Vehicle side structure

Abstract

A vehicle side structure is provided with: a dash panel (10) of a vehicle (V); and a front pillar (20) joined to the outer side of the dash panel (10) in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the front pillar (20) includes an outer member (30) that forms the outer side of the front pillar (20) in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, a first joining section (34c) is formed on at least a portion of a first flange (34) formed on the front side of the outer member (30) in the vehicle front-rear direction, the first joining section (34c) being bent inward in the vehicle width direction and being joined to the dash panel (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle side structure. Background Art

[0002] In the front pillar lower structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, a connecting portion is integrally formed on a hinge reinforcement member provided on the inner side of the front pillar outer panel in the vehicle width direction. The connecting portion connects a joint portion between an overlapped portion of the front pillar inner panel and an upper flange at the front end of the locking member inner panel to an outer side wall of the front pillar outer panel in the substantially vehicle width direction.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-136593 Summary of the invention

[0006] Problem that the invention aims to solve

[0007] However, in the front pillar formed by joining the inner member and the outer member by means of a flange, the dimension of the cross section of the front pillar in the vehicle front-rear direction is set so as to ensure the rigidity of the front pillar. Therefore, when, for example, the front door and the front wheel are to be arranged at a closer position, the positions of the front door and the front wheel may be restricted by the width of the front pillar in the vehicle front-rear direction. In addition, in order to set the position of, for example, the front door or the front wheel more freely, if the width of the front pillar in the vehicle front-rear direction is reduced, the dimension of the cross section of the front pillar in the vehicle front-rear direction may become smaller, and the rigidity of the front pillar may not be fully ensured.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle side structure capable of ensuring sufficient rigidity of a front pillar without excessively increasing the width of the front pillar in the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0009] Solutions for solving problems

[0010] A vehicle side structure of one technical solution of the present invention comprises a dash panel of the vehicle and a front pillar connected to the dash panel, the front pillar includes an outer member, at least a portion of a first flange of the outer member forms a first joining portion, and the first joining portion is bent inward in the vehicle width direction and joined to the dash panel.

[0011] Effects of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle side structure that can ensure sufficient rigidity of a front pillar without excessively increasing the width of the front pillar in the vehicle front-rear direction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1It is a side view showing the positional relationship between the front pillar and the front wheel in the vehicle side structure according to the embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2 It is a perspective view for explaining the arrangement relationship between the dash panel and the front pillar in the vehicle side structure according to the embodiment.

[0015] Figure 3 It is a perspective view for explaining the arrangement relationship between the dash panel, the outer member, and the inner member in the vehicle side structure according to the embodiment.

[0016] Figure 4 The figure is used to explain the arrangement relationship between the front wheel, the front panel, the outer member, and the inner member in the vehicle side structure of the embodiment, and is along the Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Below, while referring to the attached Figure 1 The vehicle side structure of the embodiment is described. In addition, FR and RR in each figure represent the front and rear of the vehicle front-to-back direction, respectively. LH and RH represent the left and right in the vehicle width direction, respectively. UP and DN represent the top and bottom in the vehicle up-down direction, respectively. In addition, the center side of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction is called the inside in the vehicle width direction, and the side opposite to the inside in the vehicle width direction is called the outside in the side vehicle width direction. In each figure, IS represents the inside in the vehicle width direction, and OS represents the outside in the vehicle width direction. In addition, in the following description, the front and rear of the vehicle front-to-back direction, the left and right in the vehicle width direction, and the top and bottom in the vehicle up-down direction are referred to as "vehicle front", "vehicle rear", "vehicle left", "vehicle right", "top", and "bottom", respectively. In the examples shown in the figures, the left side of the vehicle is equivalent to the outside in the vehicle width direction, and the right side of the vehicle is equivalent to the inside in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the same figure marks are marked on elements with the same function, and repeated descriptions are omitted.

[0018] The vehicle side structure of the embodiment can be applied to Figure 1 The structure of the side of the vehicle V shown in the example. The vehicle V may also be an automobile driven by an internal combustion engine (not shown), an electric motor (not shown), etc. Figure 2 As shown, the side structure of the vehicle V includes a dash panel 10 and a front pillar 20 .

[0019] Figure 2-3 The dash panel 10 shown in the example is a wall member that separates the engine room, motor room, etc. of the vehicle V from the vehicle compartment. A wheel housing 1 may be set at the front of the vehicle at the side portion 11 of the dash panel 10. The side portion 11 constitutes the outer side of the dash panel 10 in the vehicle width direction, and extends from the outer end of the dash panel 10 in the vehicle width direction toward the center in the vehicle width direction within a predetermined range. Figure 3 As shown in the example, the surface of the side portion 11 on the vehicle front side may also have a curved shape that is convex from the lower side to the upper side toward the vehicle upper rear. In addition, the wheel housing 1 is a space for the front wheels W of the vehicle V to be arranged, and the vehicle rear side thereof may also be divided and formed by the side portion 11. That is, the dash panel 10 may also divide and form the vehicle front and rear direction rear side of the wheel housing 1 of the vehicle V.

[0020] The front pillar 20 is a member on the front side of the vehicle that supports the roof (not shown) of the vehicle V, and extends in the up-down direction on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle V. The front pillar 20 may be joined to the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the dash panel 10 by means such as welding. In addition, the front pillar 20 defines at least a portion of the vehicle front side and at least a portion of the lower side that form the front door opening 2. The front door opening 2 is formed by the front door 3 of the vehicle V (see FIG. Figure 4 The pillar lower portion 21, which is a portion below the front pillar 20, is located outside the side portion 11 of the dash panel 10 in the vehicle width direction, and defines the vehicle rear side of the wheel house 1 together with the side portion 11.

[0021] like Figure 1 to Figure 4 As shown in the example, a hinge mounting portion 22 may be provided on the front pillar 20. The door hinge 4 (see Figure 4 ) is mounted on the hinge mounting portion 22, and the door hinge 4 supports the front door 3 so that it can rotate within a predetermined angle range. Thus, the front pillar 20 supports the front door 3 via the door hinge 4. In the example shown in the figure, the hinge mounting portion 22 is a portion of the front pillar 20 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and is set between the wheel house 1 and the front door opening 2. In addition, Figure 1 The front door 3 and the door hinge 4 are omitted.

[0022] When the vehicle V is traveling, the front wheel W is displaced in the wheel house 1 due to, for example, acceleration, deceleration, turning, road surface conditions, and the like. Figure 1 and Figure 4 The dashed lines L1 and L2 are used to schematically indicate the boundaries of the range in which the front wheel W can be displaced. Figure 1 The dashed line L1 indicates the range in the vehicle front-rear direction or up-down direction in which the front wheel W can be displaced. Figure 4 The dashed line L2 indicates the range in the vehicle width direction or the vehicle front-rear direction within which the front wheel W can be displaced.

[0023] Next, an example of the structure of the front pillar 20 will be described.

[0024] like Figure 2 to Figure 4As shown in the example, the front pillar 20 may be formed by joining the outer member 30 and the inner member 40 to each other in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the front pillar 20 may include a space formed between the outer member 30 and the inner member 40 inside. In addition, the structure of the front pillar 20 is not limited to the example shown in the figure. For example, a side wall portion extending toward the rear of the vehicle may be formed at the end portion of the front panel 10 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and the front pillar 20 may be formed by joining the front flange 34 and the rear flange 35 of the outer member 30 to be discussed later to the side wall portion. In this case, the front pillar 20 may not include the inner member 40.

[0025] The outer member 30 is a plate forming the outer side of the front pillar 20 in the vehicle width direction. In the pillar lower portion 21 illustrated in the drawings, the outer member 30 as a whole has a substantially hat-shaped cross-section that opens toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the outer member 30 may also include a front wall portion 31, a side wall portion 32, and a rear wall portion 33. The front wall portion 31 is a wall portion that forms a portion of the outer member 30 on the vehicle front side. The side wall portion 32 is a wall portion that forms a portion of the outer member 30 on the vehicle width direction. The rear wall portion 33 is a wall portion that forms a portion of the outer member 30 on the vehicle rear side.

[0026] A front flange 34 as a first flange is formed on the inner side of the front wall portion 31 in the vehicle width direction so as to extend in the up-down direction. That is, the first flange is formed on the vehicle front side of the outer member 30. The front flange 34 is a joint for directly or indirectly fixing the outer member 30 to the dash panel 10. The front flange 34 is formed so as to extend in a predetermined direction from the end of the inner side of the front wall portion 31 of the outer member 30 in the vehicle width direction, and may include a flange 34a, a flange 34b, and a flange 34c as shown in the example shown in the figure.

[0027] The flange 34a constitutes the upper side portion of the front flange 34. The flange 34a may be formed in a manner extending from the end portion of the front wall portion 31 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction toward the front of the vehicle. The flange 34b constitutes the lower side portion of the front flange 34. The flange 34b may be formed in a manner extending from the end portion of the front wall portion 31 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction toward the front of the vehicle. The flange 34c constitutes the portion of the front flange 34 located between the flange 34a and the flange 34b. The flange 34c is a flange extending from the end portion of the front wall portion 31 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and is formed by bending a part of the front flange 34 toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the flange 34c forms a first joint portion joined to the dash panel 10 by welding or the like.

[0028] In addition, as in Figure 1As shown in the example, when viewed from the side, the flange 34c may include a portion 34c1. The portion 34c1 is a portion of the flange 34c whose height in the vertical direction is equal to the height in the vertical direction of the region where the hinge mounting portion 22 is set. That is, the first joint portion may include a portion 34c1 of the outer member 30 whose height in the vertical direction is equal to the height in the vertical direction of the hinge mounting portion 22.

[0029] Alternatively, a rear flange 35 serving as a joint for directly or indirectly fixing the outer member 30 to the dash panel 10 may be formed on the inner side of the rear wall portion 33 in the vehicle width direction so as to extend in the up-down direction. Figure 4 As shown in the example, the rear flange 35 is formed to extend from the end of the rear wall portion 33 in the vehicle width direction inward toward the vehicle rear. In addition, the rear flange 35 may be extended along the portion of the front pillar 20 that defines the front door opening 2 on the vehicle front side.

[0030] The inner member 40 is a plate member that forms the inner side of the front pillar 20 in the vehicle width direction. Figure 2 to Figure 4 In the illustrated pillar lower portion 21, the inner member 40 includes a side wall portion 42 and a rear wall portion 43. The side wall portion 42 forms a portion of the inner member 40 on the vehicle width direction inner side. The rear wall portion 43 forms a portion of the inner member 40 on the vehicle rear side.

[0031] A front flange 44 as a second flange is formed on the vehicle front side portion of the inner member 40 so as to extend in the up-down direction. The front flange 44 is a joint portion that is directly or indirectly joined to the front flange 34 of the outer member 30 or the dash panel 10. The front flange 44 may include a flange 44a, a flange 44b, and a flange 44c (see Figure 3 ). In addition, the flange 44c may also form the second joining portion discussed later.

[0032] The flange 44a constitutes the upper side portion of the front flange 44. Figure 3 In the illustrated inner member 40, the flange 44a may be formed by extending the area on the vehicle front side of the upper portion 42a constituting the upper side of the side wall portion 42 toward the vehicle front side. The flange 44b constitutes the lower side of the front flange 44. The flange 44b is formed in a manner to be located further outward in the vehicle width direction than the lower portion 42b constituting the lower side of the side wall portion 42. The flange 44c constitutes the portion of the front flange 44 located between the flange 44a and the flange 44b. The flange 44c may be formed by extending the area on the vehicle front side of the middle portion 42c extending between the upper portion 42a and the lower portion 42b of the side wall portion 42 toward the vehicle front.

[0033] A rear flange 45 that is directly or indirectly joined to the rear flange 35 of the outer member 30 may be formed on the vehicle width direction outer side of the rear wall portion 43 . Figure 3 and Figure 4 The rear flange 45 shown in the example is formed to extend toward the vehicle rear from the vehicle width direction outer end of the rear wall portion 43. The rear flange 45 is also extended along the vehicle front side portion of the front pillar 20 defining the front door opening 2.

[0034] Next, refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 , while the connection between the dash panel 10, the outer member 30, and the inner member 40 is described.

[0035] In the example shown in the figure, the surface on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the inner member 40 may also be joined to the surface on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the side portion 11 of the front panel 10 by welding or other methods. Among them, the flange 44c of the inner member 40 may also form a second joint portion. The second joint portion is a joint portion in which the edge on the front side of the vehicle in the front flange 44 is arranged at a position closer to the rear of the vehicle than the first joint portion of the outer member 30. That is, the edge 44d of the flange 44c may also be located at a position closer to the rear of the vehicle than the surface on the front side of the vehicle of the side portion 11. The edge 44d is a portion of the edge on the front side of the vehicle that constitutes the flange 44c. In addition, as Figure 4 In the example shown, the inner side surface of the flange 44c in the vehicle width direction may also be joined to the outer side surface of the side portion 11 in the vehicle width direction. By configuring the flange 44c in this way, it is possible to suppress the flange 44c from extending forward of the vehicle relative to the vehicle front side surface of the side portion 11 in the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0036] The outer member 30 and the inner member 40 shown in the drawings may be joined by joining at least the front flange 34 to the front flange 44 and the rear flange 35 to the rear flange 45. More specifically, the front flange 34 to the front flange 44 may be joined by joining the flange 34a to the flange 44a and the flange 34b to the flange 44b. Figure 4 As shown in the example, the flange 34c of the outer member 30 may be joined to the region 12 as the first region of the dash panel 10 by welding or other means, without using the front flange 44 of the inner member 40. The region 12 is a region extending within a predetermined range in the vertical direction on the vehicle front side surface of the side portion 11. In this way, the front flange 34 and the front flange 44 may be joined above and below the flange 34c.

[0037] In addition, if Figure 4As shown in the example, the flange 44c of the inner member 40 may also be joined to the area 13 as the second area. The area 13 is a surface extending to the vehicle rear side of the area 12 on the vehicle width direction outer side of the dash panel 10. In the example shown in the figure, the side wall portion 14 extending toward the vehicle rear is formed at the end portion of the side portion 11 on the vehicle width direction outer side, and the area 13 is set on the surface of the side wall portion 14 on the vehicle width direction outer side. In this way, the flange 44c as the second joining portion may also be joined to the dash panel 10 in the area 13 on the vehicle rear side of the area 12 joined to the flange 34c of the dash panel 10. In addition, in the state where the dash panel 10, the outer member 30, and the inner member 40 are joined, the flange 44c may also be extended to a position above the flange 34c. In this state, the flange 44c may also be extended to a position below the flange 34c. That is, the height of at least a portion of the region 12 in the up-down direction may be equal to the height of at least a portion of the region 13 in the up-down direction.

[0038] In addition, the shapes of the dash panel 10, the outer member 30, and the inner member 40 and their joint relationship are not limited to the illustrated example. The shapes of the dash panel 10, the outer member 30, and the inner member 40 or their joint relationship may be appropriately set according to the shapes, sizes, and positional relationships of the vehicle V, the front wheels, the front doors, etc.

[0039] For example, the flange 34a may be formed by bending the front flange 34 inward in the vehicle width direction, similarly to the flange 34c. In this case, the edge of the flange 44a on the vehicle front side of the inner member 40 may be configured as the front flange 44 in a manner that is located closer to the vehicle rear than the vehicle front side surface of the side portion 11, similarly to the flange 44c. That is, the outer member 30 and the inner member 40 may be configured such that at least a portion of the front flange 34 other than the flange 34c is joined to the front flange 44 of the inner member 40.

[0040] For example, similarly to the flange 34c, the front flange 34 may be bent inwardly in the vehicle width direction to form the flange 34a and the flange 34b, and the flanges 34a, 34b, and 34c may be joined to the dash panel 10. In this case, the edge of the flange 44a on the vehicle front side and the edge of the flange 44b on the vehicle front side of the inner member 40 may constitute the front flange 44 in a manner that is located further to the vehicle rear than the surface of the side portion 11 on the vehicle front side, similarly to the flange 44c. That is, the first joint portion to be joined to the dash panel 10 may be formed by bending at least a portion of the front flange 34 inwardly in the vehicle width direction.

[0041] By joining the outer member 30 and the inner member 40, a space is formed inside the front pillar 20. Figure 4 In the illustrated cross section, a closed cross section 5 is formed in the front pillar 20. The closed cross section 5 is a cross section defined by at least the outer member 30 and the dash panel 10 or the inner member 40. In addition, as in the illustrated example, the closed cross section 5 may be defined by the outer member 30, the inner member 40, and the end portion of the dash panel 10 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction.

[0042] In addition, as in Figure 4 As shown in the figure, a reinforcing member 50 may be provided in the inner space of the front pillar 20. The reinforcing member 50 shown in the figure has a substantially hat-shaped cross section with an opening toward the inside in the vehicle width direction at the lower part 21 of the pillar. In addition, the reinforcing member 50 includes a front wall portion 51, a side wall portion 52, and a rear wall portion 53. The front wall portion 51 forms a portion of the reinforcing member 50 on the front side of the vehicle. The side wall portion 52 forms a portion of the reinforcing member 50 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The rear wall portion 53 forms a portion of the reinforcing member 50 on the rear side of the vehicle.

[0043] A front flange 54 may be formed on the vehicle front side of the front wall portion 51 so as to extend in the vertical direction. In the example shown in the figure, a flange 54c constituting a part of the front flange 54 extends from the end portion of the front wall portion 51 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the flange 54c may be disposed between the flange 34c of the outer member 30 and the side portion 11 of the front panel 10. In addition, Figure 4 In the illustrated cross section, the flange 34c, the flange 54c, and the dash panel 10 are joined by welding or the like. That is, the flange 34c and the dash panel 10 may be joined indirectly via the flange 54c.

[0044] In addition, the portion of the front flange 54 that constitutes a portion on the upper side of the flange 54c may be disposed between the flange 34a of the outer member 30 and the flange 44a of the inner member 40. In addition, the portion of the front flange 54 that constitutes a portion on the lower side of the flange 54c may be disposed between the flange 34b of the outer member 30 and the flange 44b of the inner member 40. Furthermore, the flange 34a and the flange 44a, and the flange 34b and the flange 44b may be indirectly joined via the front flange 54 by welding or the like.

[0045] A rear flange 55 may be formed on the vehicle rear side of the rear wall portion 53 so as to extend in the up-down direction. The rear flange 55 illustrated in the drawings is formed so as to extend from the end portion of the rear wall portion 53 on the vehicle width direction inner side toward the vehicle rear. The rear flange 55 may be extended along the portion of the front pillar 20 that defines the vehicle front side of the front door opening 2. In addition, the rear flange 55 may be provided between the rear flange 35 of the outer member 30 and the rear flange 45 of the inner member 40. Furthermore, the rear flange 35 and the rear flange 45 may be indirectly joined via the rear flange 55 by means of welding or the like.

[0046] Furthermore, the reinforcing member 50 may not be disposed in the inner space of the front pillar 20. In this case, the flange 34c of the outer member 30 and the dash panel 10 may be directly joined to each other. In addition, the flange 34a and the flange 44a, the flange 34b and the flange 44b, and the rear flange 35 and the rear flange 45 may be directly joined to each other.

[0047] In addition, in the above description, the vehicle side structure of the embodiment is described by taking the vehicle left side of the vehicle V as an example, but it is not limited to this. For example, the vehicle side structure may also be applied to the vehicle right side of the vehicle V. In this case, the vehicle left side and the vehicle right side of the vehicle V may also have a plane-symmetrical shape with respect to a plane parallel to the vehicle up-down direction including the vehicle width direction center line when the vehicle V is viewed from above.

[0048] Hereinafter, the effects of the vehicle side structure according to the embodiment will be described.

[0049] (1) The vehicle side structure of the embodiment includes: a dash panel 10 of a vehicle V; and a front pillar 20 joined to the vehicle width direction outer side of the dash panel 10. The front pillar 20 includes an outer member 30 forming the vehicle width direction outer side of the front pillar 20. At least a portion of a first flange 34 formed on the vehicle front-rear direction front side of the outer member 30 forms a first joining portion 34c, and the first joining portion 34c is bent toward the vehicle width direction inner side and joined to the dash panel 10.

[0050] According to the vehicle side structure of the embodiment, at least a portion of the front flange 34 of the outer member 30 is bent inward in the vehicle width direction and joined to the dash panel 10. Therefore, compared with, for example, a case where the flange 34c is extended from the end of the front wall portion 31 inward in the vehicle width direction toward the vehicle front and joined to the flange 44c, the area of ​​the closed cross section 5 can be set larger without excessively increasing the width D1 of the front pillar 20 in the vehicle front-rear direction. More specifically, Figure 4In the illustrated cross section, the front flange 34 is bent and formed inward in the vehicle width direction like the flange 34c, thereby suppressing extension toward the front of the vehicle. Therefore, the front wall portion 31 is set closer to the front of the vehicle without excessively increasing the width D1, and the dimension D2 of the cross section of the front pillar 20 in the vehicle front-rear direction can be set larger. As a result, the area of ​​the closed cross section 5 can be set larger, and the rigidity of the front pillar 20 can be more reliably ensured. In addition, the cross-sectional properties of the front pillar 20, such as the cross-sectional modulus and the cross-sectional moment of inertia, can be improved without increasing the thickness of the plate material constituting the front pillar 20. In other words, the cross-sectional properties of the front pillar 20 can be improved without increasing the weight. Therefore, according to the vehicle side structure of such an embodiment, the rigidity of the front pillar 20 can be sufficiently ensured without excessively increasing the width D1 of the front pillar 20 in the vehicle front-rear direction. In addition, the width D1 is the width of the front pillar 20 in the vehicle front-rear direction. Figure 4 In the example shown, it is the distance between the top end of the flange 34c and the top end of the rear flange in the vehicle front-rear direction. Figure 4 In the example shown, it is the distance in the vehicle front-rear direction between the end portion of the front wall portion 31 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction and the end portion of the rear wall portion 33 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

[0051] (2) The first joining portion 34 c may include a portion 34 c 1 having a vertical height equal to a vertical height of the portion 22 of the outer member 30 to which the door hinge 4 of the vehicle V is mounted.

[0052] This allows the area of ​​the closed cross section 5 of the portion of the outer member 30 where the hinge mounting portion 22 is set to be larger. Therefore, the rigidity of the portion of the front pillar 20 to which the load of the front door 3 is input can be more reliably ensured.

[0053] (3) The front pillar 20 may include an inner member 40 forming the vehicle width direction inner side of the front pillar 20. At least a portion of the first flange 34 other than the first joint portion 34c may be joined to a second flange 44 formed on the vehicle front-rear direction front side of the inner member 40.

[0054] Thereby, when the outer member 30 and the inner member 40 are joined to each other, the outer member 30 can be positioned more easily. Therefore, the vehicle side portion structure of the embodiment can be configured more easily.

[0055] (4) The first flange 34 and the second flange 44 may be joined above and below the first joining portion 34c.

[0056] Thus, the front flange 34 and the front flange 44 are joined above and below the flange 34c. That is, the portions where the front flange 34 and the front flange 44 are joined to each other can be set at two locations. Therefore, the positioning of the outer member 30 when joining the outer member 30 and the inner member 40 to each other can be performed more easily. Therefore, the vehicle side structure of the embodiment can be constructed more easily.

[0057] (5) The second flange 44 may include an edge portion 44d on the vehicle front side, and a second joint portion 44c disposed at a position closer to the vehicle rear than the first joint portion 34c of the outer member 30. The second joint portion 44c may be joined to the dash panel 10 in the second region 13 on the vehicle rear side of the first region 12 of the dash panel 10 to which the first joint portion 34c of the first flange 34 is joined, and the height of at least a portion of the first region 12 in the vertical direction is equal to the height of at least a portion of the second region 13 in the vertical direction.

[0058] Thus, when the flange 34c is joined to the region 12, the number of components to be joined to the dash panel 10 can be further reduced. Figure 4 In the cross section shown, the flange 44c of the inner member 40 is not provided between the flange 34c and the dash panel 10. Therefore, when the flange 34c is joined to the region 12, the flange 34c, the flange 54c, and the side portion 11 may be joined by welding or other means. In addition, when the reinforcing member 50 is not provided inside the front pillar 20, the flange 34c and the side portion 11 may be joined. In this way, by reducing the number of members to be joined to each other, the flange 34c and the dash panel 10 can be joined more reliably. Therefore, the vehicle side portion structure of the embodiment can be more easily constructed.

[0059] (6) The dash panel 10 may define and define the rear side of the wheel house 1 of the vehicle V in the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0060] Thus, while ensuring the rigidity of the front pillar 20, the portion of the inner peripheral edge of the front door opening 2 on the vehicle front side can be set closer to the wheel house 1. Therefore, it is possible to provide a vehicle V that can set the dimension of the front door opening 2 in the vehicle front-rear direction larger and make it easier to get on and off the vehicle.

[0061] Description of Reference Numerals

[0062] V. Vehicle; 1. Wheel cover; 4. Door hinge; 10. Front panel; 12. Area; 13. Area; 20. Front pillar; 22. Hinge mounting portion (part); 30. External member; 34. Front flange (1st flange); 34c. Flange (1st joint); 34c1. Part; 40. Internal member; 44. Front flange (2nd flange); 44c. Flange (2nd joint); 44d. Edge.

Claims

1. A vehicle side structure, wherein: The vehicle side structure comprises: the front panel of the vehicle; and a front pillar connected to the outer side of the dash panel in the vehicle width direction, The front pillar includes an outer member forming an outer side of the front pillar in the vehicle width direction. At least a portion of a first flange formed on the front side of the outer member in the vehicle front-rear direction forms a first joining portion, and the first joining portion is bent inward in the vehicle width direction and joined to the dash panel.

2. The vehicle side structure according to claim 1, wherein: The first joining portion includes a portion having a vertical height equal to a vertical height of a portion of the outer member to which the door hinge of the vehicle is mounted.

3. The vehicle side structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The front pillar includes an inner member forming an inner side of the front pillar in the vehicle width direction. At least a portion of the first flange other than the first joining portion is joined to a second flange formed on the front side of the inner member in the vehicle front-rear direction.

4. The vehicle side structure according to claim 3, wherein: The first flange and the second flange are joined above and below the first joining portion.

5. The vehicle side structure according to claim 3 or 4, wherein: The second flange includes a second joint portion whose edge portion on the vehicle front side is disposed at a position closer to the vehicle rear than the first joint portion of the outer member. The second joining portion is joined to the dash panel in a second region of the dash panel on the vehicle rear side of a first region of the dash panel to which the first joining portion of the first flange is joined, A height of at least a portion of the first region in the up-down direction is equal to a height of at least a portion of the second region in the up-down direction.

6. The vehicle side structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The dash panel defines and forms a rear side of a wheel house of the vehicle in the vehicle front-rear direction.

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