of the side beam 12 via the third connector 53. The mounting surface 62 of the side beam 12 can be the top surface of the top wall 12a facing the top of the vehicle. The horizontal flange 20g of the rear lower member 13 can be engaged with the bottom wall 12b of the side beam 12 via the fourth connector 54. (Reference) Figure 6 The second mounting wall 32 may be exposed to the outside of the vehicle, and the second mounting wall 32 may have a plurality of through holes 32a for mounting the third connector 53.

[0110] For example, the third connector 53 can be any type of single-sided or double-sided fastener. Specifically, the third connector 53 can be any fastener or connector used for FEW, RIVTAC, blind rivet, or bolted connections.

[0111] For example, the fourth connector 54 can be any type of single-sided or double-sided fastener. Specifically, the fourth connector 54 can be any fastener or connector used for FDS, RIVTAC, blind rivet, or bolted connections.

[0112] refer to Figure 5The rear-side connecting portion 22 can be accommodated in the cavity 12g of the side beam 12. The rear-side connecting portion 22 can be joined to the cavity 12g of the side beam 12 by using fasteners, welding, and / or similar methods. The top wall 22a of the rear-side connecting portion 22 can be joined to the top wall 12a of the side beam 12 by a fifth connector 55. The inner wall 22c of the rear-side connecting portion 22 can be joined to the inner wall 12c of the side beam 12 by a sixth connector 56. The outer wall 22d of the rear-side connecting portion 22 can be joined to the recessed wall 12h of the side beam 12 by a seventh connector 57.

[0113] For example, the fifth connector 55 can be any type of single-sided or double-sided fastener. Specifically, the fifth connector 55 can be any fastener or connector used for FEW, RIVTAC, blind rivet, or bolted connections.

[0114] For example, the sixth connector 56 can be any type of single-sided or double-sided fastener. Specifically, the sixth connector 56 can be any fastener or connector used for FDS, RIVTAC, blind rivet, or bolted connections.

[0115] For example, the seventh connector 57 can be any of a single-sided fastener, a double-sided fastener, or a heterogeneous connector. Specifically, the seventh connector 57 can be any fastener or connector used for FDS, RIVTAC, blind rivets, bolted connections, SPR, or rivetless self-piercing riveting.

[0116] Figure 7 It shows Figure 4 The following is a variation of the main body 20 of the rear lower component 13. (Reference) Figure 7 The main body 20 may have multiple bosses 20h disposed within the cavity 20d. The inner sidewall 12c of the side beam 12 may be engaged to the multiple bosses 20h by multiple fasteners 58. The outer sidewall 12d of the side beam 12 may have through holes 12k through which multiple fasteners 58 pass. Each fastener 58 may pass through the through hole 12k of the side beam 12 and engage the inner sidewall 12c of the side beam 12 and the bosses 20h of the rear lower member 13.

[0117] According to the implementation scheme, the connecting member 30 and the rear lower member 13 can be pre-assembled. Then, the front pillar 11 and the side beam 12 can be assembled with the connecting member 30, and the side beam 12 and the rear lower member 13 can be assembled.

[0118] According to the implementation plan, the connecting member 30 and the front pillar 11 can be pre-assembled. Then, the rear lower member 13 and the side beam 12 can be assembled with the connecting member 30, and the side beam 12 and the rear lower member 13 can be assembled.

[0119] According to the implementation scheme, the connecting member 30 and the side beam 12 can be pre-assembled. Then, the front pillar 11 and the rear lower member 13 can be assembled with the connecting member 30, and the side beam 12 and the rear lower member 13 can be assembled.

[0120] When a vehicle experiences a frontal collision, the frontal impact loads L1 and L2 can be transferred to the front component 3. For example... Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, one of the frontal impact loads L1 and L2 (frontal impact load L1) can be transferred to the rear lower member 13 and the side beam 12, while the other frontal impact load L2 can be transferred to the front pillar 11 and the side beam 12. When the frontal impact loads L1 and L2 are transferred to the connecting member 30, they can act on multiple joints 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, and 58, thereby firmly supporting the load transferred in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Therefore, the frontal impact load can be stably supported, and the longitudinal stiffness of the vehicle body can be stably maintained.

[0121] When a side collision occurs, the side impact loads L3, L4, L5, and L6 can be transferred to the side beam 12. For example... Figure 10 As shown, one of the side impact loads L3, L4, L5, and L6 (side impact load L3) can be transferred from the side beam 12 to the front transverse member 2a of the front bulkhead 2 via the rear lower member 13. Another side impact load L4 can be transferred from the side beam 12 to the front transverse member 2a of the front bulkhead 2 via the front pillar 11. Another side impact load L5 can be transferred from the side beam 12 to the seat transverse member 5a, and another side impact load L6 can be transferred from the side beam 12 to the intermediate member 6. When the side impact loads L3, L4, L5, and L6 are transferred to the connecting member 30, compressive loads can act on some joints 51, 52, 56, 57, and 58, while shear loads can act on other joints 53, 54, and 55, thereby firmly supporting the loads transferred in the lateral direction of the vehicle. Therefore, the side impact loads can be stably supported, and the lateral stiffness of the vehicle body can be stably maintained.

[0122] The position of the connecting member 30 can be changed as shown in Table 1 below.

[0123] Table 1

[0124]

[0125] according to Figure 4In the illustrated embodiment, the inner surface of the front pillar 11 facing the vehicle interior can be used as mounting surface 61, the top surface of the side beam 12 facing the vehicle roof can be used as mounting surface 62, and the outer surface of the rear lower member 13 facing the vehicle exterior can be used as mounting surface 63. Therefore, the connecting member 30 can be engaged with the inner surface of the front pillar 11, the top surface of the side beam 12, and the outer surface of the rear lower member 13.

[0126] According to another embodiment, the outer surface of the front pillar 11 facing the outside of the vehicle can be used as a mounting surface 61, the top surface of the side beam 12 facing the top of the vehicle can be used as a mounting surface 62, and the outer surface of the rear lower member 13 facing the outside of the vehicle can be used as a mounting surface 63. Therefore, the connecting member 30 can be engaged with the outer surface of the front pillar 11, the top surface of the side beam 12, and the outer surface of the rear lower member 13.

[0127] According to another embodiment, the front surface of the front pillar 11 facing the front of the vehicle can be used as a mounting surface 61, the front surface of the side beam 12 facing the front of the vehicle can be used as a mounting surface 62, and the outer surface of the rear lower member 13 facing the outside of the vehicle can be used as a mounting surface 63. Therefore, the connecting member 30 can be engaged with the front surface of the front pillar 11, the front surface of the side beam 12, and the outer surface of the rear lower member 13.

[0128] According to another embodiment, the inner surface of the front pillar 11 facing the vehicle interior can be used as a mounting surface 61, the inner surface of the side beam 12 facing the vehicle interior can be used as a mounting surface 62, and the outer surface of the rear lower member 13 facing the vehicle exterior can be used as a mounting surface 63. Therefore, the connecting member 30 can be engaged with the inner surface of the front pillar 11, the inner surface of the side beam 12, and the outer surface of the rear lower member 13.

[0129] According to another embodiment, the inner surface of the front pillar 11 facing the vehicle interior can be used as mounting surface 61, the outer surface of the side beam 12 facing the vehicle exterior can be used as mounting surface 62, and the outer surface of the rear lower member 13 facing the vehicle exterior can be used as mounting surface 63. Therefore, the connecting member 30 can be engaged with the inner surface of the front pillar 11, the outer surface of the side beam 12, and the outer surface of the rear lower member 13.

[0130] As described above, the position of the connecting member 30 can be varied in 75 (5×5×3) combinations based on Table 1.

[0131] refer to Figure 11According to another embodiment of the invention, the connecting member 130 can be integrally connected to the bottom end of the front pillar 11. In other words, the connecting member 130 and the front pillar 11 can form an integral one-piece structure. Specifically, the connecting member 130 may include an extension wall 131 extending vertically from the bottom end of the front pillar 11 and a mounting wall 132 extending horizontally from the bottom end of the extension wall 131. The mounting surface 61 of the front pillar 11 can directly contact the mounting surface 63 of the rear lower member 13. The mounting surface 61 of the front pillar 11 can be engaged with the mounting surface 63 of the rear lower member 13 via a first connector 151. In other words, the mounting surface 61 of the front pillar 11 and the mounting surface 63 of the rear lower member 13 can overlap and engage. The mounting surface 61 of the front pillar 11 can be the inner surface of the bottom portion of the front pillar 11 facing the vehicle interior, and the mounting surface 63 of the rear lower member 13 can be the outer surface of the vertical flange 20f facing the vehicle exterior. The mounting wall 132 can be parallel to the mounting surface 62 of the side beam 12. Mounting wall 132 can be joined to mounting surface 62 of side beam 12 by using fasteners, welding and / or similar methods. Mounting wall 132 can be joined to mounting surface 62 of side beam 12 by a second connector 152. The horizontal flange 20g of rear lower member 13 can be joined to bottom wall 12b of side beam 12 by a third connector 153.

[0132] refer to Figure 12 According to another embodiment of the invention, the connecting member 230 can be integrally connected to the side beam 12. In other words, the connecting member 230 and the side beam 12 can form an integral one-piece structure. Specifically, the connecting member 230 can serve as a mounting wall extending vertically from the top end of the side beam 12. The connecting member 230 can be parallel to the mounting surface 61 of the front pillar 11 and the mounting surface 63 of the rear lower member 13. Since the connecting member 230 is located between the mounting surface 61 of the front pillar 11 and the mounting surface 63 of the rear lower member 13, the connecting member 230 can be in close contact with the mounting surfaces 61 of the front pillar 11 and 63 of the rear lower member 13. The connecting member 230 can be joined to the mounting surfaces 61 of the front pillar 11 and 63 of the rear lower member 13 by using fasteners, welding, and / or similar methods. The upper part of the connecting member 230 can be joined to the mounting surface 61 of the front pillar 11 by a first joint 251. The lower part of the connecting member 230 can be engaged with the mounting surface 63 of the rear lower member 13 via the second connector 252. The horizontal flange 20g of the rear lower member 13 can be engaged with the bottom wall 12b of the side beam 12 via the third connector 253. The mounting surface 61 of the front pillar 11 can be the inner surface of the bottom end portion of the front pillar 11 facing the vehicle interior, and the mounting surface 63 of the rear lower member 13 can be the outer surface of the vertical flange 20f facing the vehicle exterior.

[0133] refer to Figure 13According to another embodiment of the invention, the connecting member 330 can be integrally connected to the rear lower member 13. In other words, the connecting member 330 and the rear lower member 13 can form an integral one-piece structure. Specifically, the connecting member 330 can serve as a mounting wall extending from the inner sidewall 20c of the body 20 of the rear lower member 13 toward the side beam 12. The connecting member 330 can be parallel to the mounting surface 62 of the side beam 12, and the connecting member 330 and the mounting surface 62 of the side beam 12 can overlap and engage. The connecting member 330 can be engaged to the mounting surface 62 of the side beam 12 by using fasteners, welding, and / or similar methods. The mounting surface 61 of the front pillar 11 and the mounting surface 63 of the rear lower member 13 can overlap and engage. The mounting surface 61 of the front pillar 11 can directly contact the mounting surface 63 of the rear lower member 13. The mounting surface 61 of the front pillar 11 can be engaged to the mounting surface 63 of the rear lower member 13 by a first joint 351. The free end of the connecting member 330 can be engaged to the mounting surface 62 of the side beam 12 via the second connector 352. The horizontal flange 20g of the rear lower member 13 can be engaged to the bottom wall 12b of the side beam 12 via the third connector 353. The mounting surface 61 of the front pillar 11 can be the inner surface of the bottom portion of the front pillar 11 facing the vehicle interior, the mounting surface 62 of the side beam 12 can be the top surface of the top wall 12a facing the vehicle roof, and the mounting surface 63 of the rear lower member 13 can be the outer surface of the vertical flange 20f facing the vehicle exterior.

[0134] As described above, according to embodiments of the present invention, the front pillar, side beams, and rear lower member can be securely connected by connecting members, thereby improving crashworthiness and distributing impact energy evenly. Therefore, in the event of a vehicle impact / collision, the front of the vehicle body, including the front pillar, is less prone to deformation, and the bottom portion of the front pillar and the top portion of the rear lower member are less likely to separate from each other.

[0135] While the invention has been described above with reference to several embodiments and the accompanying drawings, it is not limited thereto. Various modifications and alterations to the disclosed embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A vehicle body structure, comprising: Front pillar, which joins to the front bulkhead; A front component that extends from the front bulkhead toward the front of the vehicle; Side beams, which are connected to the bottom end of the front pillar; The rear lower component connects the rear part of the front component and the front part of the side beam; as well as A connecting member that connects at least two of the front column, side beams, and rear lower component. The lower rear member includes a front-side connection portion connected to the rear of the front member, and a rear-side connection portion connected to the front of the side beam. The side beam has a concave wall at the front of the side beam and a cavity defined by the concave wall, and the rear-side connection portion of the rear lower member is accommodated in the cavity.

2. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein, The connecting member includes a first mounting wall parallel to the mounting surface of the front pillar and the mounting surface of the rear lower member, and a second mounting wall parallel to the mounting surface of the side beam.

3. The vehicle body structure according to claim 2, wherein, The first mounting wall engages with the mounting surface of the front pillar.

4. The vehicle body structure according to claim 2, wherein, The first mounting wall engages with the mounting surface of the rear lower member.

5. The vehicle body structure according to claim 2, wherein, The second mounting wall engages with the mounting surface of the side beam.

6. The vehicle body structure according to claim 2, wherein, The rear lower member has a horizontal flange that engages with the bottom wall of the side beam.

7. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein, The top wall of the rear-side connection portion is joined to the top wall of the side beam.

8. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein, The inner wall of the rear-side connection portion is joined to the inner wall of the side beam.

9. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein, The outer wall of the rear-side connection portion engages with the concave wall of the side beam.

10. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein, The connecting member is integrally connected to the front pillar, so that the connecting member and the front pillar form a one-piece structure.

11. The vehicle body structure according to claim 10, wherein, The connecting member includes an extension wall extending vertically from the bottom end of the front pillar and a mounting wall extending horizontally from the bottom end of the extension wall. The mounting wall is parallel to the mounting surface of the side beam. The mounting wall engages with the mounting surface of the side beam.

12. The vehicle body structure according to claim 11, wherein, The mounting surface of the front pillar engages with the mounting surface of the rear lower component.

13. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein, The connecting member is integrally connected to the side beam, so that the connecting member and the side beam form a one-piece structure.

14. The vehicle body structure according to claim 13, wherein, The connecting member is a mounting wall that extends vertically from the top of the side beam. The connecting member is parallel to the mounting surface of the front pillar and the mounting surface of the rear lower member. The connecting member engages with the mounting surface of the front pillar and the mounting surface of the rear lower member.

15. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein, The connecting member is integrally connected to the rear lower member, so that the connecting member and the rear lower member form a one-piece structure.

16. The vehicle body structure according to claim 15, wherein, The connecting member is a mounting wall extending from the rear lower member toward the side beam. The connecting member is parallel to the top surface of the side beam. The connecting member is engaged with the top surface of the side beam.

17. The vehicle body structure according to claim 16, wherein, The mounting surface of the front pillar engages with the mounting surface of the rear lower component.

Images