Vehicle side structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle side part structure capable of suppressing deformation of a pillar even if a load toward the inside in the vehicle width direction is input to the pillar by a door skeleton member provided inside a side door at the time of side collision of a vehicle.SOLUTION: A pillar outer member 20 that is formed in a substantially "L" shape by a front wall 22 and an outer wall 24 in a cross-sectional view as viewed from a vehicle up-down direction and that constitutes a pillar 14, and a side door 16; In the vehicle side structure 10, a bead portion 21 extending in the vehicle-width direction is formed in a predetermined region including a portion of a front 18A 22 of the pillar outer member 20, the portion being located at the same height as a rear end portion side 18A of the door frame member 18 in a side view from the vehicle-width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A pillar reinforcement structure for an automobile that can suppress both bending deformation in a side collision of the vehicle and buckling deformation in a front collision of the vehicle without increasing the vehicle weight or cost has been known for some time (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The pillar reinforcement of this pillar reinforcement structure has a recessed bead formed in it that extends across the door belt line in the vertical direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-069632 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the event of a side collision, when a load directed inward in the vehicle width direction is input to the pillar by the door impact beam installed inside the side door, the pillar near the load input point undergoes large buckling deformation directed inward in the vehicle width direction.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle side structure that can suppress deformation of the pillar even when a load directed inward in the vehicle width direction is input to the pillar by a door frame member provided inside the side door during a side collision of the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the vehicle side structure of a first aspect of the present invention comprises a pillar outer member that is formed into an approximately L-shape by a front wall and an outer wall in a cross section viewed from the vertical direction of the vehicle and that constitutes a pillar, and a door frame member that is provided inside the side door so as to extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle and whose rear end overlaps the pillar outer member in a side view viewed from the width direction of the vehicle, and a bead portion that extends in the width direction of the vehicle is formed in a predetermined region that includes a portion of the front wall of the pillar outer member that is at the same height as the rear end of the door frame member in a side view viewed from the width direction of the vehicle.

[0007] According to the first aspect of the invention, a door framework member extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction is provided inside the side door, and the rear end of the door framework member overlaps, in a side view from the vehicle width direction, with a pillar outer member that is formed into a substantially "L" shape by the front wall and the outer wall in a cross section seen from the vehicle vertical direction and that constitutes a pillar. Note that the "vehicle longitudinal direction," which is the extension direction of the door framework member, also includes a "substantially vehicle longitudinal direction," which is a direction in which the door framework member is slightly inclined from the front of the vehicle to the lower rear of the vehicle in a side view seen from the vehicle width direction.

[0008] Here, in a side view seen from the vehicle width direction, a bead portion extending in the vehicle width direction is formed in a predetermined region including a portion of the front wall of the pillar outer member that is at the same height as the rear end of the door frame member. Therefore, compared to a case in which a bead portion extending in the vehicle width direction is not formed on the front wall of the pillar outer member, the rigidity of the front wall of the pillar outer member against a load acting inward in the vehicle width direction is improved. As a result, even if a load acting inward in the vehicle width direction is input to the pillar by the door frame member during a side collision of the vehicle, deformation of the pillar due to the load is suppressed.

[0009] A vehicle side structure according to a second aspect of the present invention is the vehicle side structure according to the first aspect, wherein the bead portion is formed excluding both end portions of the front wall in the vehicle width direction.

[0010] According to the second aspect of the invention, the bead portion is formed on the front wall of the pillar outer member excluding both end portions in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, compared to when the bead portion is formed including both end portions in the vehicle width direction of the front wall of the pillar outer member, the rigidity of the front wall of the pillar outer member against a load acting inward in the vehicle width direction is further improved. As a result, even if a load acting inward in the vehicle width direction is input to the pillar by the door frame member during a side collision of the vehicle, deformation of the pillar due to the load is more effectively suppressed.

[0011] Furthermore, a third aspect of the vehicle side structure according to the present invention is the vehicle side structure of the first or second aspect, wherein the specified area is an area within 100 mm from the rear end of the door frame member to the upper side of the vehicle and the lower side of the vehicle.

[0012] According to the third aspect of the invention, the predetermined area is within 100 mm of the rear end of the door frame member toward the upper and lower sides of the vehicle. Therefore, compared to when the predetermined area is within 200 mm of the rear end of the door frame member toward the upper side of the vehicle, the rigidity of the front wall of the pillar outer member against a load applied by the rear end of the door frame member toward the inside in the vehicle width direction is more effectively ensured. As a result, even if a load applied by the door frame member toward the inside in the vehicle width direction is applied to the pillar during a side collision of the vehicle, deformation of the pillar due to the load is more effectively suppressed.

[0013] A vehicle side structure according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle side structure according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the bead portion is a recess that is recessed toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0014] According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the bead portion is a recess that is recessed toward the rear of the vehicle. Therefore, compared to when the bead portion is a protrusion that protrudes toward the front of the vehicle, this does not affect the opening and closing of the side door, and there is no need to change the design of the side door. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] As described above, according to the present invention, even if a load directed inward in the vehicle width direction is input to the pillar by a door frame member provided inside the side door during a side collision of the vehicle, deformation of the pillar can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a vehicle side structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an enlarged view of a recess formed in a pillar outer panel that constitutes the vehicle side structure according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic side view showing a vehicle side structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional plan view showing a vehicle side structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] 1A is a schematic cross-sectional plan view showing the state of the vehicle side structure according to the present embodiment during a side collision, and FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional plan view showing the state of the vehicle side structure according to the present embodiment after the side collision. [Figure 6] 2 is a schematic plan view showing the state of the vehicle side structure according to the present embodiment after a side collision; FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. For ease of explanation, the arrow UP shown in each drawing indicates the upward direction of the vehicle, the arrow FR indicates the forward direction of the vehicle, and the arrow RH indicates the rightward direction of the vehicle. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the up / down, front / rear, and left / right directions refer to the up / down, front / rear, left / right directions of the vehicle. The left / right directions are synonymous with the vehicle width direction. The crash test dummy shown in Figures 1, 3, and 6 will be referred to as an occupant P.

[0018] 1, 3, and 4, a rear pillar 14 as an example of a pillar of a vehicle 12 equipped with the vehicle side structure 10 has a pillar outer panel 20 as a pillar outer member extending in the vertical direction, and a pillar inner panel 30 that also extends in the vertical direction and forms a closed cross-sectional shape together with the pillar outer panel 20. A pillar reinforcement 40 is provided inside the pillar outer panel 20 (see FIG. 4).

[0019] The pillar outer panel 20 extends in the vertical direction by integrally joining an upper panel section 20U and a lower panel section 20D so that they are continuous, and is formed with a front wall 22 and an outer wall 24 in a substantially "L" shape in a cross section seen from the vertical direction (hereinafter referred to as a "planar cross section"). As shown in Fig. 4, the pillar inner panel 30 is formed with an inner wall 32 and a rear wall 34 in a substantially inverted "L" shape in a planar cross section, and the pillar reinforcement 40 is formed with a front wall 42 and an outer wall 44 in a substantially "L" shape in a planar cross section.

[0020] A front flange portion 26 extending in the vertical direction and extending forward in a planar cross-sectional view is integrally formed at the inner end of the front wall 22 of the pillar outer panel 20 in the vehicle width direction, and a rear flange portion 28 extending in the vertical direction and extending outward in the vehicle width direction in a planar cross-sectional view is integrally formed at the rear end of the outer wall 24 of the pillar outer panel 20.

[0021] A front flange portion 36 is integrally formed at the front end of the inner wall 32 of the pillar inner panel 30, extending in the vertical direction and extending forward in a planar cross-sectional view, and a rear flange portion 38 is integrally formed at the outer end of the rear wall 34 of the pillar inner panel 30 in the vehicle width direction, extending in the vertical direction and extending outward in the vehicle width direction in a planar cross-sectional view.

[0022] A front flange portion 46 that extends in the vertical direction and also extends forward in a plan cross section is formed integrally with the inner end portion in the vehicle width direction of the front wall 42 of the pillar reinforcement 40, and a rear flange portion 48 that extends in the vertical direction and also extends outward in the vehicle width direction in a plan cross section is formed integrally with the rear end portion of the outer wall 44 of the pillar reinforcement 40.

[0023] Therefore, the front flange portion 36 of the pillar inner panel 30 is overlapped and welded to the front flange portion 26 of the pillar outer panel 20 via the front flange portion 46 of the pillar reinforcement 40, and the rear flange portion 38 of the pillar inner panel 30 is overlapped and welded to the rear flange portion 28 of the pillar outer panel 20 via the rear flange portion 48 of the pillar reinforcement 40, so that the rear pillar 14 is configured to have an approximately rectangular closed cross-sectional shape when viewed in a horizontal cross-section.

[0024] 1 and 3, a rear side door 16, an example of a side door, is disposed in front of the rear pillar 14 so as to be able to open and close with its front end portion on a hinge. Inside the rear side door 16, a door impact beam 18 is provided as a door framework member that extends substantially in the front-to-rear direction (more specifically, at a slight angle from the front to the diagonally lower rear side).

[0025] The door impact beam 18 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a predetermined outer diameter and inner diameter, and its rear end portion 18A overlaps the pillar outer panel 20 (panel lower portion 20D) in a side view seen from the vehicle width direction (hereinafter simply referred to as "side view"). As shown in Figures 1 to 3, a recess 21 recessed rearward as a bead portion extending in the vehicle width direction is formed in a predetermined region E (see Figure 3) including a portion of the front wall 22 of the pillar outer panel 20 at the same height as the rear end portion 18A of the door impact beam 18 in a side view.

[0026] 2, recess 21 is formed in a generally elliptical shape with the vehicle width direction as the longitudinal direction when viewed from the front, excluding both end portions 22A in the vehicle width direction of front wall 22. In other words, both end portions 21A in the vehicle width direction of recess 21 are formed so as not to reach ridge line portion 23, which is the boundary portion between front wall 22 and outer wall 24, and ridge line portion 25, which is the boundary portion between front wall 22 and front flange portion 26, respectively.

[0027] 3, the predetermined area E where the recess 21 is formed is an area in the front wall 22 of the pillar outer panel 20 within 100 mm above and below a reference line K at the rear end 18A of the door impact beam 18 in a side view. Note that the "reference line K" here refers to an imaginary line extending horizontally through the center of the inner diameter of the door impact beam 18 on the same plane as the rear end surface 18B of the door impact beam 18 in a side view.

[0028] 4, the recess 21 is formed so that its bottom 21B is inclined obliquely in a plan cross-sectional view so that the depth on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is deeper than the depth on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. This makes it easier to remove the pillar outer panel 20 (panel lower part 20D) from the mold when the pillar outer panel 20 (panel lower part 20D) is press-molded.

[0029] Next, the operation of the vehicle side structure 10 according to this embodiment configured as described above will be described.

[0030] As described above, a cylindrical door impact beam 18 extending approximately in the fore-and-aft direction is provided inside the rear side door 16, and in side view, the rear end portion 18A of the door impact beam 18 overlaps the pillar outer panel 20 (panel lower portion 20D) that constitutes the rear pillar 14.

[0031] Here, in a side view, a recess 21 extending in the vehicle width direction is formed in a predetermined region E including a portion at the same height as the rear end 18A of the door impact beam 18 in the front wall 22 of the pillar outer panel 20. Therefore, compared to a case where the recess 21 extending in the vehicle width direction is not formed in the front wall 22 of the pillar outer panel 20, the rigidity of the front wall 22 of the pillar outer panel 20 against a load acting inward in the vehicle width direction can be improved.

[0032] As a result, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, even if a load directed inward in the vehicle width direction is input to the rear pillar 14 (pillar outer panel 20) by the rear end portion 18A of the door impact beam 18 in a side collision of the vehicle 12, deformation of the rear pillar 14 due to the load can be suppressed compared to a case in which the recess 21 is not formed (shown by phantom lines in Figures 5 and 6). Specifically, the amount of buckling deformation directed inward in the vehicle width direction in the front wall 22 of the pillar outer panel 20 can be reduced by approximately 10 mm (shown as width W in Figure 6). This reduces the injury level suffered by the occupant P.

[0033] Further, the recess 21 is formed excluding both end portions 22A in the vehicle width direction of the front wall 22 of the pillar outer panel 20. In other words, both end portions 21A in the vehicle width direction of the recess 21 do not reach the ridge line portion 23 that is the boundary portion between the front wall 22 and the outer wall 24 and the ridge line portion 25 that is the boundary portion between the front wall 22 and the front flange portion 26 (see FIG. 2).

[0034] Therefore, compared to when the recess 21 is formed to include both end portions 22A in the vehicle width direction of the front wall 22 of the pillar outer panel 20 (when both end portions 21A in the vehicle width direction of the recess 21 reach the ridge lines 23 and 25, respectively), it is possible to further improve the rigidity of the front wall 22 of the pillar outer panel 20 against a load acting inward in the vehicle width direction. As a result, even if a load acting inward in the vehicle width direction is input to the rear pillar 14 by the rear end portion 18A of the door impact beam 18 during a side collision of the vehicle 12, deformation of the rear pillar 14 due to the load can be more effectively suppressed.

[0035] In addition, the area E where the recess 21 is formed, i.e., the predetermined area E including the part on the front wall 22 of the pillar outer panel 20 that is at the same height as the rear end 18A of the door impact beam 18, is an area within 100 mm above and below the reference line K at the rear end 18A of the door impact beam 18.

[0036] Therefore, compared to when the predetermined area E is set to an area, for example, within 200 mm upward from the reference line K at the rear end 18A of the door impact beam 18, it is possible to more effectively ensure rigidity in the front wall 22 of the pillar outer panel 20 against a load directed inward in the vehicle width direction that is input by the rear end 18A of the door impact beam 18. As a result, even if a load directed inward in the vehicle width direction is input to the rear pillar 14 by the rear end 18A of the door impact beam 18 during a side collision of the vehicle 12, deformation of the rear pillar 14 due to that load can be more effectively suppressed.

[0037] Furthermore, in the vehicle side section structure 10 according to this embodiment, the bead portion formed on the front wall 22 of the pillar outer panel 20 is configured as a recess 21 recessed toward the rear side. Therefore, compared to when the bead portion is configured as a protrusion protruding toward the front side, there is an advantage that the opening and closing of the rear side door 16 is not affected and the design of the shape of the rear side door 16 does not need to be changed.

[0038] While the vehicle side structure 10 according to this embodiment has been described above with reference to the drawings, the vehicle side structure 10 according to this embodiment is not limited to the one shown in the drawings, and the design can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the present invention. For example, a plurality of recesses 21 as bead portions may be formed at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction within the above-mentioned region E.

[0039] Furthermore, the rear pillar 14 is not limited to the above-described configuration. For example, the rear pillar 14 may be configured such that a reinforcing member serving as a pillar outer member having a shape like the panel lower portion 20D is provided from the outside at the lower portion of the rear outer panel 20 extending in the vertical direction. The reinforcing member may then be configured to have a recess 21 formed therein. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 10 Vehicle side structure 14 Rear pillar (pillar) 16 Rear side door (side door) 18 Door impact beam (door frame member) 18A Rear end 20 Pillar outer panel (pillar outer member) 21 Recess (bead part) 22 Front wall 24 Exterior Wall E area

Claims

1. a pillar outer member that is formed into a substantially "L" shape by a front wall and an outer wall in a cross section seen from the vehicle vertical direction, and that constitutes a pillar; a door framework member provided inside the side door so as to extend in the vehicle front-rear direction, the rear end of which overlaps the pillar outer member in a side view seen from the vehicle width direction; Equipped with A vehicle side structure in which, in a side view from the vehicle width direction, a bead portion extending in the vehicle width direction is formed in a predetermined area including a portion of the front wall of the pillar outer member that is at the same height as the rear end of the door frame member.

2. The vehicle side structure according to claim 1 , wherein the bead portion is formed on the front wall except for both end portions in the vehicle width direction.

3. 3. The vehicle side structure according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined area is within 100 mm from the rear end of the door frame member toward the upper side and the lower side of the vehicle.

4. 3. The vehicle side structure according to claim 1, wherein the bead portion is a recess that is recessed toward the rear of the vehicle.

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