VEHICLE ROOF STRUCTURES
The vehicle roof structure uses reinforcements to distribute the load of air conditioning units across multiple points, stabilizing the unit and reducing vibrations by forming triangular and trapezoidal shapes, enhancing structural rigidity and preventing vibrations.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2018057841
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2017-09-01
- Filing Date
- 2018-08-31
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-13
- Estimated Expiration
- 2038-08-31
AI Technical Summary
Existing vehicle roof structures struggle to stably support and prevent vibrations of heavy air conditioning units, particularly due to their extension portions extending outward in the vehicle width direction, leading to potential instability and increased rigidity issues.
A vehicle roof structure design that connects body side panels and a roof element using reinforcements, forming triangular and trapezoidal shapes with fixed points to distribute the load of the air conditioning unit across multiple points, including the roof and body side panels, thereby stabilizing the unit and reducing vibrations through a rigid closed cross-section structure.
The design effectively disperses the load of the air conditioning unit across multiple points, preventing vibrations and enhancing structural rigidity, ensuring stable support and reduced vibrations even when the unit is subjected to vibrations in the vehicle width or front-rear direction.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
With the above configuration, the body side panels and the roof member are connected using the reinforcements. Furthermore, the second pieces of the reinforcements that are attached to the roof member overlap and are attached to the roof member and the extension portions of the air conditioner. Thus, the load of the air conditioner, which is a heavy item, is transmitted not only to the roof member to which the extension portions of the air conditioner are attached, but also to the first pieces of the reinforcements from the second pieces, and is further transmitted to the body side panels. Therefore, the load of the air conditioner can be dispersed not only to the roof member but also to the body side panels, and the air conditioner can be stably supported. The first part may include a first attachment point and a second attachment point that are attached to a corresponding one of the body side panels and are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the second part may include a third attachment point that is located between the first attachment point and the second attachment point in the vehicle front-rear direction and is attached to the roof member and a corresponding one of the extension portions of the air conditioning unit. Here, because the air conditioner, which is a heavy article, has the extension portions extending from the body portion in the vehicle width direction, the air conditioner tends to vibrate around the central axis which is parallel to the vehicle width direction. In the above configuration, in each reinforcement, the first fixed point and the second fixed point in the first part and the third fixed point in the second part construct a triangular shape when viewed from below. Furthermore, because each extension portion of the air conditioner is fixed at the third fixed point in the second part, the central axis which is parallel to the vehicle width direction passes through the third fixed points or a neighboring area.For this reason, the load generated due to vibrations of the air conditioning unit around the central axis can be reliably received at the first fixed point and the second fixed point, which are spaced apart from each other in the . vehicle forward-rear direction, through the third fixed point. Therefore, vibrations of the air conditioning unit can be prevented. The body portion of the air conditioning unit may overlap the roof member, the roof member may include a fourth attachment point secured to the body portion, and the fourth attachment point may be spaced, in the vehicle front-to-rear direction, from the second piece of each of the reinforcements. Thus, the body portion of the air conditioner is fixed to the roof member at the fourth fixed point in the roof member which is spaced apart from the second pieces of the reinforcements in the vehicle front-rear direction. In addition, the extension portions of the air conditioner are fixed to the roof member, together with the second pieces of the reinforcements. For this reason, the load generated due to vibration of the air conditioner, which is a heavy article, around the central axis parallel to the vehicle width direction, can be reliably received at the second pieces of the reinforcements and the fourth fixed point of the roof member which are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle front-rear direction. Therefore, vibration of the air conditioner can be prevented. Each of the body side panels may have a protruding portion protruding inward in the vehicle width direction, and the first piece of a corresponding one of the reinforcements may overlap and be secured to the protruding portion, and the protruding portion of each of the body side panels may form a closed cross-section together with the corresponding one of the reinforcements and the roof member when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction. Thus, a closed cross-section structure can be formed with each of the protruding portions of the body side panels, the corresponding one of the reinforcements, and the roof member, and rigidity can thus be increased. For this reason, vibrations of the air conditioner can be reduced by a rigid closed cross-section structure even if the air conditioner vibrates in the vehicle width direction or the vehicle front-rear direction. Hereinafter, a preferable embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dimensions, materials, other specific values, and the like, described in this embodiment are merely examples to facilitate understanding of the invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention unless otherwise indicated. It should be noted that, in this specification and in the drawings, the same reference numerals are assigned to elements having substantially the same functions and configurations to omit redundant descriptions, and elements not directly related to the present invention are omitted from the drawings. Figure 1 shows a vehicle roof structure 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1(a) shows a right side of a vehicle 102 to which the vehicle roof structure 100 is applied. Figure 1(b) shows the vehicle 102 in Figure 1(a) as viewed from the direction of arrow A, and shows a vehicle cabin side of a roof 104 of the vehicle 102. Note that arrows X and Y in the diagrams indicate the vehicle front side and the exterior in the vehicle width direction, respectively. As shown in Fig. 1(b), the vehicle roof structure 100 includes an air conditioning unit 106. The air conditioning unit 106 is a heavy article arranged on the vehicle passenger compartment side of the roof 104 of the vehicle 102. The air conditioning unit 106 has a body portion 108, and a pair of extension portions 110 and 112 that extend outward in the vehicle width direction from the body portion 108. As shown in Fig. 1(b), the vehicle passenger compartment side of the roof 104 is covered with a roof covering 114, which is an interior member. Figure 2 shows the vehicle roof structure 100 in Figure 1(b) while omitting certain elements. Figure 2(a) shows the vehicle roof structure 100 in Figure 1(b) while omitting the roof covering 114. Figure 2(b) shows the vehicle roof structure 100 in Figure 2(a) while omitting the air conditioning unit 106. The vehicle roof structure 100 also includes a pair of body side panels 116 and 118, a roof member 120, and a pair of reinforcements 122 and 124. The body side panels 116 and 118 are rigid members that are part of the vehicle body and extend into the vehicle front-rear direction on both sides of the roof 104. The body side panels 116 and 118 respectively have projecting portions 126 and 128 which project and curve inward in the vehicle width direction. It should be noted that, for example, a sliding door mechanism (not shown) for allowing sliding doors 130 (see FIG. 1) to slide can be installed in the vehicle 102 by ensuring spaces inward of the projecting portions 126 and 128. The roof member 120 is a member that connects the pair of body side panels 116 and 118, and is arranged to overlap the air conditioning unit 106, as shown in Figure 2(b). The two reinforcements 122 and 124 are located between the roof member 120 and the body side panels 116 and 118, respectively, as shown in Figure 2(b). Figure 3 is a perspective view of the reinforcement 122 in the vehicle roof structure 100 in Figure 2(b). Note that Figure 2(b) shows a state of the reinforcement 122 shown in Figure 3 as viewed from below. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle roof structure 100 in Figure 1(b) taken along a line BB. Although mainly a configuration of the reinforcement 122 and the surrounding area thereof in the vehicle roof structure 100 is described below, the reinforcement 124 and the surrounding area thereof also have a similar configuration, functions, and the like. As shown in Figure 3, the reinforcement 122 has a first piece 132, a second piece 134, and a vertically extending wall 136 that connects the first piece 132 and the second piece 134. The first piece 132 of the reinforcement 122 includes a first fixed point 138 and a second fixed point 140, which are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle when viewed from below, as shown in Figure 2(b). The second part 134 of the reinforcement 122 includes a third fixed point 142. The third fixed point 142 is located between the first fixed point 138 and the second fixed point 140 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. It should be noted that the reinforcement 124 and the reinforcement 122 are symmetrical in structure. A first fixed point 146 and a second fixed point 148 are placed in a first part 144, and a third fixed point 152 is placed in a second part 150. As shown in Fig. 2(b), the first piece 132 of the reinforcement 122 overlaps the protruding portion 126 of the body side panel 116, and is fixed to the body side panel 116 via the first fixed point 138 and the second fixed point 140. Specifically, the first piece 132 of the reinforcement 122 is arranged to overlap a flange 154, which protrudes inward, in the vehicle width direction, from the protruding portion 126 of the body side panel 116, as shown in Fig. 4. Furthermore, the first piece 132 is fixed to the body side panel 116 by screwing a bolt 156 or the like from below into an insertion hole, which is the first fixed point 138. It should be noted that, as shown in Fig. 3, an edge line 158 which extends along the curved shape of the protruding portion 126 is formed in the first part 132. The second piece 134 of the reinforcement 122 overlaps the roof member 120 and the extension portion 110 of the air conditioning unit 106, and is fixed to the roof member 120 and the extension portion 110 via the third fixed point 142. Specifically, the second piece 134 of the reinforcement 122 is located between the roof member 120 and the extension portion 110 of the air conditioning unit 106 and is sandwiched therebetween, as shown in FIG. 4. Furthermore, the second piece 134 is fixed to the roof member 120 and the extension portion 110 of the air conditioning unit 106 by screwing a bolt 160 or the like from below into an insertion hole, which is the third fixing point 142. In other words, the second piece 134 of the reinforcement 122, the roof element 120, and the extension portion 110 of the air conditioning unit 106 are secured together at the third attachment point 142. Thus, the reinforcement 122 connects the body side panel 116 and the roof member 120, and the second piece 134 overlaps and is fixed to the roof member 120 and the extension portion 110 of the air conditioner 106. Furthermore, the reinforcement 122 forms a closed cross-section C together with the projecting portion 126 of the body side panel 116 and the roof member 120 when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction, as shown in FIG. 4. A clip 162 for temporarily holding the extension portion 110 of the air conditioning unit 106 and the roof member 120 together is inserted into the extension portion 110. Furthermore, an area 164 of the extension portion 110 of the air conditioning unit 106 in which the bolt 160 and the clip 162 are arranged passes through an opening 166 in the roof covering 114, as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, securing using the bolt 160 and temporary restraint with the clip 162 are enabled by arranging the bolt 160 and the clip 162 in the area 164 of the extension portion 110. It should be noted that a flap 168 of the air conditioning unit 106 is arranged below the area 164 of the extension portion 110. The body portion 108 of the air conditioner 106 overlaps the roof member 120, as shown in FIG. 2(a), and is attached to the roof member 120 via fourth attachment points 170 and 172 and a securing point 174 which are provided in the roof member 120. The fourth attachment points 170 and 172 are spaced, toward the vehicle front side, from the third attachment points 142 and 152 in the reinforcements 122 and 124, as shown in FIG. 2(b). In the reinforcement 122, the first attachment point 138 and the second attachment point 140 in the first part 132 and the third attachment point 142 in the second part 134 construct a triangular shape indicated by dotted lines D when viewed from below, as shown in FIG. 2(b). In the reinforcement 124, the first attachment point 146 and the second attachment point 148 in the first part 144 and the third attachment point 152 in the second part 150 construct a triangular shape indicated by dotted lines E. Furthermore, the third attachment points 142 and 152 in the reinforcements 122 and 124 and the fourth attachment points 170 and 172 in the roof member 120 construct a trapezoidal shape indicated by dotted lines F. It should be noted that the fourth attachment points 170 and 172 do not necessarily have to be placed using the third attachment points 142 and 152 as references as long as a trapezoidal shape can be formed, and can be placed so as to be spaced, toward the vehicle front side, from the second parts 134 and 150 which include the third attachment points 142 and 152, respectively. In the vehicle roof structure 100 according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the body side panel 116 and the element roof member 120 are connected using the reinforcement 122, and the roof member 120 and the extension portion 110 of the air conditioning unit 106 overlap and are fixed to the second piece 134. Thus, the load of the air conditioning unit 106, which is a heavy item, is transmitted not only to the roof member 120, to which the extension portion 110 of the air conditioning unit 106 is fixed, but also to the first piece 132 of the reinforcement 122 from the second piece 134, and is further transmitted to the body side panel 116. Therefore, in the vehicle roof structure 100, the load of the air conditioning unit 106 can be dispersed not only to the roof member 120 but also to the body side panel 116, and the air conditioning unit 106 can be stably supported. Here, because the extension portions 110 and 112 of the air conditioner 106, which is a heavy article, extend outward in the vehicle width direction from the body portion 108, vibrations may occur about the central axis which is parallel to the vehicle width direction. In this regard, in the vehicle roof structure 100, triangular shapes are constructed in the reinforcements 122 and 124 by the attachment points 138 and 146 and the second attachment points 140 and 148 in the first parts 132 and 144, and the third attachment points 142 and 152 in the second parts 134 and 150, as shown in FIG. 2(b).Furthermore, because the extension portions 110 and 112 of the air conditioning apparatus 106 are fixed at the third fixing points 142 and 152 in the second parts 134 and 150, the central axis which is parallel to the vehicle width direction passes through the third fixing points 142 and 152 or neighboring areas. For this reason, in the vehicle roof structure 100, the load generated due to vibrations around the central axis of the air conditioning unit 106 can be reliably received at the first attachment points 138 and 146 and the second attachment points 140 and 148, which are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle front-rear direction, through the third attachment points 142 and 152. Therefore, vibrations of the air conditioning unit 106 can be prevented. The extension portions 110 and 112 of the air conditioning unit 106 are attached to the roof element 120, together with the second pieces 134 and 150 of the reinforcements 122 and 124. In addition, the body portion 108 of the air conditioning unit air conditioning 106 is attached to the roof member 120 at fourth attachment points 170 and 172 in the roof member 120 which are spaced, toward the vehicle front side, from the third attachment points 142 and 152 in the second parts 134 and 150. For this reason, in the vehicle roof structure 100, the load generated due to vibrations of the air conditioning unit 106 about the central axis, which is parallel to the vehicle width direction, can be reliably received at the third attachment points 142 and 152 and the fourth attachment points 170 and 172 which are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle front-rear direction. Therefore, vibrations of the air conditioning unit 106 can be prevented. Furthermore, with the vehicle roof structure 100, the closed cross-section C can be formed with the protruding portion 126 of the body side panel 116, the reinforcement 122, and the roof member 120, as shown in FIG. 4, and the rigidity can thus be increased. For this reason, with the vehicle roof structure 100, vibrations of the air conditioner 106 can be reduced by a rigid closed cross-section structure even if the air conditioner 106 vibrates in the vehicle width direction or the vehicle front-rear direction. Although a preferable embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is, of course, not limited to the example described above. It is obvious that those skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications and variations within the scope of the present invention, and it is to be understood that such modifications and variations are naturally encompassed within the technical scope of the present invention. Industrial applicability: The present invention is applicable to a vehicle roof structure. Index of reference numbers: 100 ... Vehicle roof structure; 102 ... Vehicle; 104 ... Roof; 106 ... Air conditioning unit; 108 ... Body portion of air conditioning unit; 110, 112 ... Extension portion of air conditioning unit; 114 ... Roof covering; 116, 118 ... Body side panel; 120 ... Roof element; 122,124 ... Reinforcement; 126,128 ... Projecting portion of body side panel; 130 ... Sliding door; 132, 144 ... First reinforcing piece; 134, 150 ... Second reinforcing piece; 136 ... Vertically extending reinforcing wall; 138, 146 ... First attachment point; 140, 148 ... Second attachment point; 142, 152 ... Third attachment point; 154 ... Flange; 156, 160 ... Bolt; 158 ... First piece edge line; 162 ... Clip; 164 ... 5 Air conditioning unit extension portion area; 166 ... Roof covering opening; 168 ... Air conditioning unit flap; 170, 172 ... Fourth attachment point; 174 ... Attachment point.
Claims
CLAIMS 1. A vehicle roof structure (100) which comprises an air conditioning apparatus (106) arranged on a vehicle passenger compartment side of a roof (104) of a vehicle (102), the vehicle roof structure (100) further comprising: a pair of body side panels (116, 118) extending in a vehicle front-rear direction on both sides of the roof and constituting a vehicle body; a roof element (120) connecting the pair of body side panels (116, 118): and a pair of reinforcements (122, 124) located between the pair of body side panels (116, 118) and the roof element (120), wherein the air conditioning apparatus (106) includes a body portion (108) and a pair of extension portions (110, 112) extending outwardly in a vehicle width direction from the body portion (108), wherein each of the pair of reinforcements (122, 124) includes: a first part (132, 144) which overlaps and is fixed to a corresponding one of the body side panels (116, 118); and a second part (134, 150) which overlaps the roof element (120) and a corresponding one of the extension portions (110, 112) of the air conditioning unit (106) and is fixed to the roof element (120) and a corresponding one of the extension portions (110, 112) characterized in that each of the body side panels (116, 118) has a projecting portion (126, 128) projecting inwardly in the vehicle width direction, and the first piece (132, 144) of a corresponding one of the reinforcements (122, 124) overlaps and is fixed to the projecting portion (126, 128), 2. Vehicle roof structure (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first part (132, 144) includes a first attachment point (138, 146) and a second attachment point (140, 148) which are attached to a corresponding one of the body side panels (116, 118) and are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle front-rear direction, and wherein the second part (134, 150) includes a third attachment point (142, 152) which is located between the first attachment point (138, 146) and the second attachment point (140, 148) in the vehicle front-rear direction and is attached to the roof member (120) and a corresponding one of the extension portions (110, 112) of the air conditioning unit (106).
3. Vehicle roof structure (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the body portion (108) of the air conditioning unit (106) overlaps the roof element (120), 10 wherein the roof element (120) includes a fourth attachment point secured to the body portion (108), and wherein the fourth attachment point is spaced, in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, from the second part (134, 150) of each of the reinforcements (122, 124). 15 4. Vehicle roof structure (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the projecting portion (126, 128) of each of the body side panels (116, 118) constructs a closed cross-section together with a corresponding one of the reinforcements (122, 124) and the roof member (120) as viewed from the front-rear vehicle direction.