Vehicle side part structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle side part structure that is able to properly transmit a load from a road surface.SOLUTION: A vehicle side part structure includes: a wheel arch portion 32 disposed behind a side door opening 10 and having a suspension attachment portion 36; a side panel 38 disposed on an upper side of the wheel arch portion 32 and functioning as a partition wall separating an inside and an outside of a vehicle; and an opening panel 12 covering a peripheral edge of the side door opening 10 from a vehicle outer side. The opening panel 12 includes a first pillar 14 defining a rear-end edge of the side door opening 10. A rear end of the opening panel 12 is located on a vehicle rear-side from the suspension attachment portion 36.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present specification discloses a side structure for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, a side door opening is formed on the side of a vehicle. The periphery of this side door opening is covered from the outside of the vehicle by a large panel material called an opening panel. In addition, a wheel house that covers the upper part of the rear wheel is provided behind the side door opening. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle side structure having such an opening panel and wheel house. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-026239 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Typically, a suspension is attached to the wheelhouse. The suspension is a device that is interposed between the wheels and the vehicle body and absorbs impacts from the road surface. The suspension is equipped with springs and dampers. Therefore, the load from the road surface is absorbed to a certain extent by the suspension. However, it is difficult for the suspension to completely absorb the load from the road surface, and a portion of the load is transmitted from the wheelhouse to the vehicle body. In order to suppress deformation of the vehicle body, it is necessary to appropriately transmit or distribute the load from the road surface to a rigid body. However, in conventional technologies such as Patent Document 1, the transmission path of the load from the road surface has not been fully considered, and there is room for improvement.

[0005] Therefore, this specification discloses a vehicle side structure that can appropriately transmit the load from the road surface. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle side structure disclosed in this specification comprises a wheel arch positioned behind a side door opening and having a suspension mounting portion, a side panel positioned above the wheel arch and functioning as a partition wall separating the inside and outside of the vehicle, and an opening panel covering the periphery of the side door opening from the outside of the vehicle, wherein the opening panel includes a first pillar that defines the rear edge of the side door opening, and the rear end of the opening panel is located rearward of the suspension mounting portion of the vehicle.

[0007] With this configuration, the load input from the suspension mounting portion is transmitted to the opening panel, which has high rigidity, and so transmitting the load to the opening panel can effectively prevent deformation of the vehicle body.

[0008] The vehicle may further include a second pillar that defines the boundary between the side surface and the rear surface of the vehicle, and a strainer that is fixed to the inner surface of the side panel and extends from the suspension mounting portion to the second pillar.

[0009] By providing a strainer, part of the load input from the suspension mounting portion can be transmitted to the strainer, which results in more effective prevention of deformation of the vehicle body.

[0010] The vehicle may further include a roof side rail that defines a boundary between the side surface of the vehicle and the vehicle roof, wherein the rear end edge of the side door opening has a bent portion that is bent so as to be convex toward the rear of the vehicle, the opening panel extends substantially upward from the wheel arch and then bends in a forward-rising direction at a first height, and has a rear end edge that extends to the roof side rail, the strainer extends substantially upward from the suspension mounting portion toward the second pillar, the opening panel and the strainer face each other in the vehicle width direction across the side panel in the range from the wheel arch to the first height, and proceed in different directions from each other after the first height, and the first height may be located below the bent portion.

[0011] This configuration allows the load input from the suspension mounting portion to be dispersed and transmitted in two directions: toward the roof side rail and toward the second pillar. Furthermore, because the branching point of the load transmission path is below the bend in the side door opening, the amount of load reaching the bend can be reduced. As a result, deformation around the bend can be effectively suppressed.

[0012] Furthermore, the vehicle may further include a kick-up component fixed to the upper surface of the wheel arch and overlapping the suspension mounting portion in the vertical direction, and the strainer may face a portion of the kick-up component in the vehicle width direction, with the side panel sandwiched between them.

[0013] With this configuration, the rigidity around the suspension mounting portion can be improved, and deformation of the vehicle body can be more effectively prevented.

[0014] Furthermore, the opening panel may further include a resin decorative panel that covers at least the side panel from the outside and forms the outer surface of the vehicle, and the opening panel may have fixing portions for the decorative panel, door hinge, and door lock.

[0015] By constructing the exterior surface of a vehicle with a resin design panel, it is possible to reduce the vehicle's weight. In addition, by arranging the fixing parts for multiple parts on a single part called an opening panel, it is possible to maintain high accuracy in the relative positioning of multiple parts. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] The vehicle side structure disclosed in this specification can appropriately transmit the load from the road surface. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along line B-B. [Figure 5] 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along CC in FIG. 3. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The vehicle side structure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rear of the vehicle. Fig. 2 is a side view of the rear of the vehicle. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of part A in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 1, and Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views taken along line CC and DD in Fig. 3. In each drawing, "Fr," "Up," and "Rh" indicate the front, top, and right side of the vehicle, respectively.

[0019] The vehicle described below uses a resin design panel 48 (see FIG. 4) to form the outer surface of the vehicle, instead of a metal design panel. Conventionally, metal design panels called "rear bumper panels," "quarter panels," or "rear fender panels" have been attached to the sides of the rear of a vehicle. In this example, a resin design panel 48 is used instead of this metal design panel. This resin design panel 48 will be described in detail later. Also, the resin design panel 48 is not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 1, a side door opening 10 is formed in a side portion of a vehicle. In the example of Fig. 1, two side door openings 10 are formed side by side in the front-to-rear direction. However, the technology disclosed in this specification may also be applied to a vehicle in which only one side door opening 10 is provided on each side. Note that, as shown in Fig. 3, the rear end edge of the side door opening 10 has a bent portion 44 that convexly extends toward the rear of the vehicle at a second height H2.

[0021] The opening panel 12 covers the periphery of this side door opening 10 from the outside of the vehicle. The opening panel 12 is a large panel member molded to fit the shape of the side door opening 10. The opening panel 12 is provided with fixing portions for a design panel 48, a door hinge (not shown), and a door lock (not shown). In FIG. 1, a black circle indicates the fixing portion of the design panel 48. A black square indicates the fixing portion of the door hinge, and a black triangle indicates the fixing portion of the door lock. In this way, by providing fixing portions for multiple parts (the design panel 48, the door hinge, and the door lock) on a single part, the opening panel 12, a high degree of accuracy in the relative positioning of the multiple parts is maintained.

[0022] Portions of the opening panel 12 function as a first pillar 14, a roof side rail 16, and a rocker 18. The roof side rail 16 is a framework member that defines the boundary between the side of the vehicle and the roof. The rocker 18 is a framework member that defines the lower end of the side of the vehicle. The roof side rail 16 and the rocker 18 are both approximately cylindrical members with closed cross sections that are long in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

[0023] The first pillar 14 is a framework member that extends downward from the roof side rail 16 and defines the rear edge of the side door opening 10. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the first pillar 14 forms a closed cross section between itself and a side panel 38, which will be described later.

[0024] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a second pillar 24 is joined to the rear end of the roof side rail 16. The second pillar 24 is a framework member that defines the boundary between the rear and side of the vehicle. Like the first pillar 14, the second pillar 24 is also a substantially rectangular tubular member with a closed cross section. The lower end of the second pillar 24 is connected to a rear end 28 via a lamp housing 26. The rear end 28 is a framework member that defines the lower end of the rear of the vehicle. This rear end 28 is, for example, a rectangular tubular member that is long in the vehicle width direction. The lamp housing 26 is a member to which a rear lamp unit (not shown) is attached. A recess that receives the rear lamp unit is formed in the lamp housing 26.

[0025] A wheel house 30 is disposed behind the side door opening 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the wheel house 30 includes a wheel house outer part 31o that protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction and a wheel house inner part 31i that protrudes inward in the vehicle width direction. The wheel house outer part 31o and the wheel house inner part 31i each have wheel arch parts 32o, 32i that follow the circumferential surface of a rear wheel (not shown), and flange parts 34o, 34i that extend from the wheel arch parts 32o, 32i radially outward from the rear wheel. The wheel house 30 is formed by joining the flange part 34o of the wheel house outer part 31o to the flange part 34i of the wheel house inner part 31i.

[0026] 3, in this example, a roof side inner 40, which will be described later, is joined to the flange portion 34o of the wheelhouse outer 31o. However, the roof side inner 40 may be joined to the flange portion 34i of the wheelhouse inner 31i, rather than to the flange portion 34o of the wheelhouse outer 31o. Therefore, in the following description, when either the flange portion 34o or the flange portion 34i is acceptable, the subscripts i and o will be omitted and the term "flange portion 34" will be used. The same applies to the wheel arch portions 32o and 32i.

[0027] A side panel 38 is disposed between the first pillar 14 and the second pillar 24, functioning as a partition wall separating the inside and outside of the vehicle cabin. The side panel 38 may be a single panel material, or may be configured by combining multiple panel materials. In this example, the side panel 38 includes a roof side inner 40 and the flange portion 34 of the wheel house 30. The roof side inner 40 is a panel material that fills the area surrounded by the first pillar 14, the flange portion 34, the lamp housing 26, and the second pillar 24 without any gaps. The entire periphery of the roof side inner 40 is joined to other members, such as the first pillar 14.

[0028] A strainer 42 is fixed to the vehicle inner surface of the side panel 38. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the strainer 42 has a generally hat-shaped cross section and forms a closed cross section between itself and the side panel 38. As shown by the dashed lines in Figures 2 and 3, the strainer 42 connects the wheel arch portion 32i and the second pillar 24. In other words, the strainer 42 extends in a different direction from the first pillar 14 and functions as a frame member separate from the first pillar 14. However, the vicinity of the lower end of the strainer 42 faces a part of the opening panel 12. This will be described later.

[0029] As shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2, a kick-up component 46 is disposed near the wheel arch portion 32o. The kick-up component 46 is a component that reinforces the area around the wheel arch portion 32o. The kick-up component 46 has a shape that follows the arc of the upper surface of the wheel arch portion 32o. As shown in FIG. 5, the kick-up component 46 is fixed to the surface of the side panel 38 that faces outward from the vehicle. Note that the kick-up component 46 is covered from the outside by the opening panel 12 and therefore cannot be seen from outside the vehicle.

[0030] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the side panel 38 is covered from the outside of the vehicle by a design panel 48. The design panel 48 is a panel that forms the outer surface of the vehicle. In this example, the design panel 48 is made of resin. Using a resin design panel 48 provides various advantages.

[0031] That is, many conventional vehicles have adopted metal design panels called "rear bumper panels" or "quarter panels." However, metal design panels are heavy and have limited molding flexibility. On the other hand, resin design panels 48 are significantly lighter than metal design panels. Furthermore, using a resin design panel 48 reduces the number of painting steps. These factors contribute to reduced CO2 emissions. Furthermore, because resin has a higher molding flexibility than metal, using a resin design panel 48 improves the design flexibility of the vehicle. Furthermore, the resin design panel 48 is attached to the vehicle body with fastening members such as clips, making it detachable from the vehicle body. Therefore, a resin design panel 48 allows for easier changes to the vehicle design than a metal design panel. For example, using a resin design panel 48 allows for "dressing up" the vehicle's appearance.

[0032] On the other hand, if a resin design panel 48 is used, it is not possible to join the design panel 48 to the frame members (e.g., the first pillar 14, the second pillar 24, etc.), making it difficult to achieve a liquid-tight seal between them. Therefore, in this example, to prevent raindrops from entering the vehicle interior, the side panel 38 is liquid-tightly sealed to the surrounding frame members. Specifically, the joints between the roof side inner 40 and other members, and the joints between the flange portion 34 and other members, are each liquid-tightly sealed. For example, a painted seal can be used as such a seal.

[0033] Furthermore, when a resin design panel 48 is used, the rigidity of the area around the wheel house 30 is reduced compared to when a metal design panel is used. In particular, the load transmitted from the road surface to the vehicle body via the suspension (not shown) may cause deformation of the components around the wheel house 30. In this example, to suppress such deformation, the rear end of the opening panel 12 is positioned further rearward of the vehicle than the suspension mounting portion 36. This will be described in detail below.

[0034] The wheel house 30 has a suspension mounting portion 36. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the suspension mounting portion 36 is disposed, for example, in the wheel arch portion 32i of the wheel house inner 30i. The tip of the shaft of a suspension (not shown) is attached to this suspension mounting portion 36.

[0035] The load of the impact from the road surface is absorbed to some extent by the suspension, but it is difficult for the suspension to absorb all of this load, and some of the load is transmitted to the vehicle body through the suspension mounting portion 36.

[0036] As described above, in this example, the rear end of the opening panel 12 is located rearward of the suspension mounting portion 36. In other words, the longitudinal range of the opening panel 12 overlaps with the longitudinal range of the suspension mounting portion 36. Therefore, a load input to the suspension mounting portion 36 is transmitted to the first pillar 14 and roof side rail 16, which are part of the opening panel 12. Both the first pillar 14 and the roof side rail 16 are frame members with high rigidity, and are therefore able to withstand the load without deforming. As a result, this example makes it possible to effectively prevent deformation of the vehicle body.

[0037] 2 and 3, the rear end edge of the opening panel 12 extends substantially upward from the wheel arch portion 32, and then bends in a direction upward toward the front at the first height H1, and extends to the roof side rail 16. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, in the range from the wheel arch portion 32 to the first height H1, the opening panel 12 overlaps with the strainer 42 in the vehicle width direction, with the side panel 38 in between. This improves the rigidity of the vehicle body around the suspension mounting portion 36, and makes it possible to effectively prevent deformation of the vehicle body around the suspension mounting portion 36.

[0038] 3, a kick-up component 46 is disposed near the suspension mounting portion 36. As shown in FIG. 5, this kick-up component 46 faces the strainer 42 in the vehicle width direction, with the side panel 38 in between. The kick-up component 46 is also housed within the closed cross section of the opening panel 12. With this configuration, the rigidity around the suspension mounting portion 36 is further improved, and deformation of the vehicle body can be more reliably prevented.

[0039] 3, the opening panel 12 and the strainer 42 move in different directions at the first height H1. In other words, the moving directions of the opening panel 12 and the strainer 42 diverge midway. In this case, part of the load input from the suspension mounting portion 36 to the opening panel 12 and the strainer 42 is transmitted to the roof side rail 16, and another part is transmitted to the second pillar 24. In other words, the load is dispersed in two directions. As a result, concentration of the load is prevented, and deformation of the vehicle body can be more effectively prevented.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3, the rear edge of the side door opening 10 has a bent portion 44 that protrudes toward the rear of the vehicle. Stress tends to concentrate at the bent portion 44 of such an opening. In this example, the opening panel 12 and the strainer 42 are branched off at a first height H1 below the bent portion 44. As a result, the load input to the vehicle body from the suspension mounting portion 36 is dispersed in two directions before reaching the bent portion 44. This prevents a large load from being transmitted to the periphery of the bent portion 44, and effectively prevents deformation around the bent portion 44.

[0041] In this example, the first pillar 14 is connected to the roof side rail 16, and the strainer 42 is connected to the second pillar 24. Therefore, when a load is input from the roof of the vehicle toward the underside of the vehicle due to, for example, a vehicle rollover, the load can be transmitted to the first pillar 14 and the strainer 42. Here, the first pillar 14 and the strainer 42 are both frame members with closed cross sections and are highly rigid components. By transmitting the load to such highly rigid components, deformation of the vehicle body can be more effectively prevented even if the vehicle rolls over.

[0042] As is clear from the above explanation, according to this example, the load transmitted to the vehicle body through the suspension mounting portion 36 is transmitted to the opening panel 12. As a result, deformation of the vehicle body can be more effectively prevented. Note that the configurations described above are all examples, and as long as the configuration described in claim 1 is included, the other configurations may be changed as appropriate. For example, the strainer 42 and the kick-up component 46 may be omitted. Furthermore, the opening panel 12 may have another shape as long as the rear end of the opening panel 12 is located rearward of the suspension mounting portion 36 on the vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 10 side door opening, 12 opening panel, 14 first pillar, 16 roof side rail, 18 rocker, 24 second pillar, 26 lamp housing, 28 rear end, 30 wheelhouse, 32 wheel arch portion, 34 flange portion, 36 suspension mounting portion, 38 side panel, 40 roof side inner, 42 strainer, 44 bending portion, 46 kick-up part, 48 design panel.

Claims

1. a wheel arch disposed behind the side door opening and having a suspension mounting portion; A side panel disposed above the wheel arch and functioning as a partition wall separating the inside and outside of the vehicle; an opening panel that covers the periphery of the side door opening from the outside of the vehicle; Equipped with the opening panel includes a first pillar that defines a rear edge of the side door opening; The rear end of the opening panel is located rearward of the suspension mounting portion. A vehicle side structure characterized by:

2. The vehicle side structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a second pillar defining a boundary between the vehicle side and the vehicle rear; a strainer fixed to a vehicle inner surface of the side panel, the strainer extending from the suspension mounting portion to the second pillar; A vehicle side structure comprising:

3. The vehicle side structure according to claim 2, further comprising: a roof side rail defining a boundary between a vehicle side surface and a vehicle roof; The rear end edge of the side door opening has a bent portion that is bent so as to be convex toward the rear of the vehicle, the opening panel has a rear end edge that extends substantially upward from the wheel arch, then bends in a forward upward direction at a first height, and extends to the roof side rail, The strainer extends substantially upward from the suspension mounting portion toward the second pillar, the opening panel and the strainer face each other in a vehicle width direction with the side panel interposed therebetween in a range from the wheel arch to the first height, and proceed in different directions from each other after the first height, The first height is located below the bent portion. A vehicle side structure characterized by:

4. The vehicle side structure according to claim 3, further comprising: a kick-up part fixed to an upper surface of the wheel arch and overlapping with the suspension mounting part in the vertical direction; The strainer faces a part of the kick-up component in the vehicle width direction, with the side panel interposed therebetween. A vehicle side structure characterized by:

5. A vehicle side structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, a resin design panel that covers at least the side panel from the outside and constitutes the outer surface of the vehicle; The opening panel has fixing portions for the design panel, the door hinge, and the door lock, respectively. A vehicle side structure characterized by:

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