Vehicle side part structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle side part structure in which an engagement part of a vehicle body can be engaged with a protruding member of a door at the time of side collision of a vehicle, although the structure has layout in which the protruding member of the door is comparatively separated from the engagement part of the vehicle body.SOLUTION: A vehicle side part structure comprises a protruding member 40 protruding from an outer plate member 32 of a door to outside and an engagement part 22 of a vehicle body that engages with the protruding member 40 which moves to inside in a vehicle width direction at the time of side collision of the vehicle, which further comprises a connection member 50 connecting the outer plate member 32 of the door to the other member 34 and extending in the vehicle width direction. The connection member 50 has a folding starting point 56 at which the connection member 50 starts to fold back at the time of side collision of the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle side structure having a protruding member provided on a door and an engaging portion provided on a vehicle body and adapted to engage with the protruding member of the door during a side collision of the vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] A known vehicle side structure of this type includes an engagement pin protruding from a rear door and an engagement hole provided in the periphery of a wheel house of the rear fender, which engages with the engagement pin (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, when an impact force acts on the rear door from the side of the vehicle body, the engagement pin abuts against the inner end of the engagement hole, thereby restricting the rear door from moving further into the passenger compartment. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-40259 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When vehicle bodies are standardized among different vehicle models, the positions of the engagement parts of the vehicle bodies are also standardized among the vehicle models. However, because the door shapes differ from vehicle model to vehicle model, depending on the vehicle model, there are cases where the layout requires the protruding member provided on the door to be relatively far away from the engagement part. In this case, in the event of a side collision of the vehicle, the free running distance until the protruding member reaches the engagement part becomes long, and there is a risk that the protruding member and the engagement part will not engage properly.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is to provide a vehicle side structure that can accurately engage the door protruding member and the engagement portion of the vehicle body in the event of a side collision, even if the layout of the door protruding member and the engagement portion of the vehicle body are relatively far apart. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle side structure comprising: a door for opening and closing a side opening of a vehicle body; a protruding member provided on the door and protruding outward from an outer panel member of the door; an engaging portion provided on the vehicle body and engaging with the protruding member that moves inward in the vehicle width direction during a side collision of the vehicle; and a connecting member that connects the outer panel member of the door to another member and extends in the vehicle width direction, wherein the connecting member has a folding origin portion that serves as a starting point for folding the connecting member during a side collision of the vehicle.

[0007] According to this vehicle side structure, when the door is crushed from the outside toward the inside in the vehicle width direction during a side collision of the vehicle, the connecting member inside the door is bent from the folding start portion as a starting point. In this way, by actively bending the connecting member in a desired deformation mode, the outer plate member and the protruding member can be moved inward in the vehicle width direction as intended. Here, while the connecting member is being bent, the posture of the connecting member or the mounting portion of the protruding member on the outer plate member does not change significantly, and the protruding member does not enter a rollover mode in which the axial direction changes significantly. In this way, the protruding member is prevented from entering a rollover mode, and the protruding member can be engaged with the engaging portion in a desired posture. As a result, even if the protruding member of the door and the engaging portion of the vehicle body are relatively far apart in their layout, they can be accurately engaged with each other during a side collision.

[0008] In the vehicle side structure, the connecting member may be a bracket to which the protruding member is attached.

[0009] According to this vehicle side structure, the bracket to which the protruding member is attached is bent in the event of a side collision of the vehicle.

[0010] In the vehicle side structure, the bracket may have a shape maintaining portion for maintaining the shape of the mounting portion of the protruding member in the event of a side collision of the vehicle.

[0011] According to this vehicle side structure, when a side collision of the vehicle occurs, the bracket is bent starting from the bending starting point, while the shape maintaining portion suppresses deformation of the attachment portion of the protruding portion. Thereby, the posture of the protruding member during a side collision of the vehicle can be stabilized, and the protruding member and the engaging portion can be engaged more accurately.

[0012] Further, in the above vehicle side structure, the door may have a beam member extending in the front-rear direction, and the bracket may connect the outer plate member and the beam member.

[0013] According to this vehicle side structure, when a side collision of the vehicle occurs, an input corresponding to the deformation of the beam member acts on the bracket from the beam member. At this time, since the bracket is bent starting from the bending starting point, the protruding member can be moved inward in the vehicle width direction without being affected by the input from the beam member. Therefore, the specifications of the beam member can be determined without considering the behavior of the protruding member during a side collision of the vehicle, and the degree of freedom in the design of the door is significantly improved.

[0014] Further, in the above vehicle side structure, the bending starting point portion may have a recess formed in the bracket in the front-rear direction.

[0015] According to this vehicle side structure, when a side collision of the vehicle occurs, the bracket is surely bent at the position of the recess.

Advantages of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, even in a layout where the protruding member of the door and the engaging portion of the vehicle body are relatively separated, these can be accurately engaged during a side collision.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] It is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle showing an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] It is a schematic side explanatory view of a door showing the arrangement state of each beam and bracket. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] 1 to 5 show one embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic oblique view of a vehicle, FIG. 2 is a schematic side explanatory view of a door showing the arrangement of each beam and bracket, FIG. 3 is a side explanatory view of a lower beam and bracket, FIG. 4 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the door, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the bracket.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, an automobile vehicle 10 has a plurality of doors 30 for opening and closing a side opening 21 of a vehicle body 20. The vehicle side structure of this embodiment is applied to the front door of the vehicle 10. In addition to an outer panel 31 as an exterior panel forming the design surface of the vehicle 10, the door 30 has an inner panel 32 as an exterior plate member, and an upper beam 33 and a lower beam 34 extending in the front-rear direction as shown in FIG. 2. The upper beam 33 and the lower beam 34 are formed with a hat-shaped cross section and bend in a desired deformation mode when the vehicle 10 is hit on the side. The door 30 has a catcher pin 40 protruding outward from the inner panel 32, and the vehicle body 20 is provided with an engagement portion 22 (see FIG. 4) that engages with the catcher pin 40 when the vehicle 10 is hit on the side. In this embodiment, the engagement portion 22 is disposed on a side sill 23 that forms the lower side of the side opening 21 of the vehicle body 20. 3, the door 30 has a bracket 50 to which the catcher pin 40 is attached. The bracket 50, which serves as a connecting member, connects the inner panel 32 and the lower beam 34 together.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 4, the inner panel 32 has a vehicle width extension portion 35 extending in the vehicle width direction, and the catcher pin 40 protrudes downward from the vehicle width extension portion 35. The catcher pin 40 as a protruding member is attached to the door 30 side by a nut 41 provided on the upper surface of a bracket 50 and a bolt 42 that passes through the inner panel 32 and the bracket 50 and screws into the nut 41. In this embodiment, the engagement portion 22 is formed by cutting out the side sill 23, and when the door 30 is closed, the catcher pin 40 is located in the portion where the side sill 23 is cut out. The engagement portion 22 is covered by a covering member 24.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 4, the bracket 50 has a vehicle width extension portion 51 provided with a nut 41 and extending in the vehicle width direction, an inner flange 52 extending upward from an inner end of the vehicle width extension portion 51 in the vehicle width direction, and an outer flange 53 extending downward from an outer end of the vehicle width extension portion 51 in the vehicle width direction. The bracket 50 has the inner flange 52 joined to the upper and lower extending portions 36 of the inner panel 32, and the outer flange 53 joined to the lower beam 34. The inner side of the vehicle width extension portion 51 is disposed so as to overlap the vehicle width extension portion 35 of the inner panel 32, and forms an attachment portion 54 to which the catcher pin 40 is attached. The outer side of the vehicle width extension portion 51 forms an extension portion 55 extending in the vehicle width direction in the space between the inner panel 32 and the lower beam 34 inside the door 30.

[0022] 5, the extending portion 55 is formed with a recess 56 as a folding starting point. In this embodiment, the recess 56 of the bracket 50 extends in the front-rear direction, and when a compressive load in the vehicle width direction acts on the vehicle width extending portion 51 of the bracket 50, the bracket 50 is bent so as to be folded in the vehicle width direction starting from the recess 56. In this embodiment, the recess 56 is formed so as to protrude downward.

[0023] Further, a bead 57 extending in the vehicle width direction is formed on the mounting portion 54. The bead 57 serves as a shape maintaining portion for maintaining the shape of the mounting portion 54 in the event of a side collision of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the beads 57 are formed on the front and rear sides of the nut 41. One bead is disposed on the front side of the nut 41, and two beads are disposed in a line up in the front-rear direction on the rear side of the nut 41.

[0024] According to the vehicle side structure configured as described above, when the door 30 is crushed from the outside toward the inside in the vehicle width direction during a side collision of the vehicle 10, the bracket 50 inside the door 30 is bent starting from the recess 56. In this embodiment, since the recess 56 is formed over the front and rear, the bracket 50 is reliably bent at the position of the recess 56. In this way, by actively bending the bracket 50 in a desired deformation mode, the inner panel 32 and the catcher pin 40 can be moved inward in the vehicle width direction as intended. While the bracket 50 is bent at the recess 56, the posture of the mounting portion 54 of the bracket 50 does not change significantly, and the catcher pin 40 does not enter a rollover mode in which the axial direction changes significantly. In this way, the catcher pin 40 is prevented from entering a rollover mode, and the catcher pin 40 can be engaged with the engagement portion 22 in a desired posture. As a result, even if the catcher pin 40 of the door 30 and the engagement portion 22 of the vehicle body 20 are relatively separated from each other in a layout, they can be accurately engaged with each other during a side collision. Therefore, the input from the door 30 side can be accurately transmitted to the vehicle body 20 side, and the vehicle 10 can reliably exhibit the desired collision performance in the event of a side collision.

[0025] That is, even if the position of the catcher pin 40 is relatively far from the engagement portion 22 due to differences in the shape of the door 30 between different vehicle models, the catcher pin 40 can be accurately engaged with the engagement portion 22. This allows the platform of the vehicle body 20 to be standardized among different vehicle models, and the manufacturing cost of the vehicle 10 can be significantly reduced.

[0026] Furthermore, according to the vehicle side structure of this embodiment, when the vehicle 10 is subjected to a side collision, the bracket 50 is bent starting from the recess 56, while the beads 57 suppress deformation of the mounting portion 54. This makes it possible to stabilize the posture of the catcher pin 40 when the vehicle 10 is subjected to a side collision, and allows the catcher pin 40 and the engagement portion 22 to be engaged more accurately.

[0027] In addition, in the event of a side collision of the vehicle 10, an input corresponding to the deformation of the lower beam 34 acts on the bracket 50 from the lower beam 34. In this embodiment, since the lower beam 34 has a hat-shaped cross section and is actively bent in the event of a side collision, a large pulling force acts on the bracket 50 compared to a pipe-shaped beam member. At this time, since the bracket 50 is bent from the recess 56 as a starting point, the catcher pin 40 can be moved inward in the vehicle width direction without being affected by the input from the lower beam 34. Therefore, the specifications of the lower beam 34 can be determined without considering the behavior of the catcher pin 40 in the event of a side collision of the vehicle 10, and the design freedom of the door 30 is dramatically improved. Here, if the recess 56 is not formed in the bracket 50, the input from the lower beam 34 to the bracket 50 in the event of a side collision would cause the catcher pin 40 to enter a rollover mode, causing the lower end side to tilt outward in the vehicle width direction, and coming off the engagement portion 22 of the vehicle body 20. In other words, the recess 56 of the bracket 50 has a structure which solves the problem of the catcher pin coming off the vehicle body when a beam member which is actively bent during a side collision is used.

[0028] In the above embodiment, the recess 56 as the folding start point is formed in the bracket 50 in the front-rear direction, but the recess may be formed partially in the front-rear direction. Furthermore, for example, the folding start point may be a hole or the like instead of a recess, and the configuration of the folding start point may be changed as desired.

[0029] In the above embodiment, the bracket 50 of the catcher pin 40 is shown as the connecting member where the bending start portion is formed, but for example, the connecting member may be a reinforcement that connects the inner panel 32 and the lower beam 34 without being related to the catcher pin 40. In the above embodiment, the bracket 50 has three beads 57 for maintaining the shape of the mounting portion 54 when the vehicle 10 is hit on the side, but the shape and number of the beads can be changed arbitrarily. For example, the plate thickness, material, etc. can be partially changed to form a shape maintaining portion, and further, if the shape of the mounting portion is sufficiently maintained by the bending action of the connecting member, the shape maintaining portion can be omitted. In the above embodiment, the bracket 50 is connected to the lower beam 34, but it may be connected to a member other than a beam member.

[0030] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the invention according to the claims is not limited to the embodiments described above. It should be noted that not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 10 Automobiles 20 Body 21 Side opening 22 Engagement part 30 Doors 32 Inner Panel 34 Lower beam 40 Catcherpin 50 Bracket 54 Mounting part 56 Recess 57 Bead

Claims

1. A door for opening and closing a side opening of the vehicle body; a protruding member provided on the door and protruding outward from an outer panel member of the door; an engaging portion provided on the vehicle body and adapted to engage with the protruding member that moves inward in a vehicle width direction during a side collision of the vehicle; a connecting member that connects the outer panel member of the door to another member and extends in a vehicle width direction, The vehicle side structure, wherein the connecting member has a folding start portion that becomes a starting point for folding the connecting member during a side collision of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle side structure according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting member is a bracket to which the protruding member is attached.

3. 3. The vehicle side structure according to claim 2, wherein the bracket has a shape maintaining portion for maintaining a shape of the mounting portion of the protruding member in the event of a side collision of the vehicle.

4. The door has a beam member extending in a front-rear direction, The vehicle side structure according to claim 3 , wherein the bracket connects the outer plate member and the beam member.

5. The vehicle side structure according to claim 1 , wherein the folding start portion has a recess formed in the connecting member across the front-rear direction.

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