Vehicle frame components

Abstract

To obtain a vehicle frame component that reduces the amount of work required to ensure the sealing performance of the cowl. [Solution] The left and right wheelhouses 14, cross member 16, left and right front pillars 22, and cowl 28 are integrally molded. As a result, there are no joints between the cowl 28 and the wheelhouse 14, and between the cowl 28 and the front pillars 22. Therefore, work to ensure the sealing of the joints between the cowl 28 and the wheelhouse 14, and between the cowl 28 and the front pillars 22 is unnecessary.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle skeletal member.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique related to a cowl portion of a vehicle. In this prior art, a seal member is provided on a cowl welding flange in a joining structure between the cowl and the skeletal member.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above prior art, a process for providing a seal member on the cowl welding flange is required.

[0005] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a vehicle skeletal member capable of reducing the work for ensuring the sealing property of the cowl.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The vehicle skeletal member according to the present invention described in claim 1 includes a wheel house where wheels are arranged, a front pillar provided on the rear side of the vehicle of the wheel house and extending in the vehicle vertical direction and integrally formed with the wheel house, and a cowl that supports the front end portion of the windshield glass and is integrally formed with the wheel house and the front pillar.

[0007] The vehicle frame member according to claim 1 comprises a wheelhouse, a front pillar, and a cowl. The wheelhouse, in which the wheels are arranged, and the front pillar, which extends vertically in the vehicle direction on the rear side of the wheelhouse, are integrally molded. Furthermore, a cowl that supports the front end of the windshield glass is integrally molded with the wheelhouse and the front pillar.

[0008] In this way, by molding the cowl integrally with the wheel well and front pillar, the joints between the cowl and the wheel well and the cowl and front pillar are eliminated. Therefore, work to ensure the sealing of the joints between the cowl and the wheel well and the cowl and front pillar becomes unnecessary.

[0009] The vehicle frame member according to claim 2 is the vehicle frame member according to claim 1, further comprising a cross member connecting the left and right wheelhouses in the vehicle width direction, wherein the cowl is integrally molded including the left and right wheelhouses, the left and right front pillars and the cross member.

[0010] The vehicle frame member according to claim 2 further comprises a cross member connecting the left and right wheelhouses in the vehicle width direction, and the cowl is integrally molded including the left and right wheelhouses, left and right front pillars and the cross member. Compared to the case in which the left and right members are molded separately and then joined together to form a single unit after molding, the present invention makes it possible to reduce the number of parts.

[0011] The vehicle frame member according to claim 3 is the vehicle frame member according to claim 1, further comprising a cross member connecting the left and right wheelhouses in the vehicle width direction, wherein the cowl, the left and right wheelhouses, the left and right front pillars, and the cross member are each molded in a divided state at a predetermined position in the vehicle width direction and are joined together at the predetermined position to form an integrated unit.

[0012] The vehicle frame member according to claim 3 further comprises a cross member connecting the left and right wheelhouses in the vehicle width direction, and the cowl, left and right wheelhouses, left and right front pillars and cross member are each molded in a state where they are divided into left and right at predetermined positions in the vehicle width direction, and are joined together at said predetermined positions to form an integrated unit.

[0013] As a result, in this invention, the mold can be made smaller compared to the case in which the cowl, left and right wheelhouses, left and right front pillars and cross member are molded as a single unit, and the mold release direction can be in the left-right direction of the vehicle, which simplifies the mold mechanism compared to the case in which the mold release direction includes the up-down direction of the vehicle.

[0014] The vehicle frame member according to claim 4 is the vehicle frame member according to claim 2, wherein the cowl and the cross member are arranged in positions that do not overlap in a plan view.

[0015] In the vehicle frame member according to claim 4 of the present invention, the cowl and the cross member are positioned so that they do not overlap in a plan view. Therefore, compared to, for example, a comparative example where the cowl and the cross member are positioned so that they overlap in a plan view, there is no need to provide a slide core or the like to form a space between the cowl and the cross member, thus simplifying the mold structure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] As described above, the vehicle frame member according to the present invention can reduce the amount of work required to ensure the sealing performance of the cowl. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a vehicle to which the vehicle frame member according to this embodiment is applied, viewed from the left rear and above. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of a vehicle to which the vehicle frame member according to this embodiment is applied, viewed from the right rear and above. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view of a vehicle to which a vehicle skeletal member according to this embodiment is applied, as viewed from the upper left front side. [Figure 4] It is a front view of a vehicle to which a vehicle skeletal member according to this embodiment is applied. [Figure 5] It is a cross-sectional view when cut along the line A-A in FIG. 1. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view of a vehicle to which a modified example of a vehicle skeletal member according to this embodiment is applied, as viewed from the upper left rear side.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] <� Hereinafter, a vehicle skeletal member according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the arrow FR appropriately shown indicates the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the arrow UP indicates the upper side in the vehicle up-down direction. The arrow LH indicates the left side in the vehicle width direction, and in this embodiment, it indicates the outside in the vehicle width direction. Hereinafter, when simply using the directions of front and rear, up and down, and left and right for explanation, unless otherwise specified, it shall indicate the front and rear in the vehicle front-rear direction, the up and down in the vehicle up-down direction, and the left and right in the vehicle left-right direction (vehicle width direction).

[0019] (Configuration of Vehicle Skeletal Member) First, the configuration of the vehicle skeletal member according to this embodiment will be described.

[0020] In FIGS. 1 to 5, an overall view of the vehicle showing the skeleton of the vehicle 10 is shown. For example, although not shown in the figure, this vehicle 10 is an electric vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, etc. that runs on power generated by a power unit. <�

[0021] <�' As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the vehicle 10 to which the vehicle skeletal member 12 according to this embodiment is applied, wheelhouses 14 in which wheels (not shown) are arranged are provided on the left and right of the vehicle front part, respectively. And the right wheelhouse 14 and the left wheelhouse 14 are connected by a cross member 16 extending in the vehicle width direction.

[0022] Apron upper members 18 extend along the vehicle's longitudinal direction from the upper ends of the left and right wheelhouses 14, and suspension towers 20 are provided on the inner side of the left and right apron upper members 18 in the vehicle's width direction.

[0023] Furthermore, front pillars 22, which constitute the side of the front of the vehicle, are provided on the rear side of the left and right wheelhouses 14. At the rear side of the lower end 22A of the front pillar 22, there is a connecting portion 24 to which a rocker (not shown), which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and constitutes the frame of the side of the vehicle body, is connected.

[0024] For example, the connecting portion 24 is roughly in an inverted U shape when viewed from the rear of the vehicle. The rocker is rectangular in shape, and the connecting portion 24 can be engaged with the rocker from above. When the connecting portion 24 is engaged with the front end of the rocker, the connecting portion 24 can be connected to the rocker from above the vehicle and from the outside in the vehicle width direction.

[0025] The shape of the connecting portion 24 is not limited to this. Furthermore, a flange portion 26 is formed on the inner side of the connecting portion 24 in the vehicle width direction, and this flange portion 26 is connected to the outer edge of the front end of a floor panel (not shown) by welding, fastening, etc.

[0026] Meanwhile, cowls 28, which support the front end of the windshield glass (not shown), extend in the vehicle width direction from the left and right apron upper members 18. In this embodiment, the cowls 28 are positioned so as not to overlap with the cross members 16 in a plan view. The cowls 28 have a roughly bow shape in a plan view, with the rear end 28A of the cowl 28 being formed in a straight line along the vehicle width direction, and the front end 28B of the cowl 28 being formed in an arc shape that bulges towards the front of the vehicle.

[0027] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the upper surface 28C of the cowl 28 slopes downward toward the vehicle from the rear end 28A to the front end 28B, and as shown in Figure 4, it is formed in an arc shape that bulges upward toward the vehicle with the central part in the vehicle width direction of the cowl 28 as its apex.

[0028] This makes it possible to guide water droplets that have flowed from the windshield glass towards the cowl 28 toward the front side of the cowl 28 or toward the outside in the vehicle width direction. A groove for draining water droplets may also be formed on the upper surface of the cowl 28.

[0029] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, connecting portions 30 are provided at both ends of the cowl 28 in the vehicle width direction, and the cowl 28 and the apron upper member 18 are connected via these connecting portions 30. From the rear end of the connecting portion 30, a mounting portion 32 is provided that connects to the upper end of the apron upper member 18 and extends toward the rear of the vehicle. Although not shown, the front pillar upper, which forms the upper edge of the door opening 33, can be attached to this mounting portion 32.

[0030] In this embodiment, the left and right wheelhouses 14, cross member 16, left and right front pillars 22, and cowl 28 shown in Figure 1 are integrally formed by casting using aluminum alloy, magnesium alloy, or the like (integrated cast member 34).

[0031] Therefore, in this embodiment, the wheelhouse 14, cross member 16, front pillar 22, and cowl 28 are each parts that constitute a part of the integrally cast member 34. Strictly speaking, the wheelhouse 14 is the wheelhouse portion of the integrally cast member 34, the cross member 16 is the cross member portion of the integrally cast member 34, the front pillar 22 is the front pillar portion of the integrally cast member 34, and the cowl 28 is the cowl portion of the integrally cast member 34. However, for convenience in this embodiment, the effects of referring to them as the wheelhouse 14, cross member 16, front pillar 22, and cowl 28 will be explained below.

[0032] (Function and effect of vehicle frame components)

[0033] In this embodiment, as described above, the left and right wheelhouses 14, cross member 16, left and right front pillars 22, and cowl 28 are integrally molded. In other words, in this embodiment, the cowl 28 is integrally molded with the left and right wheelhouses 14 and the left and right front pillars 22.

[0034] As a result, in this embodiment, there are no joints between the cowl 28 and the wheelhouse 14, and between the cowl 28 and the front pillar 22. Therefore, work to ensure the sealing of the joints between the cowl 28 and the wheelhouse 14, and between the cowl 28 and the front pillar 22 is unnecessary.

[0035] As an alternative modification, as shown in Figure 6, the cowl 36 and cross member 38 may be divided at connecting portions (predetermined positions) 40 and 42 in the vehicle width direction, and the right cowl 36, right cross member 38, right wheelhouse 44 and right front pillar 46 and the left cowl 36, left cross member 38, left wheelhouse 44 and left front pillar 46 may be molded as the right cast member 48 and the left cast member 50, respectively.

[0036] In this case, after molding, it would be necessary to join the right-side cast member 48 and the left-side cast member 50 together via the joining portions 40 and 42 to integrate them. In this embodiment, since such joining portions 40 and 42 do not exist, the number of parts can be reduced accordingly, and the assembly time can be reduced.

[0037] However, in this invention, it is sufficient to ensure the sealing performance of the joints between the cowl 28 and the wheelhouse 14 and between the cowl 28 and the front pillar 22. For this reason, as shown in Figure 6, the configuration in which the left and right members are divided into a right-side cast member 48 and a left-side cast member 50, and then the right-side cast member 48 and the left-side cast member 50 are integrated after molding, is naturally included within the scope of the rights of this invention.

[0038] In the configuration shown in Figure 6, compared to the case where the cowl 28, left and right wheelhouses 14, left and right front pillars 22, and cross member 16 are molded as a single unit, as shown in Figure 1, the mold can be made smaller because the parts are divided into left and right components. In addition, the mold release direction can be set to the left-right direction of the vehicle 10, which simplifies the mold mechanism compared to the case where the mold release direction includes the up-down direction of the vehicle.

[0039] Regarding the joints 40 and 42 shown in Figure 6, for example, the tip of the right half of the cowl 36 and cross member 38 is joined to the tip of the left half of the cowl 36 and cross member 38 so that they overlap in the vehicle's longitudinal direction or in the vehicle's vertical direction. Alternatively, the tip of the right half of the cowl 36 and cross member 38 may be joined to the tip of the left half of the cowl 36 and cross member 38 by a separate member while they are in contact with each other.

[0040] On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the cowl 28 and the cross member 16 are positioned so that they do not overlap in a plan view. Therefore, compared to the case where the cowl 28 and the cross member 16 are positioned so that they overlap in a plan view (although this is not shown), there is no need to provide a slide core or the like to form a space between the cowl 28 and the cross member 16, thus simplifying the mold structure.

[0041] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications may be used in appropriate combinations with one embodiment, and of course, the invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0042] <Note> Furthermore, the following components may be combined as appropriate to form the vehicle frame member according to the present invention.

[0043] (Composition 1) The vehicle frame members include a wheel well in which the wheels are arranged, a front pillar provided on the rear side of the wheel well and extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle, which is molded integrally with the wheel well, and a cowl that supports the front end of the windshield glass and is molded integrally with the wheel well and the front pillar.

[0044] (Configuration 2) The cowl is further equipped with a cross member that connects the left and right wheel arches in the vehicle width direction, and the cowl is integrally molded including the left and right wheel arches, the left and right front pillars, and the cross member.

[0045] (Composition 3) The vehicle is further equipped with a cross member that connects the left and right wheel arches in the vehicle width direction. The cowl, the left and right wheel arches, the left and right front pillars, and the cross member are each molded in a divided state at predetermined positions in the vehicle width direction and are joined together at these predetermined positions to form a single integrated unit.

[0046] (Composition 4) The cowl and the cross member are positioned so that they do not overlap in a plan view. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0047] 10 vehicles 12 Vehicle frame components 14 Wheelhouse 16 Crossmember 22 Front pillar 28 Cowl 34 One-piece cast component 36 Cowl 38 Crossmember 44 Wheelhouse 46 Front pillar 48 Right-side cast member 50 Left-side cast member

Claims

1. The wheel well where the wheels are positioned, A front pillar is provided on the rear side of the wheelhouse and extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and is molded integrally with the wheelhouse. A cowl that supports the front end of the windshield glass and is molded integrally with the wheelhouse and the front pillar, A vehicle frame component equipped with the following features.

2. It also features a cross member that connects the left and right wheel arches in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle frame member according to claim 1, wherein the cowl is integrally molded with the left and right wheelhouses, the left and right front pillars, and the cross member.

3. It also features a cross member that connects the left and right wheel arches in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle frame member according to claim 1, wherein the cowl, the left and right wheelhouses, the left and right front pillars, and the cross member are each molded in a divided state at predetermined positions in the vehicle width direction and are joined together at the predetermined positions to form a single unit.

4. The vehicle frame member according to claim 2, wherein the cowl and the cross member are positioned so as not to overlap in a plan view.

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