Front vehicle body reinforcement structure

Abstract

Front vehicle body reinforcement structure, comprising: a front side member (10) formed to extend in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and disposed on a first side and a second side in a width direction of the vehicle, respectively; a side end member (20) which is formed to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is arranged on a first side and a second side outside the front side member (10) in the width direction of the vehicle; and a reinforcing member (50) formed to extend in the width direction of the vehicle and having a first end portion and a second end portion coupled to the front longitudinal member (10) and the side end member (20), respectively, to connect the front longitudinal member (10) and the side end member (20) to each other, wherein the first end portion of the reinforcing member (50) penetrates the front longitudinal member (10) to be connected thereto, and the second end portion thereof is inserted within a closed cross section (25) formed by the side end member (20) to be connected thereto.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a front vehicle body reinforcement structure, and more particularly to a front vehicle body reinforcement structure configured to effectively respond to a frontal impact and a small overlap frontal impact by enhancing the connection strength between a front side member configuring a front vehicle body, a torque box, and a side closure.

[0002] Generally, the front vehicle body of a vehicle is a frame structure forming an engine compartment located at the front longitudinal direction of a vehicle. The front vehicle body includes a front side module forming a front portion of the engine compartment and provided with a cooling module and a headlight, etc.; a front fender skirt member forming the left and right portions of the engine compartment and providing volume for the wheels and the suspension system; and a firewall panel located at the rear of the engine compartment and in areas between the passenger compartment and the engine compartment.

[0003] Likewise, a front side member extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle is arranged under the engine compartment on the left and right sides in a width direction of the vehicle, thereby enhancing the structural strength of the front vehicle body. A subframe configured to support an engine and a transmission arranged in the engine compartment by mounting a suspension system is arranged at the bottom of the front side member in a height direction of the vehicle and connected to the front side member.

[0004] A bumper beam formed to extend in a width direction of the vehicle is mounted on a front end portion of the front side member to improve the frontal collision handling performance of the vehicle.

[0005] In the case where the vehicle equipped with the front vehicle body having the above-mentioned structure is subjected to a frontal collision with an obstacle or other vehicles while traveling, the bumper beam first absorbs impact energy while being deformed by the absorbed impact energy. The impact energy is also transmitted to the front side member via the bumper beam, and the front side member also absorbs impact energy while being deformed by receiving an impact. The impact energy not absorbed by the front side member is distributed to and absorbed by other parts of the vehicle body, such as the front fender skirt member, the front pillar, and the like, which are connected to the front side member.

[0006] On the other hand, a side guard, which is configured to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, is arranged on the right and left sides of the vehicle widthwise in such a way that it corresponds to a side impact of the vehicle. For a side impact of the vehicle, a torque box is arranged between the side guard and the front side member, thereby enhancing the connection strength between the side guard and the front side member.

[0007] However, in a conventional front vehicle body structure, since double or multiple reinforcement members are added when connecting the front side member and the torque box, the weight and cost of the vehicle are increased. Similarly, since the front side member and the front fender skirt member are coupled via a side flange coupling, the coupling strength between them is weakened. Therefore, a disadvantage of a front vehicle body is that it is not sufficiently effective in a frontal or small-overlap frontal collision.

[0008] JP 2013-203111 A describes a front vehicle body reinforcement structure comprising a front side member formed to extend in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and disposed at each of a first side and a second side in a width direction of the vehicle, a side end member formed to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and disposed at each of a first side and a second side outside the front side member in the width direction of the vehicle, and a reinforcing member formed to extend in the width direction of the vehicle and having a first end portion and a second end portion coupled to the front side member and the side end member, respectively, to connect the front side member and the side end member to each other.

[0009] Another front vehicle body reinforcement structure is known from JP 2015-093507 A.

[0010] The invention provides a front vehicle body reinforcement structure that effectively responds to a frontal impact and a small overlap frontal impact by increasing the connection strength between a front side member, a torque box, and a side closure to more safely protect occupants.

[0011] A front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to the invention includes a front side member (or front side member) formed to extend in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and disposed on both sides in a width direction of the vehicle, a side seal member (or side sealing member) formed to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and disposed on both sides outside the front side member in the width direction of the vehicle, and a reinforcing member formed to extend in the width direction of the vehicle and having one end portion and the other end portion connected to the front side member.are coupled to the side end member to connect the front longitudinal member and the side end member.

[0012] The front longitudinal member and the side end member can be coupled with a floor panel.

[0013] The front longitudinal member can form a closed cross-section.

[0014] The side end support forms a closed cross-section.

[0015] Furthermore, the front vehicle body reinforcement structure may include a torque box plate (or shear box plate) connecting the front side member and the side end member.

[0016] One end portion of the torque box plate may overlap the front side member such that they are connected together as a unit (or integrally, one-piece, or holistically), and another end portion may overlap the side end member such that they are connected together as a unit.

[0017] The torque box plate may be separated from the floor panel, and a closed cross section having a closed box shape may be formed between the torque box plate, the floor panel, the front longitudinal member, and the side end member.

[0018] The reinforcing element may be formed in a tubular shape.

[0019] One end portion of the reinforcing member penetrates the front longitudinal member so as to be connected thereto, and the other end portion is inserted within the closed cross-section formed by the side end member so as to be connected thereto.

[0020] The side end member may include an inner side end member positioned inward in (or along) the width direction of the vehicle and an outer side end member positioned outward, the inner side end member and the outer side end member may be coupled to each other to form the closed cross section, and the other end portion of the reinforcing member may be inserted through the inner side end member into the closed cross section to be coupled to the outer side end member.

[0021] The side end member may include an inner side end member positioned inward in (or along) the width direction of the vehicle and an outer side end member positioned outward, one end portion of the reinforcing member may penetrate the front side member so as to be connected thereto, and the other end portion of the reinforcing member may overlap a front end portion of the inner side end member in (or along) the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0022] The other end portion of the reinforcing member may be pressed to form a connecting flange coupled to the front end portion.

[0023] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bottom surface of a front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 a section along the line AA in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a section along the line BB in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention when tire displacement is generated in a vehicle collision; and Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention when preventing tire penetration into a vehicle side in a small overlap vehicle crash.

[0024] With reference to the Fig. 1 to 3, a front vehicle body reinforcement structure of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention may include a front side member 10 formed to extend in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and disposed on both sides in a width direction of the vehicle, and a side end member 20 formed to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and disposed on both sides in the width direction of the vehicle outside the front side member 10.

[0025] The front longitudinal member 10 and the side end member 20 can each be coupled to a floor panel 30 and connected to each other as a unit.

[0026] The front longitudinal member 10 and the side end member 20 can be configured such that they each form a closed cross-section.

[0027] A torque box plate 40 may be provided to increase the connection strength between the front longitudinal member 10 and the side end member 20 by connecting the front longitudinal member 10 and the side end member 20.

[0028] One end portion of the torque box plate 40 may overlap the front side member 10 such that they are connected together as a unit, and the other end portion of the torque box plate 40 may overlap the side end member 20 such that they are connected together as a unit.

[0029] The torque box plate 40 is separated from the floor panel 30, and accordingly, a closed cross section 45 with a closed box shape can be formed between the torque box plate 40, the floor panel 30, the front longitudinal member 10 and the side end member 20.

[0030] A reinforcing member 50 may be additionally provided to increase the connection strength between the front longitudinal member 10 and the side end member 20 by connecting the front longitudinal member 10 and the side end member 20.

[0031] The reinforcing element 50 is formed in a possible tubular shape, but the invention is not limited thereto.

[0032] One end portion of the reinforcing member 50 is coupled to the front longitudinal member 10 through the front longitudinal member 10, and the other end portion of the reinforcing member 50 is inserted into the closed cross section 25 of the side end member 20 so as to be coupled to the side end member 20.

[0033] That is, the side end beam 20 may include an inner side end beam 21 positioned inward in the width direction of the vehicle and an outer side end beam 22 positioned outward in the width direction of the vehicle. The inner side end beam 21 and the outer side end beam 22 may be coupled to each other to form the closed cross section 25, and the other end portion of the reinforcing member 50 may be inserted through the inner side end beam 21 into the closed cross section 25 and then coupled to the outer side end beam 22.

[0034] With reference to Fig. 2, the other end portion of the reinforcing member 50 may overlap a front end portion 23 of the inner side end member 21 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle so as to be connected thereto.

[0035] The other end portion of the reinforcing member 50 may be pressed to form a connecting flange 52 for the connection between the other end portion of the reinforcing member 50 and the front end portion 23 of the inner side end beam 21.

[0036] The connecting flange 52 may overlap the front end portion 23 of the inner side end support 21 such that it is engaged by a suitable means, such as a screw connection, so that it is connected thereto.

[0037] With reference to the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, in a vehicle having the front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, when a frontal collision or a small overlap frontal collision occurs, a tire 60 receives an impact load therefrom and is pushed to a rear side in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In this case, the reinforcing member 50, other than the tire 60, is positioned at the rear side in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, whereby the pushing away of the tire 60 can be caused (referring to FIG. Fig. 4) and the pushing of the tire 60 to the passenger compartment side of the vehicle can be prevented (with reference to Fig. 5), and accordingly, it is possible to effectively reduce injuries to occupants within the passenger compartment as a result of the impact.

Claims

[1] Front vehicle body reinforcement structure, comprising: a front side member (10) formed to extend in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and disposed on a first side and a second side in a width direction of the vehicle; a side end member (20) which is formed such that it extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is arranged on a first side and a second side outside the front side member (10) in the width direction of the vehicle; and a reinforcing member (50) which is formed such that it extends in the width direction of the vehicle and has a first end portion and a second end portion which are coupled to the front longitudinal member (10) and the side end member (20) respectively, in order to connect the front longitudinal member (10) and the side end member (20) to each other, wherein the first end portion of the reinforcing element (50) penetrates the front longitudinal member (10) to be connected thereto, and the second end portion thereof is inserted within a closed cross section (25) formed by the side end member (20) to be connected thereto. [2] A front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to claim 1, wherein the front side member (10) and the side end member (20) are coupled to a floor panel (30). [3] A front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the front side member (10) forms a closed cross section. [4] A front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to claim 2, further comprising a torque box plate (40) connecting the front side member (10) and the side end member (20) to each other. [5] A front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to claim 4, wherein a first end portion of the torque box plate (40) overlaps the front side member (10) to be connected together as a unit, and a second end portion overlaps the side end member (20) to be connected together as a unit. [6] A front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the torque box plate (40) is separated from the floor panel (30), and a closed cross section (45) having a closed box shape is formed between the torque box plate (40), the floor panel (30), the front side member (10) and the side end member (20). [7] A front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the reinforcement member (50) is formed in a tubular shape. [8] Front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to claim 1 to 3, wherein the side end support (20) has an inner side end support (21) arranged inside in the width direction of the vehicle and an outer side end support (22) arranged outside; the inner side end support (21) and the outer side end support (22) are coupled together in such a way that they form the closed cross-section (25); and the second end portion of the reinforcing element (50) is inserted through the inner side end support (21) into the closed cross-section (25) such that it is coupled to the outer side end support (22). [9] A front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the side end support (20) has an inner side end support (21) arranged inside in the width direction of the vehicle and an outer side end support (22) arranged outside; the first end portion of the reinforcing element (50) penetrates the front longitudinal member (10) to be connected thereto; and the second end portion of the reinforcing member (50) overlaps a front end portion (23) of the inner side end member (21) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. [10] A front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to claim 9, wherein the second end portion of the reinforcement member (50) is pressed to form a connecting flange (52) coupled to the front end portion (23).

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