Vehicle side part structure

Abstract

To seal spaces between a front cast, a cowl, and a dash panel after modularization.SOLUTION: A vehicle side part structure 10 includes: a front cast 12 integrally including a pair of left and right front pillar lower inner portions 14 and a dash cross member portion 18; a dash panel 20 arranged between the left and right front pillar lower inner portions 14 and joined to the dash cross member portion 18; a cowl 22 joined to an upper end portion of the dash panel 20; a bracket 24 arranged between the left and right front pillar lower inner portions 14 and the cowl 22 and joined to the dash panel 20 and the cowl 22; and sealants 32, 34 applied between the bracket 24 and the left and right front pillar lower inner portions 14, between the bracket 24 and the dash panel 20, and between the bracket 24 and the cowl 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] The vehicle side structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 below includes an apron member, a spring support, a cowl, a front pillar, and a dash panel. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-201075 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, apron members, spring supports, front pillar lower inners, dash cross members, etc. have been integrally molded by die casting. Sheet metal parts such as cowls, dash panels, and front pillar uppers are attached to such die-cast front casts to form modules. With such configurations, it is difficult to seal the gaps between the front casts, cowls, and dash panels after modularization.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle side structure that can seal between a front cast, a cowl, and a dash panel after modularization. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle side structure of the first embodiment comprises a front cast having a pair of left and right front pillar lower inner portions and a dash cross member portion integrated together, a dash panel arranged between the left and right front pillar lower inner portions and joined to the dash cross member portion, a cowl joined to the upper end of the dash panel, a bracket arranged between the left and right front pillar lower inner portions and the cowl and joined to the dash panel and the cowl, and sealing material applied between the bracket and the left and right front pillar lower inner portions, between the bracket and the dash panel, and between the bracket and the cowl.

[0007] According to a first aspect, the front cast integrally includes a pair of left and right front pillar lower inner portions and a dash cross member portion. A dash panel is disposed between the left and right front pillar lower inner portions. The dash panel is joined to the dash cross member portion, and a cowl is joined to the upper end of the dash panel. Brackets are disposed between the left and right front pillar lower inner portions and the cowl. The brackets are joined to the dash panel and the cowl. Sealant is applied between the brackets and the left and right front pillar lower inner portions, between the brackets and the dash panel, and between the brackets and the cowl. According to this aspect, even after the front cast is modularized by attaching the dash panel, cowl, and brackets to it, the application of the sealant allows the front cast, cowl, and dash panel to be sealed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] As described above, in the vehicle side structure according to the present invention, the spaces between the front cast, cowl, and dash panel can be sealed after modularization. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a right portion of a vehicle side structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bracket included in the vehicle side structure. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the vehicle side structure as viewed from the left side of the vehicle. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section corresponding to the line F4-F4 in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cut surface corresponding to the line F5-F5 in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A vehicle side structure 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 5. Note that the arrows FR, UP, and RH shown in each figure indicate the forward direction (direction of travel), upward direction, and rightward direction, respectively, of a vehicle to which the vehicle side structure 10 is applied. Hereinafter, when the terms "front-rear," "left-right," and "up-and-down" are used in the description, they will refer to front-rear in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, left-right in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and up-and-down in the up-and-down direction of the vehicle.

[0011] 1 shows a perspective view of the right side of a vehicle side structure 10. The vehicle side structure 10 includes a front cast 12, a dash panel 20, a cowl 22, and a bracket 24, and is configured symmetrically.

[0012] The front cast 12 is formed, for example, by die-casting an aluminum alloy, and integrally comprises a pair of left and right front pillar lower inner portions 14 (the left front pillar lower inner portion 14 is not shown), a pair of left and right apron member portions 16 (the left apron member portion 16 is not shown), and a dash cross member portion 18.

[0013] The front pillar lower inner portion 14 extends in the up-down direction on the side of the vehicle. A front pillar lower outer portion made of, for example, a steel plate is joined to the left-right outer side (outside in the vehicle width direction) of the front pillar lower inner portion 14, thereby forming a front pillar lower. The apron member portion 16 extends forward from the upper part of the front pillar lower inner portion 14 as one unit. A front fender panel made of, for example, a steel plate is joined to the left-right outer side of the apron member portion 16. The dash cross member portion 18 spans the lower ends of the left and right front pillar lower inner portions 14 as one unit and extends in the left-right direction.

[0014] A dash panel 20 is disposed between the left and right front pillar lower inner portions 14. The dash panel 20 is made of, for example, a steel plate and is disposed rearward of the dash cross member portion 18 with its thickness extending in the longitudinal direction. The front surface of the lower end of the dash panel 20 is bonded to the rear surface of the upper end of the dash cross member portion 18 using structural adhesive 28.

[0015] The cowl 22 is bonded to the front surface of the upper end of the dash panel 20 using the structural adhesive 28. The cowl 22 is made of, for example, a steel plate and integrally includes a rear wall portion 22A, the lower end of which is bonded to the upper end of the cowl 22, and an upper wall portion 22B that extends forward and downward from the upper end of the rear wall portion 22A. Flange portions 22C, with the plate thickness direction being the left-right direction, are provided at both left and right ends of the cowl 22. The flange portions 22C extend integrally from the rear wall portion 22A and the upper wall portion 22B.

[0016] A bracket 24 is disposed between the front pillar lower inner portion 14 and the cowl 22. The bracket 24 is made of, for example, a steel plate. As shown in FIG. 2 , the bracket 24 integrally includes a side wall portion 24A whose thickness direction is in the left-right direction, an upper wall portion 24B extending from the upper end of the side wall portion 24A toward the center in the left-right direction (inward in the vehicle width direction), and a rear wall portion 24C extending from the rear end of the side wall portion 24A toward the center in the left-right direction. The rear portion and a middle portion in the front-rear direction of the upper wall portion 24B are inclined downward toward the front, and the middle portion in the front-rear direction of the upper wall portion 24B has a greater slope than the rear portion of the upper wall portion 24B.

[0017] 1, the front end of a front pillar upper part 26 is disposed above the bracket 24 and the front pillar lower inner part 14. The front pillar upper part 26 is made of, for example, a steel plate, and the lower surface of the front end part is joined to the upper surface of the upper wall part 24B of the bracket and the upper surface of the front pillar lower inner part 14.

[0018] 3 to 5, the rear surface of rear wall portion 24C of bracket 24 is joined to the front surface of the outer left-right end of dash panel 20 using structural adhesive 28. Bracket 24 protrudes upward beyond dash panel 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the lower surface of upper wall portion 24B of bracket 24 is joined to the upper surface of upper wall portion 22B of cowl 22 using structural adhesive 30.

[0019] 3 and 4, a sealant 32 such as an adhesive is applied between the side wall portion 24A of the bracket 24 and the flange portion 22C of the cowl 22, between the top wall portion 24B of the bracket 24 and the top wall portion 22B of the cowl 22, and between the rear wall portion 24C of the bracket 24 and the cowl 22 and the rear wall portion 22A. This seals the gaps between the side wall portion 24A and the flange portion 22C, the gaps between the top wall portion 24B and the top wall portion 22B, and the gaps between the rear wall portion 24C and the rear wall portion 22A. As shown in FIG. 4, the rear wall portion 22A of the cowl 22 is formed with a step portion 22A1 (not shown in FIG. 1) bent forward in a stepped shape at a location facing the rear wall portion 24C of the bracket 24.

[0020] 1 and 3 to 5, a sealant 34 such as an adhesive is applied between the side wall portion 24A of the bracket 24 and the front pillar lower inner portion 14, and between the rear wall portion 24C of the bracket 24 and the dash cross member portion 18. This seals the gaps between the side wall portion 24A and the front pillar lower inner portion 14 and the gaps between the rear wall portion 24C and the dash cross member portion 18. As shown in FIG. 1, the sealant 34 is also applied between the front pillar upper portion 26 and the front pillar lower inner portion 14, and between the front pillar upper portion 26 and the upper wall portion 24C. As shown in FIG. 3, a step portion 24C1 (not shown in FIG. 1) bent forward in a stepped shape is formed at the lower end of the rear wall portion 24C of the bracket 24, at a location facing the upper end of the dash cross member portion 18.

[0021] In the vehicle side section structure 10 configured as described above, the front cast 12 integrally comprises a pair of left and right front pillar lower inner portions 14 and a dash cross member portion 18. A dash panel 20 is disposed between the left and right front pillar lower inner portions 14. The dash panel 20 is joined to the dash cross member portion 18, and a cowl 22 is joined to the upper end of the dash panel 20. A bracket 24 is disposed between the left and right front pillar lower inner portions 14 and the cowl 22.

[0022] The bracket 24 is joined to the dash panel 20 and the cowl 22. Sealing materials 32, 34 are applied between the bracket 24 and the left and right front pillar lower inner portions 14, between the bracket 24 and the dash panel 20, and between the bracket 24 and the cowl 22. Because of this configuration, even after the dash panel 20, cowl 22, and bracket 24 are attached to the front casting 12 to form a module, the application of the sealing materials 32, 34 allows sealing between the front casting 12, the cowl 22, and the dash panel 20.

[0023] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present invention can be practiced with various modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 10 Vehicle side structure 12 Front Cast 14 Front pillar lower inner part 18 Dash cross member 20 Dash Panel 22 Cowl 24 Bracket 32, 34 Sealing material

Claims

[Claim 1] a front cast having a pair of left and right front pillar lower inner portions and a dash cross member portion integrated together; a dash panel disposed between the left and right front pillar lower inner portions and joined to the dash cross member portion; a cowl joined to an upper end of the dash panel; a bracket disposed between the left and right front pillar lower inner portions and the cowl and joined to the dash panel and the cowl; sealants applied between the bracket and the left and right front pillar lower inner portions, between the bracket and the dash panel, and between the bracket and the cowl; A vehicle side structure comprising:

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