Front vehicle body reinforcement structure

Abstract

Front vehicle body reinforcement structure (1) for a part in which a front side element (20) and a fender apron element (30) are connected to each other at a vehicle body front, comprising: a partial frame mounting element (40) which is connected to an underside of a front end section of the front side element (20) and an inside of the front end section in a width direction of the fender apron element (30), wherein an inner surface in a width direction of a vehicle body (10) of the front end section of the fender apron element (30) is connected to an outer surface in a width direction of the vehicle body (10) of the front side element (20) and an outer surface in a width direction of the vehicle body (10) of the partial frame mounting element (40), wherein the front end section of the fender skirt element (30) has a three-dimensional box structure which forms a closed section in an upward / downward direction of the vehicle body (10), and wherein the front side element (20) has a three-dimensional box structure which forms a closed section in a forward / reverse direction of the vehicle body (10), wherein the front vehicle body structure (1) further comprises a mounting device (50) which is connected to the subframe mounting element (40), wherein the mounting device (50) comprises: an engagement section (52) which projects downwards below the partial frame mounting element (40), an inserted section (54) which is inserted into the subframe mounting element (40) from below the vehicle body (10), and a locking projection (56) which is formed between the engagement section (53) and the inserted section (54) to prevent it from being released downwards from the subframe mounting element (40).

Description

Background of the invention; Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a front vehicle body reinforcement structure and in particular a front vehicle body reinforcement structure which can improve performance in coping with a frontal collision and a collision with a small frontal overlap of a vehicle. Description of the related technique

[0002] In general, the front body of a vehicle is a frame structure located at the front of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction, forming an engine compartment, and includes: a front-end module, which forms a front section of the engine compartment and houses a cooling module, a headlight, etc.; a front fender skirt element, which forms a left and a right section of the engine compartment and houses the wheels; and a protective bulkhead or firewall, which is located at a rear section of the engine compartment and separates a passenger compartment from the engine compartment.

[0003] Similarly, front side elements extending longitudinally along the vehicle are arranged below the engine compartment on a left and right side, respectively, to reinforce the structural strength of the front vehicle body, and a subframe is arranged below the front side element to mount, accommodate, and support the engine and transmission or gearbox in the engine compartment, as well as a suspension system, etc.

[0004] A bumper extending in a width direction of the vehicle is mounted on a front tip section of the front side element to improve performance in coping with a frontal collision of the vehicle, the bumper being connected to the front tip section of the front side element in the forward / reverse direction of the vehicle by means of a crash box or shock absorber system.

[0005] If the vehicle, equipped with the front body structure described above, collides head-on with an object that includes an obstacle or another vehicle with a small overlap while the vehicle is moving—that is, if a collision object that has a barrier with a small overlap collides with an external section of the vehicle body in a state where the collision object deviates to one side in a lateral direction of the vehicle, because the collision object collides with an external vehicle body section of relatively weak strength in a state where it deviates from the front side element—vehicle occupants cannot be safely protected, as the front side element does not effectively cope with the frontal collision of the vehicle with a small overlap, causing excessive collision damage to the vehicle.

[0006] To solve this problem, methods are being developed to cope with collisions with a small overlap by reinforcing the external section of the vehicle body.

[0007] For example, by extending a frontal front end section of the front fender skirt element to a frontal front end section of the front side element, a structure is provided in which connecting elements are linked together, or a structure in which a reinforcing element to prevent the collision object from breaking in is mounted on the external side of the front side element, but these are not effective in coping with frontal collisions with a small overlap.

[0008] The information disclosed in this background-of-invention section is provided solely for a better understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be construed as an acknowledgment or any form of indication that this information constitutes prior art already known to the person skilled in the art.

[0009] DE 10 2015 220 915 A1 discloses a vehicle connecting part comprising: a front section connected to a crash box, a first connecting section into which a front end section of a side part is inserted and connected, extending along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and provided on the rear side of the crash box in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a second connecting section which, in a top view of the vehicle, is formed on the outside of the first connecting section in the width direction of the vehicle, and which is connected to a lower end section of a boom which extends along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is provided on the outside of the side part in the width direction of the vehicle in order to extend to a lower side in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and one or more lateral ribs which couple the first connecting section and the second connecting section together.

[0010] US 7,469,956 B2 discloses a front body structure of an automobile comprising a front side frame and a lower frame. A front end of the front side frame and a front end of the lower frame are arranged parallel in the direction of the vehicle's width and connected to each other.

[0011] US 2014 / 0361561A1 discloses a vehicle body front structure comprising: a front side element located on a side panel of the vehicle body front and extending in the direction of travel, an extended section extending further outwards in the vehicle width direction than the front side element, and a load-transferring element connecting the extended section and the front side element, configured such that a pushing section at the front is guided through an intermediate section, which deforms in response to a frontal collision load, to a receiving section at the rear. Summary

[0012] According to the present invention, a front vehicle body reinforcement structure as defined in claim 1 is provided. Exemplary embodiments according to the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0013] Numerous aspects of the present invention are directed towards providing a front vehicle body reinforcement structure which is advantageous in improving collision stability by absorbing collision energy exerted on a front side element by a fender skirt element and by appropriately distributing collision energy exerted on the front side element and the fender skirt element to other parts of a vehicle body when a vehicle is involved in a frontal collision, an offset collision or a collision with a small overlap.

[0014] A front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a front vehicle body reinforcement structure for a part in which a front side element and a fender skirt element are connected to each other in a front vehicle body.

[0015] The front vehicle body reinforcement structure has a partial frame mounting element which is connected to a lower side of a front end section of the front side element and an inside of a front end section in a width direction of the fender skirt element.

[0016] An inner surface in a width direction of a vehicle body of the front end section of the fender skirt element is connected to an outer surface in a width direction of the vehicle body of the front side element and to an outer surface in a width direction of the vehicle body of the subframe mounting element.

[0017] The front end section of the fender apron element has a three-dimensional box structure, which forms a closed section or cross-section in an upward / downward direction of the vehicle body, and the front side element has a three-dimensional box structure, which forms a closed section or cross-section in a forward / backward direction of the vehicle body.

[0018] The partial frame assembly element can have a three-dimensional box structure, which forms a closed section or cross-section in an upward / downward direction of the vehicle body.

[0019] The extension direction of the front end section of the fender apron element and the extension direction of the front end section of the front side element can be arranged in such a way that they are oblique or slanted.

[0020] An included angle between an extension line of the fender skirt element, which is extended or extends in such a way that it is inclined upwards towards the rear of the vehicle body, and an extension line of the front side element, which is extended or extends in a forward / rearward direction of the vehicle body, may be small compared to a case in which an extension direction of the front end section of the fender skirt element and an extension direction of the front end section of the front side element are parallel to each other.

[0021] A front end section of the front side element, a front end section of the fender skirt element, and a front end section of the subframe mounting element can be arranged on the same plane with respect to a forward / reverse direction of the vehicle body.

[0022] A lower end section of the fender skirt element and a lower end section of the subframe mounting element can be arranged on the same plane with respect to an upward / downward direction of the vehicle body.

[0023] The front vehicle body reinforcement structure also features a mounting device that is connected to the subframe mounting element.

[0024] The mounting device comprises: an engagement section which projects downwards below the subframe mounting element, an inserted section which is inserted into the subframe mounting element from below the vehicle body, and a locking projection which is formed between the engagement section and the inserted section to prevent escape downwards from the subframe mounting element.

[0025] A receiving hole, which receives an upper end section of the inserted section, can be formed at a lower end section of the front end section of the front side element.

[0026] One side surface of the inserted section can be supported by a seat groove, which is formed on the inside of the front end section in a width direction of the fender skirt element.

[0027] The receiving hole and the seating groove can each be formed with a shape that corresponds to the upper end section of the inserted section and the side surface of the inserted section.

[0028] The methods and devices of the present invention have other features and advantages, which are set out in more detail below in the attached drawings included here and in the following detailed description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention. Brief description of the drawings Fig. Figure 1 is a top view of a front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 2 is a side view of the front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a view of Fig. 3 from another direction of the same.

[0029] It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily to scale, but rather represent a simplified depiction of numerous features illustrating the fundamental principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes, will be partly determined by the particular intended application and environment of use.

[0030] In the drawings, identical reference numerals refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention in the numerous figures of the drawings. Detailed description

[0031] Reference will now be made in detail to numerous embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) is / are described in connection with exemplary embodiments, it will be clear that the present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to these exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is / are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also numerous alternatives, modifications, and other embodiments that may be included in the nature and scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

[0032] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will below be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] Fig. Figure 1 is a top view of a front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and Fig. Figure 2 is a side view of the front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] As in the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a front vehicle body reinforcement structure 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a reinforcement structure for a part in which a front side element 20 and a fender skirt element 30 overlap in front of a shock absorber housing 15.

[0035] A shock absorber is mounted on or in the shock absorber housing 15. Furthermore, the shock absorber housing 15 is arranged such that it surrounds the shock absorber. The shock absorber is well known to a specialist in this field, so a detailed description of it will be omitted.

[0036] The front side element 20 is arranged within the shock absorber housing 15 in relation to a width direction of a vehicle body 10 and is connected to a lower end section of an inner surface in a width direction of the vehicle body 10 of the shock absorber housing 15.

[0037] The fender skirt element 30 is positioned outside the front side element 20 with respect to the width of the vehicle body 10 such that the shock absorber housing 15 is located between the fender skirt element 30 and the front side element 20. Furthermore, a front end section of the fender skirt element 30 is connected to a front end section of the front side element 20, which extends forward toward the front of the vehicle body 10 relative to the shock absorber housing 15. The fender skirt element 30 also extends upward toward the rear of the vehicle body 10 to connect with an upper fender skirt element. This means that the fender skirt element 30 is positioned to connect the front side element 20 and the upper fender skirt element.Therefore, the fender skirt element 30 is configured to absorb and subsequently distribute a load exerted on the front side element 20, which extends in a forward / reverse direction of the vehicle body 10, when a vehicle is involved in a frontal collision, an offset collision, or a collision with a low overlap.

[0038] Here, the offset collision means a partial frontal collision, and the collision with a small overlap means a local partial collision in which most of the collision load is exerted on one side element of the front side elements 20 under the offset collision.

[0039] The upper fender apron element, which is a component of the vehicle body 10, being arranged outside of an engine hood in a width direction of the vehicle body 10 and being connected to an upper end section of an outer surface in a width direction of the vehicle body 10 of the shock absorber housing 15, is well known to a person skilled in the art, so that a detailed description of it will be omitted.

[0040] The front end section of the fender apron element 30 has a three-dimensional box structure, which forms a closed section or cross-section in an upward / downward direction of the vehicle body 10, and the front side element 20 has a three-dimensional box structure, which forms a closed section or cross-section in a forward / backward direction of the vehicle body 10. In other words, the direction of extension of the front end section of the fender apron element 30 and the direction of extension of the front end section of the front side element 20 are not parallel to each other, but are arranged such that they are inclined.Therefore, the included angle (α) between an extension line L1 of the fender skirt element 30, which extends such that it is inclined upwards towards the rear of the vehicle body 10, and an extension line L2 of the front side element 20, which extends in a forward / backward direction along the vehicle body 10, is small compared to a case in which the extension direction of the front end section of the fender skirt element 30 and the extension direction of the front end section of the front side element 20 are parallel to each other. In this respect, in a case where the included angle (α) is small, the structural strength against a frontal collision is high, and a load transmitted along the fender skirt element 30 and the front side element 20 is effectively distributed. Fig. Figure 2 roughly illustrates one direction of load distribution using arrows.

[0041] Fig. Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the front vehicle body reinforcement structure according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention and Fig. 4 is a view of Fig. 3 from another direction of the same.

[0042] As in Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows a front vehicle body reinforcement structure 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention further comprising a partial frame mounting element 40 and a mounting device 50.

[0043] The subframe mounting element 40 is connected to an underside of the front end section of the front side element 20 and to an inner side of the front end section in a width direction of the fender skirt element 30. Furthermore, the subframe mounting element 40 has a three-dimensional box structure that forms a closed section or cross-section in an upward / downward direction of the vehicle body 10. In this respect, a front end section of the front side element 20, a front end section of the fender skirt element 30, and a front end section of the subframe mounting element 40 are arranged on the same plane with respect to a forward / backward direction of the vehicle body 10, and a lower end section of the fender skirt element 30 and a lower end section of the subframe mounting element 40 are arranged on the same plane with respect to an upward / downward direction of the vehicle body 10.Furthermore, an inner surface in a width direction of the vehicle body 10 of the front end section of the fender skirt element 30 is connected to an outer surface in a width direction of the vehicle body 10 of the front side element 20 and to an outer surface in a width direction of the vehicle body 10 of the subframe mounting element 40. Therefore, a load is transferred to the front side element 20, the fender skirt element 30, and the subframe mounting element 40 when a vehicle is involved in a frontal collision, an offset collision, or a low-overlap collision, and at that time, the front end section of the front side element 20, the front end section of the fender skirt element 30, and the front end section of the subframe mounting element 40 can collectively bear a load.

[0044] The mounting device 50 can be an engagement element comprising a bolt or nut for mounting a subframe. Here, the subframe, which is a component of the vehicle body for mounting and supporting components, including a suspension system, is well known to a person skilled in the art, so a detailed description of it is omitted.

[0045] The mounting device 50 comprises: an engagement section 52, which engages with the subframe below the subframe mounting element 40; an inserted section 54, which is inserted into the subframe mounting element 40 from below the vehicle body 10; and a locking projection 56, which is formed between the engagement section 52 and the inserted section 54 and is inserted into the subframe mounting element 40 to prevent the mounting device 50 from detaching downwards from the subframe mounting element 40. An upper end section of the inserted section 54 is inserted such that it reaches the front side element 20, and a receiving hole 25 is formed at a lower end section of the front end section of the front side element 20 to receive the upper end section of the inserted section 54.Furthermore, the inserted section 54 is supported by the inside of the front end section in a width direction of the fender skirt element 30, and a seating groove 35 is formed on the inside of the front end section in a width direction of the fender skirt element 30 to support a side surface of the inserted section 54. In this respect, the receiving hole 25 and the seating groove 35 are each formed with a shape to correspond to the upper end section of the inserted section 54 and the side surface of the inserted section 54, and the upper end section of the inserted section 54 and the side surface of the inserted section 54 can be produced by a person skilled in the art with numerous shapes, including a circular shape or a polygonal shape.Although not shown in the drawings, a hole drilled in the lower end section of the partial frame mounting element 40 to receive an upper end section of the engagement section 52 may be formed with a shape to correspond to an upper end section of the engagement section 52 and may be produced by the person skilled in the art in numerous shapes, including a circular shape and a polygonal shape.

[0046] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an area which bears a load when a vehicle is involved in a collision with a small overlap can be increased by a set width E, since the fender skirt element 30 and the front side element 20 overlap in a lateral direction (see Fig.1) Therefore, load distribution efficiency can be improved. Furthermore, structural strength in the event of a frontal collision can be high because the angle of inclination of the forward extension of the fender skirt element 30 is small. Additionally, the coupling stiffness of the subframe can be high because the subframe mounting element 40 is connected to the lower end section of the front side element 20 in a state where it overlaps the fender skirt element 30 in a lateral direction.

[0047] To simplify the explanation and for an accurate definition in the attached claims, the terms "upper", "lower", "inside", "outside", "above", "below", "above", "below", "upwards", "downwards", "front", "backwards", "backwards", "inside", "outside", "inwards", "outwards", "within", "outside", "inner", "outer", "forwards" and "backwards" are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments by referring to the positions of such features as shown in the figures.

[0048] The preceding description of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for illustrative and descriptive purposes. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed, as numerous modifications and variations are obviously possible in light of the preceding teachings. The exemplary embodiments have been selected and described to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, enabling other experts in the field to use numerous exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as numerous alternatives and modifications thereof. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims set forth herein.

Claims

[1] Front vehicle body reinforcement structure (1) for a part in which a front side element (20) and a fender skirt element (30) are connected to each other at a vehicle body front, comprising: a partial frame mounting element (40) which is connected to an underside of a front end section of the front side element (20) and an inside of the front end section in a width direction of the fender skirt element (30), wherein an inner surface in a width direction of a vehicle body (10) of the front end section of the fender apron element (30) is connected to an outer surface in a width direction of the vehicle body (10) of the front side element (20) and an outer surface in a width direction of the vehicle body (10) of the partial frame mounting element (40), wherein the front end section of the fender skirt element (30) has a three-dimensional box structure which forms a closed section in an upward / downward direction of the vehicle body (10), and wherein the front side element (20) has a three-dimensional box structure which forms a closed section in a forward / reverse direction of the vehicle body (10), wherein the front vehicle body structure (1) further comprises a mounting device (50) which is connected to the subframe mounting element (40), wherein the mounting device (50) comprises: an engagement section (52) which projects downwards below the partial frame mounting element (40), an inserted section (54) which is inserted into the subframe mounting element (40) from below the vehicle body (10), and a locking projection (56) which is formed between the engagement section (53) and the inserted section (54) to prevent it from being released downwards from the subframe mounting element (40). [2] Front vehicle body reinforcement structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein an extension direction of the front end section of the fender skirt element (30) and an extension direction of the front end section of the front side element (20) are arranged such that they are inclined. [3] Front vehicle body reinforcement structure (1) according to claim 2, wherein an included angle (α) between an extension line (L1) of the fender skirt element (30), which extends such that it is inclined upwards towards a rear of the vehicle body (10), and an extension line (L2) of the front side element (20), which extends in the forward / reverse direction of the vehicle body (10), is small compared to a case in which an extension direction of the front end section of the fender skirt element (30) and an extension direction of the front end section of the front side element (20) are parallel to each other. [4] Front vehicle body reinforcement structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a front end section of the front side element (20), a front end section of the fender skirt element (30) and a front end section of the subframe mounting element (40) are arranged on the same plane with respect to the forward / reverse direction of the vehicle body (10). [5] Front vehicle body reinforcement structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a lower end section of the fender skirt element (30) and a lower end section of the subframe mounting element (40) are arranged on the same plane with respect to the upward / downward direction of the vehicle body (10). [6] Front vehicle body reinforcement structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a receiving hole (25) which receives an upper end section of the inserted section (54) is formed at a lower end section of the front end section of the front side element (20). [7] Front vehicle body reinforcement structure (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a side surface of the inserted section (54) is supported by a seat groove (35) which is formed on the inside of the front end section in a width direction of the fender skirt element (30). [8] Front vehicle body reinforcement structure (1) according to claims 6 and 7, wherein the receiving hole (25) and the seat groove (35) are each formed with a shape to correspond to the upper end section of the inserted section (54) and the side surface of the inserted section (54). [9] Front vehicle body reinforcement structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the subframe mounting element (40) has a three-dimensional box structure which forms a closed section in the upward / downward direction of the vehicle body (10).

Images