Vehicle front section reinforcement structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle front section reinforcement structure which can reinforce the peripheral portion around a suspension tower and that of a cowl in a vehicle body, and which can reduce the number of components relating to the reinforcement for the vehicle body.SOLUTION: A vehicle 10 includes a vehicle body reinforcement 26 that includes: a front-side reinforcement portion 26A that couples the respective upper portions of suspension tower portions 14B with each other in the vehicle widthwise direction; a rear-side reinforcement portion 26B which extends in the vehicle widthwise direction, is placed along a cowl 22 located at the rear side of the vehicle relative to the suspension tower portions 14B, and is coupled to the cowl 22; and a pair of external-side reinforcement portion 26C which is provided so as to be integrated with the front-side reinforcement portion 26A and with the rear-side reinforcement portion 26B, connects the front-side reinforcement portion 26A and the rear-side reinforcement portion 26B with each other, and is placed so as to be spaced apart from each other in the vehicle widthwise direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle front reinforcing structure. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses an invention relating to a vehicle front structure. In this vehicle front structure, a pair of suspension towers are connected by a tower bar to reinforce the periphery of the suspension towers on the vehicle body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-145129 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned prior art, the periphery of the cowl is reinforced by connecting the end of the cowl to the tower bar with a pipe material, but this configuration results in an increase in the number of parts.

[0005] In consideration of the above facts, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle front reinforcement structure that can reinforce the surrounding areas of the suspension tower section and the surrounding areas of the cowl section of the vehicle body, while also reducing the number of parts required to reinforce the vehicle body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle front reinforcement structure of the first aspect comprises a vehicle body reinforcement portion including a front reinforcement portion that connects the upper portions of the suspension tower portions in the vehicle width direction, a rear reinforcement portion that extends in the vehicle width direction and is arranged along and connected to a cowl portion located on the vehicle rear side of the suspension tower portions, and a pair of outer reinforcement portions that are formed integrally with the front reinforcement portion and the rear reinforcement portion, connect the front reinforcement portion and the rear reinforcement portion, and are arranged at a distance from each other in the vehicle width direction.

[0007] The vehicle front portion reinforcing structure according to the first aspect includes a vehicle body reinforcing portion configured to include a front reinforcing portion, a rear reinforcing portion, and a pair of outer reinforcing portions.

[0008] Specifically, the front reinforcing portion connects the upper portions of the suspension tower portions in the vehicle width direction, and contributes to improving the roll rigidity of the suspension tower portions and their surrounding areas in the vehicle body.

[0009] In addition, the rear reinforcement portion extends in the vehicle width direction, is arranged along the cowl portion located on the rear side of the suspension tower portion, and is connected to the cowl portion, thereby contributing to improving the bending rigidity of the cowl portion.

[0010] The pair of outer reinforcement parts are integral with the front reinforcement part and the rear reinforcement part, and are spaced apart in the vehicle width direction to connect the front reinforcement part and the rear reinforcement part. As a result, the load acting on the cowl part and its surrounding area can be distributed via the outer reinforcement parts to the front reinforcement part and, ultimately, to the suspension tower part of the vehicle body.

[0011] Therefore, in this aspect, the rigidity of the periphery of the suspension tower section and the periphery of the cowl section can be ensured by a single component, i.e., the vehicle body reinforcement section.

[0012] A vehicle front reinforcing structure according to a second aspect is the vehicle front reinforcing structure according to the first aspect, wherein the vehicle body reinforcing portion is made of a pressed steel plate.

[0013] According to the vehicle front reinforcement structure of the second aspect, the vehicle body reinforcement portion can be formed by pressing a steel plate, which simplifies the manufacturing process of the vehicle body.

[0014] A vehicle front reinforcing structure according to a third aspect is the vehicle front reinforcing structure according to the first aspect, wherein the vehicle body reinforcing portion is made of a metal casting.

[0015] According to the vehicle front reinforcement structure of the third aspect, the body reinforcement portion is made of a metal casting, and therefore can better absorb vibrations transmitted from the suspension tower portion and cowl portion compared to a configuration in which the body reinforcement portion is made of steel plate.

[0016] A vehicle front portion reinforcing structure according to a fourth aspect is the vehicle front portion reinforcing structure according to the first aspect, wherein a support member for a steering device is connected to a connection point of the rear side reinforcing portion with the cowl portion.

[0017] According to the vehicle front portion reinforcement structure of the fourth aspect, a support member for a steering device is connected to the rear reinforcement portion of the vehicle body reinforcement at a connection point with the cowl portion, so that a steering input to the steering device can be supported by the vehicle body reinforcement via the support member, and as a result, a steering reaction force against the steering input can be secured.

[0018] A vehicle front portion reinforcing structure according to a fifth aspect is the vehicle front portion reinforcing structure according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein a cooling module is supported by the vehicle body reinforcement portion.

[0019] According to the vehicle front reinforcement structure of the fifth aspect, the cooling module can be supported by the vehicle body reinforcement portion, and the number of parts can be reduced compared to a configuration in which a separate part is provided to support the cooling module. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] As described above, the vehicle front reinforcement structure of the present invention has the excellent effect of being able to reinforce the peripheral areas of the suspension tower section and the peripheral areas of the cowl section of the vehicle body, while also being able to reduce the number of parts required to reinforce the vehicle body. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view showing the configuration of a front portion of a vehicle to which a vehicle front portion reinforcement structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view showing a state cut along line 1-1 in FIG. 2) illustrating the configuration of a front portion of a vehicle to which the vehicle front reinforcement structure according to the present embodiment is applied. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] An example of an embodiment of a vehicle front reinforcement structure according to the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Note that the arrow FR shown as appropriate in each figure indicates the front side of the vehicle, the arrow UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle, and the arrow LH indicates the left side in the vehicle width direction.

[0023] First, the schematic configuration of a "vehicle 10" to which the vehicle body structure according to this embodiment is applied will be described using Figure 1. In this embodiment, the vehicle 10 is basically configured symmetrically, and therefore, the following description will mainly focus on the configuration of the left side of the vehicle 10 in the vehicle width direction, and will omit the description of the configuration of the right side of the vehicle width direction as appropriate.

[0024] The body 11 of the vehicle 10 comprises a front part 12 made of die-cast aluminum that constitutes the front part of the vehicle, a center part (not shown) that constitutes the central part of the vehicle in the fore-and-aft direction and that is equipped with a battery and a battery frame that holds the battery, and a rear part (not shown) made of die-cast aluminum that constitutes the rear part of the vehicle.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the front part 12 includes a pair of side constituent parts 14 and a connecting part 16 that connects these side constituent parts 14 together in the vehicle width direction.

[0026] More specifically, the side structural portion 14 includes an apron upper member portion 14A, a "suspension tower portion 14B", a wheel house portion 14C, and a side member portion 14D.

[0027] The apron upper member portion 14A forms the upper edge portion of the side constituent portion 14 and extends in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle. A suspension tower portion 14B and a wheel house portion 14C are provided below the apron upper member portion 14A, and are continuous with the apron upper member portion 14A.

[0028] The suspension tower section 14B is box-shaped with an open lower side of the vehicle and a circular through-hole 18 formed on the upper surface, and supports a shock absorber (not shown).

[0029] The wheel house portion 14C is provided integrally with the suspension tower portion 14B and has a spherical shape capable of accommodating part of a tire (not shown).

[0030] The side member portion 14D is disposed below the suspension tower portion 14B, is integral with the suspension tower portion 14B and the wheel house portion 14C, and extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0031] A crash box (not shown) is attached to the front portion of the side member portion 14D of the vehicle.

[0032] On the other hand, the connection portion 16 extends in the vehicle vertical and horizontal directions with its thickness direction being the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and is arranged along the front edge of the center part mentioned above, and together with the dash panel 20 described later, separates the passenger compartment 10A from the power unit room 10B.

[0033] The front part 12 configured as described above is fitted with a dash panel 20, a "cowl portion 22", an "instrument panel reinforcement 24" and a "vehicle body reinforcement portion 26" as support members.

[0034] Specifically, the dash panel 20 is a plate-like member extending in the width and up and down directions of the vehicle with its thickness in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, and is made of a pressed steel plate, etc. The dash panel 20 is attached to the front part 12 by an attachment member (not shown).

[0035] The cowl portion 22 extends in the vehicle width direction along the upper edge of the dash panel 20, and is composed of a steel cowl lower panel 28 that forms the lower part of the vehicle, and a resin cowl top panel 30 that forms the upper part of the vehicle.

[0036] The cowl lower panel 28 includes a main body 28A that forms the main portion and is U-shaped with an open upper side, and flanges 28B that extend from the upper edge of the main body 28A toward the front and rear of the vehicle. The cowl lower panel 28 is attached to the pair of side components 14 via attachment members (not shown) in a spanning state. The cowl top panel 30 covers the upper side of the cowl lower panel 28.

[0037] The instrument panel reinforcement 24 is made of resin and includes a support portion 24A, an extending portion 24B, an extending portion 24C, and an extending portion 24D.

[0038] The support portion 24A supports a "steering device 36" including a steering wheel 32 and a steering column 34, and its end portion on the front side of the vehicle is attached to the rear side of the vehicle in the main body portion 28A of the cowl lower panel 28 via an attachment member not shown.

[0039] The extension portion 24B extends from the support portion 24A to the left in the vehicle width direction, and its tip portion is attached to the side constituent portion 14 on the left side in the vehicle width direction by an attachment member (not shown).

[0040] The extension portion 24C extends from the support portion 24A to the right in the vehicle width direction, and its tip portion is attached to the side constituent portion 14 on the right in the vehicle width direction by an attachment member (not shown).

[0041] The extension portion 24D extends from the support portion 24A to the vehicle lower side, and its tip is attached to the dash panel 20 by an attachment member (not shown).

[0042] On the other hand, the body reinforcement portion 26 is made of pressed steel plate and is formed into a trapezoidal frame shape that includes a "front reinforcement portion 26A," a "rear reinforcement portion 26B," and a pair of "outer reinforcement portions 26C," and is widened from the rear side of the vehicle to the front side of the vehicle when viewed from the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0043] Specifically, the front reinforcement portion 26A extends in the vehicle width direction, and its cross section, as viewed from the vehicle width direction, is hat-shaped in most parts with an open lower side. The ends of the front reinforcement portion 26A are attached to the upper parts of the suspension towers 14B with mounting members 38, and the upper parts of the pair of suspension towers 14B are connected to each other in the vehicle width direction by the front reinforcement portion 26A.

[0044] In addition, a "cooling module 40" for cooling the coolant that cools the battery of the center part is arranged on the underside of the vehicle of the front reinforcement part 26A, and this cooling module 38 is attached to the front reinforcement part 26A with an attachment member not shown.

[0045] The rear reinforcement portion 26B extends in the vehicle width direction, and its cross section, as viewed from the vehicle width direction, is hat-shaped at its main portion with an open lower side. The rear reinforcement portion 26B is disposed along the vehicle lower side of the cowl portion 22. The rear reinforcement portion 26B is attached at multiple locations to the vehicle lower side portion of the main body portion 28A of the cowl lower panel 28 with attachment members 42.

[0046] Of the connection points between the rear reinforcing portion 26B and the cowl lower panel 28, the connection point on the leftmost side in the vehicle width direction is located near the connection point between the instrument panel reinforcement 24 and the cowl lower panel 28.

[0047] The outer reinforcement portion 26C has a cross-sectional shape in its main part when viewed from the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle that is hat-shaped with the underside of the vehicle open, connecting the front reinforcement portion 26A and the rear reinforcement portion 26B, and is arranged with a gap between them in the vehicle width direction.

[0048] In this embodiment, the steering device 36 is disposed on the left side in the vehicle width direction, and the vehicle 10 is a so-called left-hand drive vehicle, but the steering device 36 may be disposed on the right side in the vehicle width direction. In other words, the vehicle front reinforcement structure according to this embodiment can also be applied to right-hand drive vehicles.

[0049] (Actions and Effects of This Embodiment) Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0050] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle body is provided with a vehicle body reinforcement portion 26 including a front reinforcement portion 26A, a rear reinforcement portion 26B, and a pair of outer reinforcement portions 26C.

[0051] Specifically, the front reinforcing portion 26A connects the upper portions of the suspension tower portions 14B in the vehicle width direction, and contributes to improving the roll rigidity of the suspension tower portions 14B and their surrounding areas in the vehicle body 11. As a result, this embodiment can accommodate thinner upper portions of the apron upper member portion 14A and the suspension tower portions 14B that accompany a lowering of the vehicle height of the vehicle 10.

[0052] Furthermore, the rear reinforcing portion 26B extends in the vehicle width direction, is disposed along the cowl portion 22 located on the vehicle rear side of the suspension tower portion 14B, and is connected to the cowl portion 22, thereby contributing to improving the bending rigidity of the cowl portion 22. As a result, in this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the thickness of parts such as the cowl lower panel 28 that constitutes the cowl portion 22.

[0053] The pair of outer reinforcement portions 26C are provided integrally with the front reinforcement portion 26A and the rear reinforcement portion 26B, and are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, connecting the front reinforcement portion 26A and the rear reinforcement portion 26B. Therefore, the load acting on the cowl portion 22 and its surrounding areas can be distributed to the front reinforcement portion 26A and ultimately to the suspension tower portion 14B of the vehicle body 11 via the outer reinforcement portions 26C.

[0054] Therefore, in this embodiment, the rigidity of the periphery of the suspension tower portion 14B and the periphery of the cowl portion 22 can be ensured by a single component, that is, the vehicle body reinforcement portion 26.

[0055] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the vehicle body reinforcing portion 26 can be formed by pressing a steel plate, so that the manufacturing process of the vehicle body 11 can be simplified.

[0056] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the instrument panel reinforcement 24 that supports the steering device 36 is connected to the connecting portion of the rear reinforcement portion 26B of the body reinforcement portion 26 with the cowl portion 22. Therefore, the steering input to the steering device 36 can be supported by the body reinforcement portion 26 via the instrument panel reinforcement 24, and as a result, a steering reaction force against the above-mentioned steering input can be secured.

[0057] Additionally, in this embodiment, the cooling module 40 can be supported by the vehicle body reinforcement portion 26, and the number of parts can be reduced compared to a configuration in which a separate part for supporting the cooling module 40 is provided.

[0058] In this embodiment, as described above, the body reinforcement portion 26 is made of pressed steel plate, but the body reinforcement portion 26 may be made of aluminum die-cast. With this configuration, the body reinforcement portion 26 is made of a metal casting, and therefore can absorb more vibrations transmitted from the suspension tower portion 14B and the cowl portion 22 than a configuration in which the body reinforcement portion 26 is made of steel plate.

[0059] As described above, the vehicle front reinforcement structure of this embodiment can reinforce the surrounding areas of the suspension tower section 14B and the surrounding areas of the cowl section 22 in the vehicle body 11, while also reducing the number of parts required to reinforce the vehicle body 11. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 10 vehicles 14B Suspension tower section 24 Instrument panel reinforcement (support member) 26 Body reinforcement 26A Front reinforcement part 26B Rear reinforcement 26C Outer reinforcement part 36 Steering device 40 Cooling Module

Claims

1. a front reinforcing portion that connects upper portions of the suspension tower portions in the vehicle width direction; a rear reinforcing portion extending in the vehicle width direction, disposed along a cowl portion located on the vehicle rear side of the suspension tower portion, and connected to the cowl portion; A vehicle front reinforcement structure having a vehicle body reinforcement portion configured to include a pair of outer reinforcement portions that are integrally formed with the front reinforcement portion and the rear reinforcement portion, connect the front reinforcement portion and the rear reinforcement portion, and are arranged at a distance from each other in the vehicle width direction.

2. The vehicle body reinforcement portion is made of a pressed steel plate. The vehicle front reinforcing structure according to claim 1.

3. The vehicle body reinforcement portion is made of a metal casting. The vehicle front reinforcing structure according to claim 1.

4. a support member for a steering device is connected to a connection point of the rear reinforcing portion with the cowl portion; The vehicle front reinforcing structure according to claim 1.

5. The cooling module is supported by the vehicle body reinforcement portion. The vehicle front reinforcing structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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