vehicle body

Abstract

Vehicle body with a C-pillar (4) connected to a rear wheel arch (20) via a gusset plate (72), wherein the gusset plate has an edge (79) at a rear lower end section extending upwards and rearwards and not connected to the wheel arch (20), wherein a longitudinal member (44) of the vehicle body has a curved section (48) connecting a central section (45) of the longitudinal member (44) to a rear section (46) of the longitudinal member (44), and wherein a first imaginary line (L1), defined as an extension of the edge (79) of the gusset plate (72), passes through the curved section (48) of the longitudinal member (44).

Description

The present invention relates to a side vehicle body structure for a vehicle and to a method for manufacturing and / or reinforcing a side vehicle body structure.A side vehicle body structure of a vehicle in which a rear pillar extending substantially in a vertical direction at a rear edge portion of a door opening portion and a rear wheel house are connected to each other by a reinforcing member is known. JP 2006-103 435 A discloses a side vehicle body structure of a vehicle, which includes a rear pillar extending substantially in the vertical direction between a rear wheel arch and a roof, a rear pillar extending substantially in the vertical direction at a rear edge portion of a door, and a reinforcing member extending substantially in a longitudinal direction between the rear pillar and the rear pillar.The reinforcing member disclosed in the above-described patent document is configured to have a downwardly opening cross section for the purpose of being easily deformable when receiving a collision load in a vehicle rear end collision. The reinforcing member is longitudinally compressedly deformed in the rear collision to absorb the collision load, so that the collision load transmitted to the rear pillar is reduced.According to the structure of the above-described patent document, since the reinforcing member is deformed in the longitudinal direction by receiving the collision load in the rear collision, a travel (accommodation) space positioned rearward of the rear pillar is easily decreased in the longitudinal direction.Meanwhile, it has been considered that decreasing the travel space in the rear collision is suppressed by configuring the reinforcing member such that its deformation is suppressed by improving its rigidity. In this case, however, the collision load transmitted to the rear pillar is increased so that the rear pillar may have the excessive deformation.DE 10 2015 009 155 A1 discloses a rear vehicle body of a vehicle in which an outer reinforcing member has a front reinforcing member web portion which extends vertically. A lower end portion of a rear pillar reinforcement and an upper end portion of the outer reinforcing member are joined such that the two web portions are arranged to substantially straighten out when viewed from the side and to incline in such a manner that an upper side thereof is positioned relatively forward compared to a lower side thereof.The present invention has been developed in consideration of the above-described problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a side vehicle body structure of a vehicle which can properly reduce the collision load transmitted to the rear pillar while suppressing the above-described reduction of the travel space positioned behind the rear pillar.This object is solved by the features of the independent claims. Preferred Embodiments of the Present Invention...The present invention is a (side) vehicle body structure of a vehicle, comprising a rear wheel arch positioned on an outward side in a vehicle width direction of the rear frame and covering a rear wheel, a rear pillar (C pillar), and a suspension case reinforcement (gusset) that connects (s) the C pillar and the rear wheel arch to each other, the gusset having a cut-out portion (edge) configured to extend obliquely rearward and upward at a rear lower end portion thereof, the edge not being connected to the rear wheel arch.According to the present invention, since the rear lower end portion of the suspension case reinforcement is not connected to the rear wheel house, deformation of the rear wheel house in the rear collision is prevented from being blocked by the rear lower end portion of the suspension case reinforcement. That is, a portion of the rear wheel house positioned behind and below the cut-out portion may be a crush zone deformed in the vehicle rear-end collision, thereby properly absorbing the collision load.Further, since the cut-out portion (the edge) extends obliquely rearward and upward, the cut-out portion and the compressible zone of the rear wheel house are provided to overlap each other in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, improvement in rigidity is obtained by configuring the suspension case reinforcement (the gusset) to be correspondingly large in both the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction, and also configuring the compressible zone of the rear wheel house to be correspondingly large in the longitudinal direction by overlapping it with the suspension case reinforcement. In other words, supporting the rear wheel house on the suspension case reinforcement and absorbing collision energy by the rear wheel house can be obtained compatibly at a high level.Moreover, in a case where the rear lower end portion of the suspension case reinforcement is connected to the rear wheel house, deformation of the rear wheel house by the suspension case reinforcement is suppressed in the rear collision. On the other hand, the collision load is excessively transmitted to the rear pillar, so that there is a concern that the rear pillar may have excessive deformation. In contrast, since the rear lower end portion of the suspension housing reinforcement is not connected to the rear wheel house according to the present invention, the collision load is properly transmitted to the rear pillar.Accordingly, the collision load (energy) of the rear collision is suitably absorbed and decreased by the rear wheel house properly supported on the suspension case reinforcement having the improved rigidity and appropriately transmitted to the rear pillar. Thus, the collision load transmitted to the rear pillar can be properly decreased, suppressing the decrease of the travel space positioned rearward of the rear pillar.In the present invention, a main frame extending substantially in the longitudinal direction is connected to a front end portion of the rear frame (rear portion of the side frame), a curved portion curving rearward and upward is provided between the rear frame and the main frame, and a first imaginary line defined as an imaginary line formed by extending the cut-out portion (the edge) of the suspension case reinforcement (the gusset) is configured to pass through the curved portion.According to this embodiment, since the curving portion configured to curve upward is provided between the rear frame and the main frame, the rear frame is easily deformed to rotate forward and upward with the curving portion as a base point in the rear collision. In this case, the rear wheel house is deformed so as to be compressed in an upward oblique direction from its rear lower end portion toward a front side. In contrast, since this embodiment is configured such that the first imaginary line defined as the imaginary line formed by extending the cut portion of the suspension housing reinforcement passes through the curved portion, deformation of a portion of the rear wheel house positioned rearward of and below the first imaginary line can be effectively obtained, while deformation of a portion of the rear wheel house positioned forward of and above the first imaginary line can be suppressed.Accordingly, the suspension housing reinforcement can be made to efficiently function as a rigidity member such that the rear wheel house is divided into its crush zone and deformation suppressing portion which are vertically (longitudinally) positioned relative to the first imaginary line.In another embodiment of the present invention, in a vehicle body side view, the cut-out portion of the suspension housing reinforcement is configured to be substantially normal to a second imaginary line defined as an imaginary line formed by connecting a rear end portion of the suspension housing reinforcement and a rear lower side portion of the rear wheel house.According to this embodiment, the cut-out portion of the suspension housing reinforcement is configured to be substantially normal to the longest portion in the compressible zone of the rear wheel house (a region connecting the rear end portion of the suspension housing reinforcement and the rear lower side portion of the rear wheel house to each other). That is, the compressible zone can be made longer in a direction that extends obliquely forward and upward (a direction that rotates forward and upward with a front end portion of the rear frame as a base point in the rear collision), and also the suspension housing reinforcement can be made to be efficiently disposed adjacent to the compressible zone(s).In another embodiment of the present invention, the rear wheel house includes an upper portion of the suspension (suspension) to which an upper end portion of a suspension is fixed, and at least a portion of the suspension case reinforcement which at least partially overlaps the upper portion of the suspension in a vehicle body side view is connected to the rear wheel house.According to this embodiment, the load introduced from the suspension can be properly supported.Preferably, a side surface portion (side panel) of the suspension case reinforcement (gusset) is connected to an upper panel of a side panel (side wall of the vehicle body) and a wheel house outer of the rear wheel house at its upper end portion and its lower end portion, respectively.Further preferably, the side surface portion of the suspension case reinforcement is joined by spot welding.Preferably, the cut-out portion is formed at a rear lower end portion of the side surface portion.Further preferably, the side surface portion is connected to the outer part of the wheel house at its lower end portion except for the cut-out portion.Also disclosed is a method of making and / or reinforcing a side vehicle body structure for a vehicle, comprising the steps of:providing a rear frame extending substantially in a longitudinal direction at a rear lower portion of a vehicle body;providing a roof side rail extending substantially in the longitudinal direction at an upper side portion of the vehicle body;arranging a rear wheel house on an outward side in a vehicle width direction of the rear frame;positioning adjacent in front of the rear wheel house of a rear pillar extending downward from the roof side rail at a rear edge portion of a door opening portion;connecting the rear pillar and the rear wheel house together by means of a suspension case reinforcement,wherein the rear suspension housing reinforcement is formed with a cut-out portion extending obliquely rearward and upward at a rear lower end portion thereof, the cut-out portion not being connected to the rear wheel house.According to the invention, in a vehicle body side view, a main frame extending substantially in the longitudinal direction is connected to a front end portion of the rear frame, a curved portion curving rearward and upward is provided between the rear frame and the main frame, and a first imaginary line defined as an imaginary line formed by extending the cut-out portion of the suspension housing reinforcement is configured to pass through the curved portion.Other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, which refers to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rear portion of a vehicle body of an automobile provided with a side vehicle body structure of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention when viewed from an outside of a cabin. FIG. 2 is a side view of the vehicle body rear portion when viewed from the outside of the cabin. FIG. 3 is a side view of the vehicle body rear portion when viewed from an inside of the cabin. FIG. 4 is a side view of a bottom surface portion and its surrounding portion of the vehicle body rear portion when viewed from a lower side of the vehicle body. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a C pillar and its surrounding portion taken along a line A-A of FIG. 2 when viewed from a front side of the vehicle body. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the C pillar and its surrounding portion when viewed from the outside of the cabin. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the C pillar and its surrounding portion taken along a line B-B of FIG. 2 when viewed from an upward side of the vehicle body. FIGS. 8A, 8B are perspective views of a joint member for reinforcing the C pillar. FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an anchor bracket, the node member, and its surrounding portion, taken along a line C-C of FIG. 5, when viewed from the upward side of the vehicle body.Hereinafter, a side vehicle body structure for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure of the accompanying drawings, while one side (right side) in a width direction of the vehicle body of a vehicle body structure is mainly illustrated, the other side (left side) of the vehicle body structure is similarly configured. Further, in each figure of the accompanying drawings, directions of sides of rear / forward, inward / outward (or left / right), and upward / downward show a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, a width direction of the vehicle body, and a vertical direction of the vehicle body, respectively.[Overall Structure]As shown in FIGS. 1-3, an automobile 1 provided with the side vehicle body structure of the vehicle according to the present embodiment includes a pair of right and left roof side rails 2 extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body along outward end portions in the width direction of the vehicle body of a roof panel (not illustrated), and a plurality of pillar portions extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle body from the roof side rails 2 toward a downward side of the vehicle body.The plurality of column portions include an A column (front column) and a B column (center column) which are not illustrated, and a C column (rear column) 4 and a D column (rear column) 6 which are shown in FIGS. 1-3. The A pillar, the B pillar, the C pillar 4, and the D pillar 6 are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body in this order from a front side at intervals.The motor vehicle 1 is a so-called vehicle having three rows of seats, in which seats are not illustrated. A front door opening portion for a first row seat (not illustrated) is provided between the A pillar and the B pillar, a rear door opening portion for a second row seat 10 is provided between the B pillar and the C pillar 4, and a rear window 12 for a third row seat is provided between the C pillar 4 and the D pillar 6. That is, the B pillar is positioned at a rear edge portion of the opening portion of the front door, the C pillar 4 is positioned at a rear edge portion of the opening portion 10 of the rear door, and the D pillar 6 is positioned at a rear end portion of a vehicle body.The automobile 1 includes a side panel 14 forming a vehicle body side portion on a vehicle body rearward side from the rear door opening portion 10, and a rear wheel house 20 covering a rear wheel. The rear wheel house 20 is provided along a lower edge of the side panel 14. Front lower end portions of the side panel 14 and the rear wheel house 20 are connected to a rear end portion of a side sill 8 extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.The side panel 14 includes an upper panel 16 and a lower panel 18 which are continuously provided in the vertical direction of the vehicle body. A lower end portion of the upper panel 16 and an upper end portion of the lower panel 18 are joined to each other by, for example, welding.The rear wheel house 20 includes a wheel house outer 22 (see FIGS. 1 and 2 ) projecting substantially outward in the vehicle body width direction from the side panel 14, and a wheel house inner 26 (see FIGS. 3 and 4 ) projecting substantially inward in the vehicle body width direction from the side panel 14. Herein, illustrations of the wheel house outer 22 and the side panel 14 (see FIGS. 1 and 2 ) are omitted from FIG. 4, and the wheel house inner 26 is shown such that its surface on the cabin outer side is illustrated.The wheel house outer 22 is integrally formed with the lower panel 18 of the side panel 14, and the wheel house inner 26 is joined to a cabin-side surface of the lower panel 18 by, for example, welding.As shown in FIG. 4, a cutout 26 ais formed at an upper portion of the wheel house inner 26, and a suspension housing 30 is connected to the wheel house inner 26 so as to cover the cutout portion 26 afrom an upward side of the vehicle body. An upper portion 31 of the suspension where an upper end portion of a suspension member for a rear wheel (not illustrated) is mounted is provided at a rear side portion of the suspension housing 30. The suspension upper portion 31 is formed as a flat surface portion configured to extend approximately horizontally and have an oval shape with a long length in the longitudinal direction in a plan view, and the upper end portion of the suspension member for the rear wheel is fixedly attached to a lower surface of the suspension upper portion 31 at two longitudinal points.Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a gusset 32 of the suspension case is connected to the upper portion of the wheel house inner 26 via the suspension case 30. More specifically, the suspension housing gusset 32 is disposed at a position corresponding to the suspension upper portion 31, i.e., the suspension housing gusset 32 is connected to a rear portion of the suspension housing 30. At an edge portion in the circumferential direction of the suspension case gusset 32, there are provided a pair of front and rear flange portions 32a, 32b connected to the wheel house inner 26 or the suspension case gusset 32 and a flange portion 32c connected to the cabin side surface of the lower panel 18 of the side panel 14. That is, the suspension case gusset 32 is provided across the wheel house inner 26 (the rear portion of the suspension case 30) and the side panel 14.A side brace 56 is disposed adjacent in front of the gusset 32 of the side shell. The side brace 56 is a connecting member that connects a cross member 53 which will be described to the side of the C pillar 4.The side brace 56 is a long member having a substantially hat-shaped cross section that opens substantially downward and / or substantially outward. The side brace 56 is disposed such that its outward portion is positioned upward compared to its inward portion. The side brace 56 is connected to the cross member 53 at an inward end portion in the vehicle body width direction thereof, and is connected to a cabin side surface of the side panel 14 (lower panel 18) at an outward end portion in the vehicle width direction thereof. The side brace 56 is also joined, for example, by welding to the wheel house inner 26 and a front-facing portion of the suspension housing 30 at an intermediate vehicle body width direction side portion thereof that is disposed between the inner end portion and the outer end portion.In addition, referring to FIG. 7, the suspension housing gusset 32 and the side brace 56 are connected to the upper portion of the suspension housing 30 over a longitudinal range of the vehicle body.As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a rear portion of the vehicle body of the automobile 1 is provided with a floor panel 40 constituting a floor surface of the cabin(s), the second-row seat and the third-row seat are arranged, a pair of right and left side frames 44 extending in the vehicle body longitudinal direction along both side portions of the floor panel 40, and a plurality of cross members 51, 52, 53, 54 provided along the floor panel 40 between the right and left side frames 44.The bottom plate 40 has a step portion 41 for layout of the third row seat, which is disposed at a higher level position than the second row seat. The side frame 44 includes a main frame 45 extending approximately horizontally in the vehicle body longitudinal direction on the inward side in the vehicle body width direction of the side sill 8 (FIG. 2 ), and a rear frame 46 extending substantially in the vehicle body longitudinal direction at a rear lower portion of the vehicle body continuously from a rear end portion of the main frame 45. The rear frame 46 is disposed at a position substantially corresponding to the third row seat in the vehicle body side view, and the wheel house inner 26 is joined to an outer side surface of the rear frame 46 by, for example, welding such that the wheel house inner 26 protrudes outward adjacent to the outer side surface of the rear frame 46. Further, a tire tub 42 that protrudes substantially downward is provided at a portion of the bottom plate 40 positioned behind the step portion 41.A rising portion 47 is provided at a front end portion of the rear frame 46 corresponding to the step portion 41 of the bottom plate 40. The rising portion 47 is provided to extend obliquely rearward and upward. The side frame 44 has curved portions 48, 49 at a front end portion and a rear end portion of the rising portion 47. The front side curving portion 48 is disposed in front of the rear wheel house 30, and the rear side curving portion 49 is disposed in rear of a front end of the rear wheel house 20. The front side bent portion 48 is positioned between the main frame 45 and the rear frame 46.The plurality of cross members 51, 52, 53, 54 are respectively provided at a position located forward of the front side curving portion 48, at a position located between the front and rear side curving portions 48, 49, at a position overlapping the rear side curving portion 49, and at a position located rearward of the rear side curving portion 49, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The cross members 51, 52, 53, 54 are provided to extend in the width direction of the vehicle body.As shown in FIG. 3, the motor vehicle 1 is provided with a seat belt device 80 for each seat. The seatbelt device 80 shown in FIG. 3 is a three-point seatbelt device for the second row seat.The seat belt device 80 includes an anchor 81 fixed to, for example, the side frame 44, a through anchor 82 fixed to the C pillar 4, a belt (webbing) 83 inserted into the anchor 82 and fixed to the anchor 81 at its one end portion, a tongue plate 84 fixed to the belt 83 to slide between the anchor 81 and the anchor 82, a buckle (not shown) provided on the seat to be engaged with the tongue plate 84, and a retractor (seat belt retractor) 85 that retractors the belt 83 from its end of the other side.The retractor 85 is an emergency locking type retractor (ELR) configured to lock the belt when the vehicle collision is detected based on, for example, inclination of the vehicle body, deceleration of the vehicle, a pulling-out speed of the belt, and the like. The retractor 85 is equipped with a biasing device 86. The retractor 85 is disposed inside the C pillar 4 at a position located below the turning bracket 82.[C column]As shown in FIG. 5, the C pillar 4 includes a pillar inner 60 that forms a cabin-side surface of the C pillar, and a pillar outer 64 that is connected to a cabin exterior side of the pillar inner 60. The C pillar 4 is configured to have a closed cross section extending in the vehicle body vertical direction formed by the pillar inner 60 and the pillar outer 64.The pillar inner 60 includes a pillar inner upper 61 and a pillar inner lower 62 which is adjacent to the pillar inner upper 61 at a vehicle body lower side.As shown in FIG. 3, the pillar inner upper 61 is integrally provided with the upper panel 16 of the side panel 14. The pillar inner upper 61 is configured as a belt-shaped portion extending substantially in the vehicle body vertical direction at a front end portion of the upper panel 16, and has a cutout 61 aat its lower end portion. The pillar inner bottom 62 is constituted by a portion of the lower panel 18 of the side panel 14, and has a cutout 62 aat its upper end portion.A position of the cutout 61 aof the pillar inner upper 61 and a position of the cutout 62 aof the pillar inner lower 62 are matched in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Thereby, the pillar inner 60 has an approximately rectangular-shaped opening portion 63 formed by the cutouts 61 a, 62 a.As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the pillar outer 64 is a long member extending substantially in the vertical direction of the vehicle body along a cabin exterior facing surface of the pillar inner 60. An upper end portion of the pillar outer 64 is joined to the roof side rail 2 by, for example, welding, and a lower end of the pillar outer 64 is spaced upward away from the rear wheel house 20.As shown in FIG. 9, the pillar outer 64 is configured to have a hat-shaped cross section that opens substantially inward in the width direction of the vehicle body. The pillar outer 64 includes a side surface portion 64 atoward an outward side in the vehicle body width direction of the pillar inner 60, a front surface portion 64 bextending inward from a front edge portion of the side surface portion 64 a, a rear surface portion 64 cextending inward from a rear edge portion of the side surface portion 64 a, a front flange portion 64 dextending forward from an inward edge portion of the front surface portion 64 b, and a rear flange portion 64 e, which extends substantially rearward from an inward edge portion of the rear surface portion 64c.The pillar outer 64 is joined to a cabin outer side surface of the pillar inner 60 by, for example, welding at its front flange portion 64 dand its rear flange portion 64 e. The front flange portion 64 dand the rear flange portion 64 eof the pillar outer 64 are mainly connected to the pillar inner upper 61 and the pillar outer 64 is connected to the pillar inner lower 62 at its lower end portion.That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the C pillar 4 is configured to have a substantially closed cross section extending substantially in the vertical direction from the roof side rail 2 to a position spaced upward away from the rear wheel house 20. A silencer member 99 and a node member 90 are disposed in a space S1 formed inside the C pillar 4 such that these members are spaced apart from each other substantially in the vertical direction of the vehicle body as a partitioning member partitioning the space S1 in the vertical direction of the vehicle body. The muffler member 99 is disposed at a position substantially above the opening portion 63 (see FIG. 3 ) of the pillar inner 60, and the node member 90 is disposed at a position substantially below the opening portion 63.The sound absorbing member 99 includes a sound absorbing material 99 athat absorbs noise or vibration and a supporting material 99 bthat supports the sound absorbing material 99 a. The sound absorbing material 99 ais, for example, a foamed resin. The supporting material 99 bis set so as to be provided between the pillar inner upper 61 and the pillar outer 64.The node member 90 is a plate-shaped reinforcing member disposed inside the C pillar 4 for suppressing cross-sectional deformation of the C pillar 4. A specific structure of the node member 90 will be described later.As shown in FIG. 6, a suspension housing reinforcement 70 is disposed between the C pillar 4 and a portion of an upper surface of the wheel house outer 22 such that the suspension housing reinforcement 70 connects these portions in the vertical direction. The suspension housing reinforcement 70 is formed in a fork shape such that a front suspension housing reinforcement 71 and a rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 positioned rearward of the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 fork in the vehicle body longitudinal direction.The front suspension housing reinforcement 71 extends downward from a lower end portion of the pillar outer 64 to a portion of an upper surface of the wheel house outer 22 substantially along an extension direction of the lower end portion of the pillar outer 64, and its upper end portion and its lower end portion are connected to a lower end portion of the pillar outer 64 and a portion of an upper surface of the wheel house outer 22, respectively, by welding, for example.As shown in FIG. 9, the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 has a substantially hat-shaped cross section that opens substantially inward. The front suspension housing reinforcement 71 includes a side surface portion 71 afacing the outward side in the vehicle body width direction of the pillar inner 60, a front surface portion 71 bextending substantially inward from a front edge portion of the side surface portion 71 a, a rear surface portion 71 cextending substantially inward from a rear edge portion of the side surface portion 71 a, a front flange portion 71 dextending substantially forward from an inward edge portion of the front surface portion 71 b, and a rear flange portion 71 e, which extends substantially rearward from an inward edge portion of the rear surface portion 71c.The front suspension housing reinforcement 71 is joined to a cabin outer side surface of the lower part 62 of the pillar inner 60 by, for example, welding at its front flange portion 71 dand its rear flange portion 71 e. The front flange portion 71 dand the rear flange portion 71 eof the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 are directly connected to the pillar inner bottom 62, and the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 is connected to the pillar inner bottom 62 via the flange portions 64 d, 64 eof the pillar outer 64 at its upper end portion.The side surface portion 71 a, the front surface portion 71 b, and the rear surface portion 71 cof the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 are joined, for example, by welding to respective outer sides of the side surface portion 64 a, the front surface portion 64 b, and the rear surface portion 64 cof the lower end portion of the pillar outer 64 at an upper end portion of the front suspension housing reinforcement 71.Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the front flange portion 71 dand the rear flange portion 71 eof the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 curve outward and are joined, for example, by welding, to a portion of an upper surface of the wheel house outer 22 at a lower end portion of the front suspension housing reinforcement 71.As shown in FIG. 6, the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 extends obliquely downward and rearward at a position located rearward of the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 so that a rear portion of the C pillar 4 (pillar outer 64) and a rear portion of the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 are connected to a portion of an upper surface of the wheel house outer 22 in a brace shape. The rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 includes a side surface portion 73 facing the vehicle body width direction outward side of the side panel 14, and a rear surface portion 74 extending substantially inward from a rear edge portion of the side surface portion 73 configured to have an L-shaped cross section.The side surface portion 73 extends obliquely downward and rearward from an upper end portion thereof, which is disposed substantially in the shape of the same surface with a lower edge portion of the rear window 12, to a portion of an upper surface of the wheel house outer 22. The side surface portion 73 is joined by spot welding to the upper panel 16 and the wheel house outer 22 at its upper end portion and its lower end portion, respectively.As shown in FIG. 2, a cut-out portion 79 is formed at a rear lower end portion of the side surface portion 73. This cut-out portion 79 is configured to extend obliquely upward and rearward. Accordingly, the side surface portion 73 is connected to the wheel house outer 22 at its lower end portion except the cut-out portion 79. The cut-out portion 79 is not connected to the wheel house outer 22.More specifically, a first imaginary line L 1 formed by extending the cut-out portion 79 extends obliquely forward and downward in the vehicle body side view and passes through the curved portion 48 positioned forward of the rising portion 47 of the side frame 44. Further, the first imaginary line L 1 is substantially normal to a second imaginary line L 2 connecting an imaginary point P 1 positioned at a rearmost end portion of the side surface portion 73 (positioned on the side of the rearmost surface portion 74 among points on the cut-out portion 79) and an imaginary point P 2 positioned at a rear lower side portion of the rear wheel house 20 (wheel house outer 22) positioned preferably at a rear end portion and a lower end portion of the rear wheel house 20. Herein, the second imaginary line L 2 extends obliquely forward and upward, which is substantially parallel to an extending direction of the side surface portion 73. Further, the rear-lower portion of the rear wheel house 20 means a rear-side portion of the rear wheel house 20 positioned at a side of approximately a lower half of the rear wheel house 20, as shown by a broken line in FIG. 2.Further, a portion of the lower end portion of the side surface portion 73 connected to the wheel house outer 22 is positioned so as to overlap the suspension upper side 31 in the vehicle body side view. In other words, the cut-out portion 79 is formed at a position located rearward of the suspension upper portion 31 in the vehicle body alignment direction.As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of opening portions 73 aare formed on the side surface portion 73. The plurality of opening portions 73 aare formed in consideration of the weight reduction of the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 and the workability of assembling respective members (for example, insertion of a spot welding gun, an operation member, or the like). A bead portion 73 bis formed around the opening portions 73 ato reinforce an opening edge portion of the opening portions 73 a.Moreover, bead portions 73 cthat protrude substantially outward in the width direction of the vehicle body of the vehicle are formed at the portion of the lower end portion of the side surface portion 73 connected to the outer 22 of the wheel house except for the spot welded portion. A lower edge portion of the side surface portion 73 is reinforced by the bead portions 73 c. Further, since the lower edge portion of the side surface portion 73 is partially connected to the wheel house outer 22 through the bead portion 73 c, the lower edge portion of the side surface portion 73 can be easily adjusted along the wheel house outer 22.The rear suspension case reinforcement 72 further includes a front flange portion 76 joined to a vehicle body front side of the side surface portion 73 by spot welding such that the rear suspension case reinforcement 72 is positioned over the pillar outer 64 and the side surface portions 64 a, 71 aof the front suspension case reinforcement 71.Herein, the pillar outer 64 and the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 are configured such that the side surface portions 64 a, 71 aare positioned on the outward side in the vehicle body width direction of the rear window 12. Accordingly, there is a positional difference in the vehicle body width direction between the side surface portion 73 of the rear suspension case reinforcement 72 and the side surface portions 64 a, 71 aof the pillar outer 64 and the front suspension case reinforcement 71.Therefore, the front flange portion 76 is positioned on the vehicle width direction outer side of the side surface portion 73 via a step surface portion 75 to compensate for the positional difference in the vehicle body width direction between the side surface portion 73 and the side surface portions 64 a, 71 a. Two high rigidity portions 78 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body are formed at vertically spaced points between the side surface portion 73 and the step surface portion 75.With additional reference to FIG. 9, the high rigidity portion 78 is configured as a so-called triangular rib that protrudes in a triangular shape in a corner portion between the side surface portion 73 and the step surface portion 75 in a plan view. The rigidity in the vehicle body width direction of the front flange portion 76 is increased by the high rigidity portion 78, so that the rigidity of a connection portion between the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 and the pillar outer 64 and the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 can be increased.The front flange portion 76 is configured such that its spot welding portions are recessed substantially inward in the vehicle body width direction and positioned along the pillar outer 64 and the side surface portions 64 a, 71 aof the front suspension housing reinforcement 71.The rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 has a rear flange portion 77 extending rearward from an inward side edge portion in the vehicle body width direction of the rear face portion 74. The rear flange portion 77 extends in the vehicle body vertical direction along an outer surface of the side panel 14, and its lower end portion curves substantially outward to be positioned along the portion of the upper surface of the wheel house outer 22. The rear flange portion 77 includes a plurality of expanded flange portions 77 aconfigured to be partially expanded substantially rearward.The rear flange portion 77 is joined to the side panel 14 and the wheel house inner 26 at the plurality of expanded flange portions 77 a, for example, by spot welding. Specifically, the plurality of expanded flange portions 77 aare provided such that the two expanded flange portions 77 aare formed at the connection portions with the upper panel 16, the single expanded flange portion 77 ais formed at the connection portion with the intermediate portion disposed between the upper panel 16 and the lower panel 18, the single expanded flange portion 77 ais formed at the connection portion with the lower panel 18, and the single expanded flange portion 77 ais formed at the connection portion with the outer part 22 of the wheel house.The expanded flange portion 77 apositioned at the joint portion with the lower panel 18 is configured to be wider than the other expanded flange portions 77 aso as to face the rear flange portion 32 bof the gusset 32 of the suspension housing positioned at the inner side of the lower panel 18 or the upper flange portion 32 c. This expanded flange portion 77 aand the flange portions 32 b, 32 cof the gusset 32 of the suspension case are joined to each other by spot welding at a plurality of points in a three-layer state where the lower panel 18 is interposed between these portions.Referring additionally to FIG. 7, the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 is provided to face the side brace 56 such that the lower panel 18 is interposed between the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 and the side brace 56. That is, a front-side portion of the rear wheel house 20 where the suspension housing 30 is provided is supported by the side stay 56 and the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 disposed on both sides in the width direction of the vehicle body of the lower panel 18, and a rear-side portion of the rear wheel house 20 where the suspension housing 30 is provided is supported by the suspension housing gusset 32 and the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 disposed on both sides in the width direction of the vehicle body of the long panel 18.Accordingly, the suspension case 30 is firmly supported by the suspension gusset 32, the side brace 56, the front suspension case reinforcement 71, and the rear suspension case reinforcement 72 over a range of the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.A load introduced to the suspension housing 30 from the suspension member through the suspension upper portion 31 is efficiently transmitted to the suspension housing rear reinforcement 72 from the expanded flange portions 77 athrough the suspension housing gusset 32. Further, since the connecting portion where the rear suspension case reinforcement 72 and the wheel house outer 22 are connected overlaps the upper portion 31 of the suspension in the side view of the vehicle body as described above, the load inputted from the suspension member is more efficiently transmitted from the upper portion 31 through the rear suspension case reinforcement 72.[Node Link]With reference to the perspective view of the knot link 90 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B and the sectional view of the C pillar 4 shown in FIG. 9, the knot link 90 and its related structure will be described.The node member 90 includes a partitioning wall portion 91 partitioning the space S 1 formed inside the C pillar 4 in the vertical direction of the vehicle body, and a plurality of flange portions 93, 94, 95, 96 provided at a peripheral edge portion of the partitioning wall portion 91.The partition wall portion 91 is disposed along a surface intersecting the vertical direction of the vehicle body. More specifically, the partition wall portion 91 is disposed along the surface approximately normal to a longitudinal direction of the C pillar 4. The partition wall portion 91 is configured to have an approximately trapezoidal shape to conform to the shape of the substantially closed cross section of the C pillar 4 (see FIG. 9 ). An inward edge portion in the vehicle body width direction of the partition wall portion 91 is configured to be parallel to and longer than an outward edge portion in the vehicle body width direction of the partition wall portion 91.A single bead 92 is formed on the partition wall portion 91, for example. The bead 92 is configured to protrude substantially downward in the vehicle body vertical direction from the dash panel portion 91, for example. The bead 92 is configured to be slender so as to extend in the width direction of the vehicle body.The plurality of flange portions 93, 94, 95, 96 of the node member 90 include the outward flange portion 93 provided at an outward edge portion in the vehicle body width direction of the node member 90, the front flange portion 94 provided at a forward edge portion in the vehicle body direction of the node member 90, the rear flange portion 95 provided at a rearward edge portion in the vehicle body longitudinal direction of the node member 90, and the inward flange portion 96 provided at an inward edge portion in the vehicle body width direction of the node member 90.The outer flange portion 93, the front flange portion 94, and the rear flange portion 95 are provided to project substantially upward from the partition wall portion 91. The outside flange portion 93 is provided to be integrally continuous with the front flange portion 94 and the rear flange portion 95.The inside flange portion 96 is provided to project substantially downward from the partition wall portion 91. The inboard flange portion 96 has a cutout 96a at its rear end portion. Further, the inside flange portion 96 includes an extension portion 96b of which an amount of downward protrusion is increased. The extension portion 96 bis disposed forward of and adjacent to the cutout 96 ain the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.A pair of high rigidity portions 97, 98 are provided, for example, in a corner portion between the partition wall portion 91 and the inboard flange portion 96. The pair of high rigidity portions 97, 98 are provided to be spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Each of these high rigidity portions 97, 98 is configured to be a bead that projects downward, for example. Providing the high rigidity portions 97, 98 effectively suppresses bending deformation of the node member 90 in the corner portion between the partition wall portion 91 and the inboard flange portion 96.As shown in FIG. 9, the joint member 90 is connected to the pillar outer 64 of the C pillar 4 at the outer flange portion 93, the front flange portion 94, and the rear flange portion 95. More specifically, the outer flange portion 93, the front flange portion 94, and the rear flange portion 95 are connected to a connection portion where the lower end portion of the pillar outer 64 and the upper end of the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 are connected, for example.The front suspension case reinforcement 71 is provided to overlap an outer side of the pillar outer 64 at the connection portion where the lower end portion of the pillar outer 64 and the upper end portion of the front suspension case reinforcement 71 are connected, for example.Further, the outside flange portion 93, the front flange portion 94, and the rear flange portion 95 are provided to overlap respective inner sides of the side surface portion 64 a, the front surface portion 64 b, and the rear surface portion 64 cof the lower end portion of the pillar outer 64, so that the flange portions 93, 94, 95 of the node member 90, the pillar outer 64, and the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 are configured to be in a three-layer overlapping state.The joint member 90 is fixed to the outer flange portion 93, the front flange portion 94, and the rear flange portion 95 by welding the pillar outer 64 and the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 in the three-layer overlapping state.As described above, the joint member 90 is firmly fixed to the C pillar 4 by joining on a plurality of surfaces including a pair of surfaces of the C pillar 4 facing each other (the front surface portions 64 b, 71 band the rear surface portions 64 c, 71 c). Accordingly, providing the node member 90 as described above effectively suppresses crush of the substantially closed cross section of the C pillar 4.Herein, the joint member 90 may be connected to the bottom 62 of the pillar inner by, for example, welding to the inboard flange portion 96. Specifically, a front-facing portion of the inboard flange portion 96 may be joined to a peripheral edge portion of the cutout 62 aof the pillar inner sub 62, for example.[Support structure of retractor]As schematically shown in FIG. 5, the retractor 85 is fixed to the pillar inner bottom 62 by an anchor bracket 100, and is disposed between the sound absorbing material 99 and the node member 90 along the vertical direction of the vehicle body in the interior S 1 of the C pillar 4. A part of the retractor 85 is disposed in the space S 1 of the C pillar 4, and the remaining part of the retractor 85 is provided to protrude toward the cabin interior through the opening portion 63 of the pillar inner 60.As described above, a space for accommodating the retractor 85 is correspondingly reduced between the C pillar 4 and a pillar trim (not illustrated) that covers the C pillar 4 from the cabin inner side by disposing the retractor 85 using the space S 1 of the C pillar 4 as compared with a case where an entire part of the retractor 85 is disposed on the cabin inner side side of the C pillar 4. Accordingly, the pillar trim may be disposed on the outward side in the width direction of the vehicle body, so that an available space for a passenger seated in the third row seat can be made wider in the width direction of the vehicle body.According to the side vehicle body structure configured as described above, the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 has the cut-out portion 79 extending obliquely rearward and upward at the rear lower end portion. Accordingly, since the rear lower end portion of the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 is not connected to the wheel house outer 22, deformation of the rear wheel house 70 in the rear collision is prevented from being blocked by the rear lower end portion of the suspension housing reinforcement 72. That is, a portion of the rear wheel house 20 positioned behind and below the cut-out portion 79 in the side view may be the crush zone deformed in the vehicle rear end collision, thereby absorbing the collision load.Further, since the cut-out portion 79 extends obliquely rearward and upward, a portion of the lower end portion of the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 which is not connected to the wheel house outer 22 is provided to overlap the compressible zone of the wheel house outer 22 in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, an improvement in rigidity is obtained by configuring the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 to be correspondingly large in both the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction, and also configuring the compressible zone of the rear wheel house 20 to be large in the longitudinal direction by overlapping it with the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72. In other words, supporting the wheel house outer 22 on the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 and absorbing collision energy by the rear wheel house 20 can be compatibly obtained at a high level.Moreover, in a case where the rear lower end portion of the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 is connected to the wheel house outer 22, deformation of the rear wheel house 20 by the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 is suppressed in the rear collision. Meanwhile, the collision load is excessively transmitted to the C pillar 4, so that there is a concern that the C pillar 4 may be subject to excessive deformation. In contrast, since the rear lower end portion of the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 is not connected to the wheel house outer 22 in the above-described embodiment, the collision load is properly transmitted to the C pillar 4.Accordingly, the rear collision load (energy) is properly received and reduced by the rear wheel house 20, is correspondingly supported on the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 having the improved rigidity, and is properly transmitted to the C pillar 4. Thus, the collision load transmitted to the C pillar 4 can be reduced accordingly, suppressing the decrease in the travel space positioned rearward of the C pillar 4.Further, since the curving portion 48 configured to curve substantially upward is provided between the rear frame 46 and the main frame 45 of the side frame 44, the rear frame 46 is easily deformed to rotate forward and upward with the curving portion 48 as a base point in the rear collision. In this case, the rear wheel house 20 is deformed so as to be compressed in the upward oblique direction from its rear lower end portion toward the forward side. In contrast, since the present embodiment is configured such that the first imaginary line L 1 defined as the imaginary line formed by extending the cut-out portion 79 of the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 passes through the curved portion 48, deformation of the rear wheel house 20 portion positioned rearward of and below the first imaginary line L 1 can be effectively obtained, while deformation of the rear wheel house 20 portion positioned forward of and above the first imaginary line L 1 can be suppressed.Accordingly, the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 can be made to behave efficiently as a rigidity member such that the rear wheel house 20 is divided into its crush zone and deformation suppressing portion which are positioned substantially vertically (longitudinally) relative to the first imaginary line L 1.Moreover, the cut-out portion 79 of the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 is configured to be substantially normal to the longest portion in the compressible zone of the rear wheel house 20 (a region connecting the rear end portion of the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 and the rear lower side portion of the rear wheel house 20). That is, the compressible zone can be made longer in the direction extending obliquely forward and upward (the direction rotating forward and upward with the front end portion of the rear frame as a base point in the rear collision), and also the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 can be made to be efficiently disposed adjacent to the compressible zone(s).The second imaginary line L 2 extends obliquely forward and upward, which is substantially parallel to the extension direction of the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 (the side surface portion 73). Thereby, the compressible zone of the rear wheel house 20 can be made longer in the extension direction of the second imaginary line L 2, and also the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 can be made to effectively behave (resist) against the deformation of the rear wheel house 20 which advances along the second imaginary line L 2.Also, when the load directed forward by the rear frame 46 is applied to the rear wheel house 20 in the rear collision, the suspension case reinforcement 70 disposed between the wheel house outer 22 and the pillar outer 64 behaves such that the suspension case reinforcement 70 is stretched toward the wheel house outer 22 and the pillar outer 64 in the vertical direction. Further, since the suspension housing reinforcement 70 is configured in the fork shape including the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 and the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72, the wheel house outer 22 is supported from above in a wider range in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, the upward deformation of the rear wheel house 20 can be properly suppressed by the suspension case reinforcement 70 in the vehicle rear collision, so that the lowering in the vertical direction of the cabin can be prevented.Further, since the load applied to the rear wheel house 20 can be transmitted to and dispersed to the roof side rail 2 from the forked suspension case reinforcement 70 via the C pillar 4 at the wheel house outer 22, the deformation of the rear wheel house 20 can be further suppressed.Moreover, since the suspension housing reinforcement 70 is configured in the fork shape including the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 and the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72, increasing in size of the suspension housing reinforcement 70 can be suppressed accordingly as compared with a case where the rear wheel arch 20 is connected in different ways to base skeleton portions (for example, the roof side rail 2 and the C pillar 4) disposed above the rear wheel arch 20.Further, the rigidity in the vehicle width direction of the front flange portion 76 of the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 is increased by the high rigidity portion 78. Thereby, since deformation of the connection portion of the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 with the C pillar 4 and the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 is suppressed, the load can be efficiently transmitted from the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 to the C pillar 4 and the front suspension housing reinforcement 71. Accordingly, since the load transmitted to the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 from the rear wheel house 20 can be dispersed to the C pillar 4 and the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 and toward the roof side rail 2, the upward deformation of the rear wheel house 20 can be further suppressed.While the embodiment of the present invention has been described, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.While the above-described embodiment has described an example where the high rigidity portion 78 provided between the side surface portion 73 and the step surface portion 75 of the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 is configured to be the triangular rib, a bead portion may be formed by a convex portion, a concave portion, or the like, the thickness may be partially increased, or an additional member may be joined in a brace shape. In short, any alternative may be employed as long as the bending rigidity between the side surface portion 73 and the step surface portion 75 is improved. Similarly, the high rigidity portion may be provided between the step surface portion 75 and the front flange portion 77, and the high rigidity portion may also be provided over the side surface portion 73, the step surface portion 75, and the front flange portion 77.Further, while the above-described embodiment has described an example where the C pillar 4 is formed by the pillar inner 60 and the pillar outer 64, and the pillar inner 60 is divided into the pillar inner upper 61 and the pillar inner lower 62, the pillar inner 60 may be formed by a single member. Moreover, the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 that is adjacent to the lower side of the pillar outer 64 may be integrally formed with the pillar outer 64 as a single member, and the suspension housing reinforcement 70 may also be integrally formed with the pillar outer 64 as a single member.Also, while the above-described embodiment has described the example where the C pillar 4 is formed by the pillar inner 60 and the pillar outer 64, these members including the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 extending substantially downward adjacent to these members may be referred to as the C pillar. In this case, it can be considered that the front suspension housing reinforcement 71 is formed integrally with the C pillar.Moreover, while the above-described embodiment has described the example where the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 is adjacent to the rear portions of the pillar outer 64 and the front suspension housing reinforcement 71, the rear suspension housing reinforcement 72 may be configured to be adjacent to one of the pillar outer 64 and the front suspension housing reinforcement 71.In addition, while the above-described embodiment has described the example of the vehicle provided with three rows of seats, the number of rows of seats of the vehicle is not particularly limited, and the present invention is applicable to, for example, a vehicle provided with a single row of seats or a vehicle provided with two rows of seats. In this case, the present invention can be suitably designed for a surrounding portion of the pillar portion (rear pillar) extending substantially in the vertical direction at the rear edge portion of the door opening portion positioned adjacent to the rear wheel house 20.

Claims

Vehicle body having a C-pillar (4) connected to a rear wheel arch (20) via a gusset (72), the gusset having, at a rear lower end portion, an edge (79) which extends upwards and backwards and is not connected to the wheel arch (20), a longitudinal member (44) of the vehicle body having a curved portion (48) which connects a central portion (45) of the longitudinal member (44) to a rear portion (46) of the longitudinal member (44), and a first imaginary line (L1) which is defined as an extension of the edge (79) of the gusset (72) passing through the curved portion (48) of the longitudinal member (44).The vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein a second imaginary line (L2) is defined by connecting a rear end portion of the gusset (72) to a rear lower side of the wheel house (20), and wherein the second imaginary line (L2) is substantially perpendicular to the edge (79) of the gusset (72).The vehicle body of claim 1 or 2, wherein the wheel well (20) includes a wheel suspension upper portion (31), and wherein at least a portion of the gusset (72) at least partially overlaps the wheel suspension upper portion (31) and is connected to the wheel well (20).Vehicle body according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a side panel (73) of the gusset panel (72) is connected at the top to an upper panel (16) of the side wall (14) of the vehicle body and at the bottom to an outer wheel arch part (22) of the wheel arch (20).The vehicle body according to claim 4, wherein the side panel (73) is joined to the upper panel (16) of the side wall (14) and the wheel house outer (22) by spot welding.The vehicle body according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the edge (79) is formed on the side panel (73).

Images