Vehicle body structure

Abstract

To improve load transmission efficiency by reducing the angle of inclination in the vehicle width direction of the transmission path for frontal impact loads that flow along the vehicle's longitudinal direction from the rear of the front frame to the tunnel section and side sill. [Solution] The rear part 32 of the front frame is a box-shaped hollow body that is open at the rear. The dash panel 2 has a pair of forward-convex parts on the left and right, where the front portions facing the left and right front seats in front of them form a forward-convex surface in a plan view. The forward-convex parts consist of a forward-convex apex and shoulder parts on the inner and outer sides in the vehicle width direction that slope while the distance between them in the vehicle width direction widens towards the rear. The rear end of the rear part 32 of the front frame consists of a rear end central part that is spaced forward from the forward-convex apex and rear end side parts on the inner and outer sides in the vehicle width direction that extend rearward along the shoulder parts, and the rear end side parts are connected to the shoulder parts.

Description

Technical Field

[0005]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle body structure including a dash panel that partitions a passenger compartment and a front space of the passenger compartment in the vehicle longitudinal direction, a pair of left and right front frames extending in the vehicle forward direction on both left and right sides of the front space, a floor panel coupled to a rear end portion of the dash panel and having a tunnel portion bulging upward at the center in the vehicle width direction, and a pair of left and right side sills extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction and coupled to outer ends of the floor panel outside the vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] In the lower part of a conventional vehicle body structure, as exemplified in Patent Document 1, between the dash panel and the dash cross or torque box, etc., a load transmission member having a closed cross-section along the vehicle width direction is provided, and when a vehicle frontal collision (hereinafter referred to as "front collision") occurs, an underload path is formed at the vehicle body floor height to branch the front collision load from the front frame to, for example, the tunnel portion and the side sill through the load transmission member.

[0003] Here, conventionally, the front frame is known to have a structure in which a closed cross-section having a so-called monaka shape in a cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the vehicle longitudinal direction formed by joining left and right sheet metal materials extends along the vehicle longitudinal direction until reaching the rear end portion with substantially the same thickness. And in the lower part of a conventional vehicle body structure, the rear end portion of such a front frame is abutted against a small area on the front surface of the dash panel extending along the vehicle width direction.

[0004] In addition, in a conventional vehicle body structure including the vehicle body structure of Patent Document 1, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, between the rear end of the front frame 300 and the front end of the side sill 400, the dash panel 200 is often in a shape extending substantially linearly along the vehicle width direction (refer to the straight line L200 along the vehicle width direction of the dash panel 200 shown by a virtual line in FIG. 10).

[0005] Consequently, in conventional vehicle body structures, the load transmission path along the vehicle's longitudinal direction from the front frame to the side sills and tunnel section passes through the aforementioned load transmission path along the dash panel, which extends linearly along the vehicle's width direction, resulting in a large angle of inclination in the vehicle's width direction. In other words, in conventional vehicle body structures, there is no load transmission member (path) that directly transmits the forward impact load from the rear end of the front frame to the front end of the side sill, which could be disadvantageous in terms of improving load transmission efficiency.

[0006] Furthermore, in such a configuration, the distance between the rear end of the front frame and the front end of the side sill tends to be wide in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the load transmission member connecting these body frames along the vehicle width direction of the dash panel may become longer and more complex, potentially increasing its mass and the number of parts. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-171931 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] This invention has been made in view of these problems, and aims to provide a vehicle body structure that can improve load transmission efficiency by reducing the angle of inclination in the vehicle width direction of the transmission path for frontal impact loads that flow along the vehicle longitudinal direction from the rear of the front frame to the tunnel section and the side sill, while suppressing the lengthening and complexity of load transmission members that extend in the vehicle width direction along the dash panel, such as the dash cloth. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] This invention relates to a vehicle body structure comprising: a dash panel that separates the passenger compartment from the space in front of the passenger compartment in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a pair of left and right front frames extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle from their rear ends connected to the front of the dash panel on both the left and right sides of the space in front of the vehicle; a floor panel having a tunnel section whose front end is connected to the rear end of the dash panel and which bulges upward in the center in the width direction of the vehicle, on which the left and right front seats, consisting of the driver's seat and passenger seat, are mounted on the outside of the tunnel section in the width direction of the vehicle; and a pair of left and right side sills that extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and are connected to the outer ends of the floor panel, wherein the rear part of the front frame has a rearward section that gradually widens towards the rear. The dashboard panel is a box-shaped hollow body with an open rear, and the dashboard panel has a pair of left and right forward-convex portions that face forward of each of the left and right front seats, forming a forward-convex surface (vertical wall surface) in a plan view, and the forward-convex portions include a forward-convex top portion that coincides with the axis of the front frame in the vehicle width direction, and left and right shoulder portions that slope while the distance between them in the vehicle width direction widens towards the rear from the forward-convex top portion, and the rear end of the rear of the front frame includes a rear end center portion that is spaced forward from the forward-convex top portion, and left and right rear end side portions that extend rearward from both the left and right sides of the rear end center portion along the left and right shoulder portions, and the left and right rear end side portions are connected to the left and right shoulder portions of the dashboard panel.

[0010] This invention makes it possible to reduce the angle of inclination in the vehicle width direction of the load transmission path along the dash panel, which extends in the vehicle width direction from the rear end of the front frame that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and also reduces the distance in the vehicle width direction from the input part of the front impact load that is input from the rear end of the front frame to the dash panel to the tunnel section and the side sill, thereby making the load transmission members to these tunnel sections and side sills smaller.

[0011] Furthermore, the dashboard panel has a pair of forward-convex portions on the left and right sides, each facing the front of the respective front seats, forming a forward-convex surface in a plan view. This ensures that space in the vehicle width direction is available for the rear portion of these forward-convex portions, where the feet of the occupants seated in the front seats are positioned.

[0012] In one aspect of this invention, the dash panel is provided with a dash rain on the interior side surface of the dash panel, forming a closed section between the dash rain and the interior side surface, the side sill has a closed section space extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle between the side sill inner and the side sill outer, and the closed section of the dash rain may be configured to overlap with the exterior side of the rear end of the rear of the front frame, which is a box-shaped hollow body, when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, and overlap with the side sill inner when viewed from the side of the vehicle, extending continuously downward from the exterior side of the rear of the front frame outward in the vehicle width direction to the side sill inner.

[0013] This invention allows the load transfer of a frontal impact load from the front frame to the side sill in the vehicle width direction to occur not only through the rear of the front frame joined to the dash panel, but also through the dash rain. This widens the load transfer path from the dash panel to the side sill, thereby improving load transfer efficiency. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to this invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle body structure that can improve load transmission efficiency by reducing the angle of inclination in the vehicle width direction of the transmission path for frontal impact loads that flow along the vehicle longitudinal direction from the rear of the front frame to the tunnel section and side sill, while suppressing the lengthening and complexity of load transmission members that extend in the vehicle width direction along the dash panel, such as the dash cloth. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] A perspective view of the main part of a vehicle equipped with the body structure of this embodiment, viewed from the front and right side of the vehicle body. [Figure 2] A side view of the main part of a vehicle equipped with the body structure of this embodiment, viewed from the right side. [Figure 3] Bottom view of the main part of a vehicle equipped with the body structure of this embodiment [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view of the central part of the vehicle body and the right side, along line AA in Figure 2. [Figure 5]Arrow-view cross-sectional view of the main part of the vehicle along the B-B line in FIG. 2 [Figure 6] Arrow-view cross-sectional view of the main part of the vehicle along the D-D line in FIG. 4 [Figure 7] Arrow-view cross-sectional view of the main part of the vehicle along the C-C line in FIG. 2 [Figure 8] Arrow-view cross-sectional view of the main part of the vehicle along the D-D line in FIG. 4 as viewed from the rear and left side of the vehicle body [Figure 9] (a) is an arrow-view cross-sectional view of the main part of the vehicle along the E-E line in FIG. 4, (b) is an arrow-view cross-sectional view of the main part of the vehicle along the F-F line in FIG. 4, and (c) is an arrow-view cross-sectional view of the main part of the vehicle along the G-G line in FIG. 4 [Figure 10] Plan view showing a conventional vehicle body structure

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] As an embodiment of the present invention, an embodiment in which the vehicle body structure of the present invention is applied to a front-engine, rear-drive (FR) sports car will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, arrow F indicates the front of the vehicle, arrow U indicates the upper side of the vehicle, arrow W indicates the vehicle width direction, OUT indicates the outside of the vehicle width (also referred to as "outside the vehicle width"), and IN indicates the inside of the vehicle width (also referred to as "inside the vehicle width"). Since the vehicle body structure of the present embodiment has substantially the same structure on the left and right, the structure on the right side of the vehicle will be mainly described. In the following description, the front, rear, right, left, upper, and lower directions indicate the directions with respect to the vehicle body unless otherwise specified, and "rain" indicates "rain reinforcement".

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the vehicle body structure of the present embodiment mainly includes a floor panel 1 provided with a tunnel portion 10, a dash panel 2, a front frame (also referred to as a front side frame) 3, a side sill 4, a torque box 5, a front pillar 6, a hinge pillar 7, an apron frame 8, a dash rain 9, an upper tunnel frame 11, and a tunnel side frame 12

[0018] Among these elements, the front frame 3, side sill 4, torque box 5, front pillar 6, hinge pillar 7, apron frame 8, dash rain 9, and tunnel side frame 12 all have a pair on the left and right in the vehicle body structure.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle of the present embodiment includes a sub-frame (also referred to as a "suspension cross member") 110 that supports a suspension for suspending the front wheels FW below and on both the left and right sides of the power unit room PR. Note that the sub-frame 110 is only shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Reference numeral 34 in FIG. 2 indicates an upper arm support frame that supports the inner end in the vehicle width direction of the upper arm 201 provided in the suspension so as to be swingable in the vertical direction, and reference numeral 111 indicates a lower arm support frame that supports the inner end in the vehicle width direction of the lower arm 202 provided in the suspension so as to be swingable in the vertical direction. The sub-frame 110 is configured, for example, in a grid shape by combining a plurality of frame members having a closed cross-section along the extending direction such as the upper arm support frame 34 and the lower arm support frame 111.

[0020] (Floor panel 1) As shown in FIG. 1, the floor panel 1 extends in the vehicle width direction and the front-rear direction at the lower part of the vehicle body and constitutes the floor surface of the passenger compartment CR. In the left and right central portions of the floor panel 1, a tunnel portion 10 that bulges upward and extends in the front-rear direction is formed inside the passenger compartment CR.

[0021] (Tunnel upper frame 11 + Tunnel side frame 12) The tunnel portion 10 at the center in the vehicle width direction of the floor panel 1 has a portal-shaped orthogonal cross-section bulging upward in the front-rear direction with a pair of left and right side surfaces 10a and an upper surface portion 10b that connects the upper ends of these side surfaces 10a in the vehicle width direction (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

[0022] An upper tunnel frame 11, which serves as a backbone frame extending in the longitudinal direction, is joined to the upper part of the tunnel section 10. The upper tunnel frame 11 is formed in a substantially U-shape with corners at both ends in the vehicle width direction and opening downwards in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the lower ends on both the left and right sides are joined to the upper parts of the left and right side sections 10a, respectively, thereby forming a closed cross section 11S that extends in the longitudinal direction from the front end to the rear end of the tunnel section 10 between the upper section 11 and the upper surface section 10b.

[0023] As shown in Figure 3, the lower ends on both the left and right sides of the tunnel section 10 are provided with tunnel side frames 12, which have a closed cross-section 12S extending in the front-rear direction. More specifically, the tunnel side frame 12 includes a straight section 121 that extends in the front-rear direction along the lower ends on both sides of the tunnel section 10 in the vehicle width direction, and a front end rising section 122 that rises further forward from the front end of the straight section 121 located at the front end of the tunnel section 10 in the front-rear direction, corresponding to the lower part of the inclined shape of the dash panel 2.

[0024] The straight section 121 comprises a tunnel side upper member 121a positioned on the inside (upper) side of the vehicle compartment CR, and a tunnel side lower member 121b positioned below the upper member on the outside (lower) side of the vehicle compartment CR. A straight closed section 121S is formed between the tunnel side upper member 121a and the tunnel side lower member 121b, extending linearly in the front-rear direction over substantially the entire length of the tunnel section 10.

[0025] As shown in Figures 3 and 9(b), the front end rise portion 122 comprises a front end upper member 122a positioned on the inside (above) side of the vehicle interior CR relative to the lower part of the dash panel 2, and a front end lower member 122b positioned on the outside (below) side of the vehicle interior CR relative to the lower part of the dash panel 2. The front end rise portion 122 is configured as a front end closed section, with a front end front closed section 122sf and a front end rear closed section 122sr, which are located on the front and rear sides of the lower part of the dash panel 2. The front end front closed section 122sf is located between the front end lower member 122b and the lower part of the dash panel 2, while the front end rear closed section 122sr is located between the front end upper member 122a and the lower part of the dash panel 2. The front end front closed section 122sf is located on the front side of the lower part of the dash panel 2, but extends continuously in the front-rear direction with the linear closed section 121S via the front end rear closed section 122sr.

[0026] (Dash Panel 2) As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the dash panel 2 is a vertical wall-shaped plate member arranged along the vehicle width direction and the vehicle height direction so as to separate the passenger compartment CR from the power unit room PR, which is the space in front of it, in the front-rear direction. Specifically, the dash panel 2 has a main body portion 21 that extends along the vehicle height direction, a kick-up portion 22 that extends downward from the lower end of the main body portion 21 towards the rear of the vehicle, and left and right vehicle width outer edge flange portions 23. These main body portion 21, kick-up portion 22, and vehicle width outer edge flange portions 23 are each integrally formed by press molding a single flat plate. Furthermore, the rear end of the kick-up portion 22 of the dash panel 2 is connected to the front end of the floor panel 1 by welding or other means.

[0027] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1, 3, 5, and 6, a tunnel opening 2A that bulges upward is formed in the lower central part of the dash panel 2 in the vehicle width direction. This tunnel opening 2A is joined to the front end of the tunnel section 10 formed in the central part of the floor panel 1 in the vehicle width direction (see Figure 3). The space below the tunnel section 10 and the power unit room PR are in communication in the front-rear direction via the tunnel opening 2A.

[0028] As shown in Figure 6, the main body portion 21 of the dash panel 2 has forward-convex portions 25 on each side, separated by a tunnel opening 2A in the central part in the width direction of the vehicle, where the forward portions facing each of the left and right front seats form a forward-convex vertical wall surface in a plan view.

[0029] These left and right pairs of forward-protruding portions 25 each include a forward-protruding top portion 25a that is positioned along the vehicle width direction at a point that coincides with the axis of the front frame 3 in the vehicle width direction, and left and right shoulder portions 25b that slope outwards from both left and right ends of the forward-protruding top portion 25a, with the distance between them in the vehicle width direction gradually increasing towards the rear.

[0030] The left and right outer edge flange portions 23 of the dash panel 2 extend rearward from the outer edge of the dash panel 2 in the vehicle width direction, are formed over substantially the entire length of the outer edge in the vehicle width direction, and are joined to the side inner panel 70 and side sill inner 41, which will be described later (see Figure 8).

[0031] The upper end of the main body portion 21 of the dash panel 2 extends forward (not shown), and a barrel-shaped cowl panel 14, as shown in Figure 1, is installed on its upper surface. The cowl panel 14 has the rigidity to support the lower part of the front windshield glass (not shown), which is inclined downward and forward via a filler, from below over substantially its entire width, and extends in the width direction over substantially the entire length of the dash panel 2.

[0032] (Front frame 3) As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the front frame 3 is a vehicle body rigidity member that extends in the front-to-rear direction from the front of the dash panel 2 on both the left and right sides of the power unit room PR located in front of the dash panel 2. The front frame 3 consists of a rear front frame portion 32 that extends forward from the front of the dash panel 2 to the front of the vehicle, and a front front frame portion 31 that extends further forward from the front position of the rear front frame portion 32.

[0033] The rear portion 32 of the front frame is provided as a rearward expansion portion that gradually widens on both the left and right sides and downward relative to the front portion 31 of the front frame as it approaches the rear end, and the rear end portion 32r is joined to the front surface of the dash panel 2.

[0034] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the lower part of the front end of the rear part 32 of the front frame is located on the central axis of the front frame 3, and a vertical wall-shaped rib 32f is formed which can abut the rear end of the front part 31 of the front frame from the front.

[0035] The front part 31 of the front frame comprises a front extension portion 33 and a front main body portion 34 of the front frame, both of which are arranged in parallel on the upper and lower sides and are aligned along the front-rear direction. The front main body portion 34 of the front frame extends linearly along the central axis of the front frame 3 in the longitudinal direction. As shown in Figure 4, the inner frame panel 341 on the inside in the vehicle width direction and the outer frame panel 342 on the outside in the vehicle width direction are joined together to form a closed cross section 34S along the longitudinal direction, which has a so-called monaka (clamshell) shape in the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The front main body portion 34 of the front frame is connected to the rear of the front frame 32 with its rear end abutting against the vertical wall-shaped rib 32f (see Figures 2 and 3) at the lower part of the front end (lower front end) of the rear of the front frame rear portion 32 from the front. As a result, as shown in Figure 2, the front main body portion 34 of the front frame extends forward from the lower front end of the rear of the front frame 32 to the front end of the front frame 3. In other words, the rear of the front frame 32 and the front main body portion 34 of the front frame are arranged in series along the central axis of the front frame 3. Furthermore, the front main body portion 34 of the front frame serves not only as part of the front frame 3, but also as the upper arm support frame (34) provided on the subframe 110, as shown in Figure 2.

[0036] The forward extension portion 33 extends forward from the upper part of the front end (upper front end) of the rear front portion 32 of the front frame to the front end of the front frame 3 and is positioned directly above the front main body portion 34 of the front frame, supporting the front main body portion 34 of the front frame from directly above and supporting the interior side of the suspension housing 65.

[0037] (Rear of front frame 32) As shown in Figure 4, the rear part 32 of the front frame comprises an upper wall portion 32a, a rearward expanding outer portion 32b that widens outward relative to the front part 31 of the front frame towards the rear, a rearward expanding inner portion 32c that widens inward relative to the front part 31 of the front frame towards the rear, and a rearward expanding lower portion 32d that widens downward relative to the front part 31 of the front frame towards the rear.

[0038] (Rear end portion 32r of the rear part 32 of the front frame) The rearward-extended outer portion 32b connects the outer ends in the vehicle width direction of the upper wall portion 32a and the rearward-extended lower portion 32d in the vertical direction, while the rearward-extended inner portion 32c connects the inner ends in the vehicle width direction of the upper wall portion 32a and the rearward-extended lower portion 32d in the vertical direction.

[0039] As a result, as shown in Figure 4, the rear portion 32 of the front frame is surrounded all around in a cross-sectional view in the front-rear direction by the upper wall portion 32a, the rearward-expanding outer portion 32b, the rearward-expanding inner portion 32c, and the rearward-expanding lower portion 32d, and its internal space 32S (see Figures 6 to 8) opens toward the rear, and is formed as a trumpet-shaped box-like hollow body in which both sides and the bottom in the vehicle width direction gradually widen toward the rear.

[0040] As shown in Figures 6 and 9(a),(b), and(c), the rear end portion 32r of the rear front frame 32 is located immediately behind the rear end portion of the front front main body portion 34 of the front front frame 31 and comprises a rear central portion 32er that defines the front surface of the internal space 32S that opens toward the rear, a rear upper edge portion 32ar as the rear end of the upper wall portion 32a, a rear outer edge portion 32br as the rear end of the rear enlarged outer portion 32b (see Figures 5 and 6), a rear inner edge portion 32cr as the rear end of the rear enlarged inner portion 32c, and a rear lower edge portion 32dr as the rear end of the rear enlarged lower portion 32d (see Figures 9(a),(b), and(c)).

[0041] As shown in Figure 6, the rear central portion 32er is positioned forward and spaced apart from the front convex portion 25a of the dash panel 2, separated by a rear opening space. As shown in Figure 5, the rear upper portion 32ar extends in the vehicle width direction across the front convex portion 25a and the left and right shoulder portions 25b of the dash panel 2, and is joined to these front convex portion 25a and left and right shoulder portions 25b. As shown in Figure 7, the rear outer portion 32br and the rear inner portion 32cr, i.e., the left and right rear side portions 32br and 32cr, extend rearward along the left and right shoulder portions 25b of the dash panel 2, and are joined to the left and right shoulder portions 25b.

[0042] As shown in Figure 9(a), the lower rear edge portion 32dr extends in the vehicle width direction across the front convex top portion 25a and the left and right shoulder portions 25b of the dash panel 2. As shown in Figures 9(a) and 9(c), the portion excluding the inner end in the vehicle width direction is joined to the torque box 5 which extends in the vehicle width direction. As shown in Figures 9(a) and 9(b), the inner end in the vehicle width direction (the lower inner portion of the rear end of the front frame 3) is joined to the front end rising portion 122 (front end) of the tunnel side frame 12.

[0043] More specifically, the lower rear end portion 32dr of the rear front portion 32 of the front frame extends along the vehicle width direction at the height of the torque box 5 joined to the lower front portion 21 of the main body portion 21 of the dash panel 2, and as shown in Figure 9(b), the portion excluding the inner end in the vehicle width direction is joined so as to abut against the vertical wall-shaped front portion 5f of the torque box 5 from the front.

[0044] On the other hand, the inner width end of the rear end portion 32dr of the rear end portion 32r of the rear front portion 32 of the front frame is joined to the vertical wall portion 122bf that forms the front surface of the front lower member 122b of the front end rising portion 122 of the tunnel side frame 12, as shown in Figure 9(b), by abutting it from the front.

[0045] This configuration ensures that, during a frontal collision, the lower rear end portion 32dr of the rear section 32 of the front frame is supported by the torque box 5 and the rising front end portion 122 of the tunnel side frame 12, while the frontal impact load from the front frame 3 is transmitted and distributed to the tunnel side frame 12 and the side sill 4.

[0046] The rear portion 32 of the front frame and the forward extension portion 33 of the front portion 31 of the front frame, as described above, are integrally formed as part of the cast object 100. As a result, the front frame 3 is constructed through the cooperation of the front main body portion 34 of the front frame, which is made of steel plate, and the rear portion 32 and forward extension portion 33 of the front frame, which are made of the cast object 100. The cast object 100 described above will be explained later.

[0047] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, a crash can 37, which serves as an impact absorbing member, is attached to the front end of the front main body portion 34 of the front frame 3 via a set plate 35 and a bracket 36, and a bumper beam 38, which has a closed cross-section extending in the vehicle width direction, is connected between the front ends of the left and right pair of crash cans 37.

[0048] (Side sill 4) As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the side sill 4 is provided so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body along the vehicle width end of the floor panel 1, and is positioned outside and below the front frame 3 in the vehicle width direction. The side sill 4 mainly comprises a side sill inner 41, a side sill outer 42, and a side sill rain 43. The side sill outer 42 is located outside the side sill inner 41 in the vehicle width direction and comprises a side sill upper outer 421 provided at the top of the side sill 4 and a side sill lower outer 422 provided at the bottom. Each of these side sill 4 elements 41, 421, 422, and 43 is formed by press-forming a metal panel material.

[0049] Between the side sill lower outer 422 and the side sill inner 41, a side sill lower closed section 422S is formed over the entire widthwise area of ​​the lower part of the side sill 4. Between the side sill upper outer 421, the side sill inner 41, and the side sill lower outer 422, a side sill upper closed section 421S is formed over the entire widthwise area of ​​the upper part of the side sill 4 (see Figure 4). Both the side sill upper closed section 421S and the side sill lower closed section 422S extend over the entire length in the front-rear direction and are formed adjacent to each other on the upper and lower sides of the side sill 4.

[0050] Furthermore, the front portion of the side sill 4 extends forward beyond the front pillar base 6A, which will be described later, and the front end of the side sill 4 is provided with a plate-shaped closing member 50 that closes both the upper opening 421A, in which the upper closed section 421S of the side sill opens forward, and the lower opening 422A, in which the lower closed section 422S of the side sill opens forward (see Figures 1, 4, and 6).

[0051] (Torque Box 5) As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the torque box 5 is a pair of left and right body strength members that are joined to the lower front surface of the main body portion 21 of the dash panel 2 and have a closed cross section 5S extending in the vehicle width direction between them and the lower front surface, and on each side they connect the front end rising portion 122 of the tunnel side frame 12 and the front end of the side sill 4 in the vehicle width direction.

[0052] (Front pillar 6) As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the front pillar 6 extends along the downward-front direction by joining the front pillar outer 6a and the front pillar inner 6b at the side edges corresponding to the left and right sides of the opening for arranging the front windshield glass (not shown), which is inclined downward-front. The front pillar 6 has a closed front pillar section 6S and is a vehicle body strength member that supports the front windshield glass from both the left and right sides via a filler.

[0053] (Hinge Pillar 7) As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 6, the hinge pillar 7 extends vertically on both the left and right sides of the dash panel 2 between the front lower end portion (hereinafter referred to as the "front pillar base") 6A, which forms the base of the front pillar 6, and the side sill 4. The hinge pillar 7 is a vehicle body strength member having a hinge pillar closed section 7S that extends vertically by joining a hinge pillar inner 71 and a hinge pillar outer 72.

[0054] (Cowl Side Rain 60) Incidentally, as shown in Figure 1, a cowl side rain 60 is provided near the front and inner side of the upper part of the hinge pillar 7, extending forward from the top of the hinge pillar 7. The cowl side rain 60 is constructed in a substantially closed cross-section extending in the front-rear direction, consisting of an inner panel (not shown) that forms the inner and bottom walls of the vehicle width, an outer panel 62 (see Figure 5) that forms the outer wall of the vehicle width, and an upper panel 63 (see Figures 1 and 5) that forms the top wall.

[0055] The outer panel 62 of the cowl side rain 60 is joined from the inside of the vehicle width to the side inner panel 70 that extends forward from the main body of the hinge pillar inner 71. In other words, the cowl side rain 60 is indirectly supported by the hinge pillar 7 near the upper part of the hinge pillar 7. The inner panel of the cowl side rain 60 is joined to the left and right ends of the bucket-shaped cowl panel 14 (see Figure 1) located at the upper end of the dash panel 2, and the cowl panel 14 is supported from both its left and right ends.

[0056] (Apron frame 8) As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the apron frame 8 extends in the longitudinal direction at a position that is outward and upward in the vehicle width direction relative to the pair of left and right front frames 3 described above, which extend in the longitudinal direction, and supports the outer side of the suspension housing 65.

[0057] The rear end of the apron frame 8 is joined to the front end of the cowl side rain 60, which is adjacent to the upper part of the hinge pillar 7 on the inward side in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the apron frame 8 extends forward from the cowl side rain 60 near the front pillar base 6A and is joined to the upper part of the hinge pillar 7 from the inward side in the vehicle width direction via the cowl side rain 60.

[0058] More specifically, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the apron frame 8 comprises an apron frame main body portion 81 and an upper plate member 82 located above the apron frame main body portion 81. In other words, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the apron frame 8 is divided into an apron rear region 8R extending forward from the cowl side rain 60 and an apron front region 8F extending further forward from the front end of the apron rear region 8R.

[0059] (Suspension housing 65) As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the suspension housing 65 spans the front frame 3 and the apron frame 8 in the vehicle width direction and is supported collaboratively. The suspension housing 65 is spaced forward of the hinge pillar 7 and the dash panel 2, and the front suspension is housed below it. Furthermore, the top of the suspension housing 65 is provided with a suspension top section 65a, to which a damper (not shown) provided for the front suspension is attached from below.

[0060] (Brace Rain 90) Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the front of the hinge pillar 7 and the lower part of the apron frame 8 are connected by a first bracing rain 91 and a second bracing rain 92, which serve as a bracing rain 90 that connects them in a diagonal bracing manner when viewed from the side of the vehicle. The first brace rain 91 and the second brace rain 92 both extend from the lower part of the apron frame 8 to the front of the hinge pillar 7, sloping backward as they go downward.

[0061] The first diagonal brace rain 91 connects the front upper portion of the pillar outer panel and the lower part of the apron frame 8 in a diagonal brace manner near the cowl side rain 60, and a first diagonal closed section 91S is formed between it and the outer panel 62 of the cowl side rain 60 (see Figures 1 and 5).

[0062] As shown in Figure 2, the second bracing rain 92 is located further inward and forward in the vehicle width direction than the first bracing rain 91, that is, it connects the lower part of the front apron region 8F of the apron frame 8 to the lower end of the hinge pillar 7 (pillar closed section 7S) directly below the apron frame 8.

[0063] More specifically, the second brace rain 92 is integrally formed with an apron support portion 93 that hangs vertically downward from the rear end of the apron frame 8, and a brace body portion 94 that connects the apron support portion 93 and the lower part of the front region 8F of the apron in a brace-like manner.

[0064] The apron support portion 93 hangs down until its lower end is at the height of the side sill 4, and is joined to the front surface of a vertical wall-shaped cover member 50 provided at the front end of the side sill 4, and is joined to the side sill 4 and the hinge pillar 7 via the cover member 50 (see Figure 2).

[0065] The brace body 94 connects the apron support 93 and the apron frame 8 in a diagonal brace configuration. Specifically, the rear end of the brace body 94 is connected to the upper portion of the apron support 93, extending from the upper end to the middle of the vertical direction (see Figure 2). On the other hand, the upper end of the brace body 94 is connected to the lower part of the apron rear region 8R along its entire length in the front-rear direction, and the front end of the brace body 94 is connected to the rear end of the apron front region 8F, which is located in front of the suspension housing 65.

[0066] Here, the apron support portion 93 of the second bracing rain 92 extends vertically directly below the rear end of the apron frame 8, as described above. Between this apron support portion 93 and the rearward extended outer portion 32b (outer part of the vehicle width) of the rear front frame 32, which is the rearward extended portion described above, a connecting portion 18 is integrally formed to connect them in the vehicle width direction (see Figures 7 and 8).

[0067] (Cast object 100) Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, the aforementioned cast object 100 comprises the parts other than the rear front frame 32 and the upper plate member 82 of the apron frame 8, the second bracing rain 92, the suspension housing 65, and the connecting portion 18.

[0068] Furthermore, the cast object 100 includes left and right connecting portions 28 that connect the upper parts of the rearward enlarged inner portions 32c (inner width portions) of the tunnel opening 2A of the dash panel 2, which are connected to the left and right tunnel opening side edges 2Aa of the tunnel opening 2A of the dash panel 2, along the upper edge 2Ab of the tunnel opening 2A of the dash panel 2. The left and right connecting portions 28 are integrally formed with the inner width portions of the left and right rear front frame 32. The cast object 100, also called a Gigacast, is made of aluminum alloy and is integrally molded as a relatively large single part equipped with the above-mentioned elements (modules) provided at the front of the vehicle body.

[0069] To elaborate on the cast object 100, as shown in Figure 9(a), the inner rear edge portions 32cr of the left and right rear front frame portions 32 of the cast object 100, which are the inner parts of the vehicle width, are connected to the inclined surface 27 of the side of the dash. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 4, the left and right connecting portions 28 are arched in shape, convex upward in a front view and convex rearward in a plan view, along the upper edge portion 2Ab of the tunnel opening of the dash panel 2, and their apex (hereinafter referred to as the "arch apex") 28a is connected to the upper edge portion 2Ab of the tunnel opening. The lower surface of the barrel-shaped cowl panel 14 is joined to the upper surface of the left and right connecting section 28. In this way, the cowl panel 14 is supported by the left and right connecting section 28. As shown in Figures 4 and 9(a), the left and right connecting portions 28 are configured with a closed cross section 28S that extends in the vehicle width direction between them and the front surface of the upper edge portion 2Ab of the tunnel opening of the dash panel 2.

[0070] As shown in Figure 9(a), the closed cross section 28S of the arch apex 28a of the left and right connecting section 28 with the dash panel 2 and the closed cross section 11S of the tunnel upper frame 11 extend continuously in the front-rear direction via the dash panel 2. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, the arch apex 28a of the left and right connecting sections 28 is connected to the front end of the tunnel upper frame 11 that extends in the front-rear direction over the upper part of the tunnel section 10.

[0071] More specifically, since the front end of the tunnel upper frame 11 is joined to the front surface of the upper edge 2Ab of the tunnel opening of the dash panel 2 from the inside of the passenger compartment CR, the arch apex 28a of the left and right connection parts 28 and the front end of the tunnel upper frame 11 are connected on both the front and rear sides via the dash panel 2.

[0072] (Dash Rain 9) As shown in Figures 5, 7, and 8, the dash rain 9 is joined to the inner surface of the cabin CR of the dash panel 2, forming a closed cross section 9S between it and the inner surface of the cabin CR. The closed section 9S is configured to extend continuously downward from the rear end of the front frame 3 towards the hinge pillar 7 and the side sill inner 41 directly below it, overlapping with the rear end of the rear enlarged outer portion 32b (outer edge portion) of the rear portion 32 of the box-shaped hollow front frame when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, and overlapping with the side sill inner 41 when viewed from above the vehicle.

[0073] The outer edge flange portion (not shown) of the dash rain 9 in the vehicle width direction is joined to the hinge pillar inner 71 and the side sill inner 41 directly below it via the outer edge flange portion 23 of the dash panel 2. As a result, the closed section 9S of the dash rain 9 is connected in the vehicle width direction to the side sill closed sections 421S, 422S and the hinge pillar closed section 7S above them.

[0074] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the vehicle body structure of this embodiment comprises a dash panel 2 that separates the passenger compartment CR and the power unit room PR (front space) of the passenger compartment CR in the front-rear direction, a pair of left and right front frames 3 that extend in the front direction from the rear ends connected to the front of the dash panel 2 on both the left and right sides of the power unit room PR, a floor panel 1 having a tunnel section 10 that bulges upward in the center in the vehicle width direction and on the outside in the vehicle width direction relative to the tunnel section 10, on which the left and right front seats, consisting of the driver's seat and passenger seat, are placed, and a pair of left and right side sills 4 that extend in the front-rear direction and are connected to the outer ends of the floor panel 1.

[0075] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 4 to 7, the rear portion 32 of the front frame is a rearward-opening box-shaped hollow body that gradually widens towards the rear, and the dash panel 2 has a pair of left and right forward-convex portions 25 that, in plan view, form a forward-convex surface (vertical wall surface) (see dashed line 2L in Figures 5 to 7) at the front portion that faces each of the left and right front seats in front of them. Each of these forward-convex portions 25 has a forward-convex top portion 25a that coincides with the axis of the front frame 3 in the vehicle width direction, and shoulder portions 25b on the inner and outer sides in the vehicle width direction that slope while the distance between them in the vehicle width direction widens towards the rear from the forward-convex top portion 25a. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the rear end portion 32r of the rear front frame 32 is provided with a rear central portion 32er positioned forward and spaced apart from the front convex portion 25a, and a rear inner edge portion 32cr and a rear outer edge portion 32br, which are rear side edges on the inner and outer sides in the vehicle width direction, extending rearward from both the inner and outer sides of the rear central portion 32er along the inner and outer shoulder portions 25b on each side. The inner and outer rear outer edge portions 32br and 32cr are connected to the left and right shoulder portions 25b of the dash panel 2.

[0076] This configuration makes it possible to reduce the angle of inclination in the vehicle width direction of the load transmission path that extends from the rear end 32r of the rear front frame 32, which extends in the front-rear direction, along the dash panel 2 that extends in the vehicle width direction, and also reduces the distance in the vehicle width direction from the input point of the front impact load that is input from the rear end 32r of the rear front frame 32 to the dash panel 2 to the tunnel section 10 and the side sill 4.

[0077] More specifically, with the above configuration, the forward impact load flowing from the front frame 3 to the rear can be gently transferred from the rear end 32r of the rear portion 32 of the front frame, which is positioned at a distance forward from the dash panel 2 (front convex portion 25a), along the inner and outer rear end outer edges 32br, 32cr connected to the dash panel 2 (shoulder portions 25b on each side in the vehicle width direction), to the tunnel portions 10 and side sills 4 on each side in the vehicle width direction relative to the front frame 3. Therefore, the angle of inclination of the load transfer path along the dash panel 2, which extends in the vehicle width direction and vertical direction from the rear end 32r of the rear portion 32 of the front frame, which extends in the longitudinal direction, can be reduced.

[0078] Furthermore, with this configuration, the rear end portion 32r of the rear part 32 of the front frame is positioned such that the central rear end portion 32er is spaced forward relative to the dash panel 2 (front convex portion 25a), while the left and right outer rear end portions 32br and 32cr are connected to the dash panel 2 (shoulder portions 25b on the inner and outer sides in the vehicle width direction). As a result, the input point for the forward impact load from the front frame 3 to the dash panel 2 is the shoulder portions 25b, which are located on both the inner and outer sides in the vehicle width direction, rather than the front convex portion 25a of the dash panel 2.

[0079] Therefore, the distance in the vehicle width direction from the input point for the front impact load to the dash panel 2 to the tunnel section 10 and the side sill 4 can be reduced, and load transmission members such as the torque box 5 that extends in the vehicle width direction at the lower part of the dash panel 2 can be miniaturized.

[0080] Furthermore, the dashboard panel 2 has a pair of forward-convex portions 25 on the left and right sides, each facing the front of the left and right front seats, forming a forward-convex surface in plan view. Both of these forward-convex portions 25 gradually widen towards the rear. The wider rear portion of the forward-convex portion 25 corresponds to the area where the feet of occupants seated in the left and right front seats are placed, as shown by the dashed lines Ft in Figure 5. This makes it easier to secure space in the vehicle width direction for occupants' feet by avoiding, for example, vehicle body components such as wheel wells or auxiliary equipment protruding from both sides into the space where occupants' feet are placed.

[0081] As shown in Figures 6 to 8, in this embodiment of the invention, the dash panel 2 is provided with a dash rain 9 on the inner surface of the passenger compartment CR, forming a closed section 9S between itself and the inner surface. The closed section 9S of the dash rain overlaps with the rear outer edge 32br (the outer edge at the rear end) of the rear end of the front frame 32, which is a box-shaped hollow body with an open rear, when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, and overlaps with the side sill inner 41 when viewed from above the vehicle. It extends continuously downward from the rear end 32r of the front frame 3 towards the side sill inner 41, with the outer edge in the vehicle width direction being the outer edge.

[0082] This configuration allows the load of a frontal impact from the front frame 3 to the side sill 4 to be transmitted not only through the rear of the front frame 32 joined to the dash panel 2, but also through the dash rain 9. This widens the load transmission path from the dash panel 2 to the side sill 4 (side sill inner 41), thereby improving load transmission efficiency.

[0083] In the correspondence between the structure of this invention and the embodiments described above, The forward space of this invention corresponds to the power unit room PR, and similarly, The forward space is designed to accommodate the power unit room PR. The rear end side portion corresponds to the rear end inner portion 32cr and the rear end outer portion 32br, This invention is not limited to the configuration of the embodiments described above, and many other embodiments can be obtained. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1…Floor panel 2…Dash panel 3…Front frame 4... Side sill 9... Dash Rain 9S...Dash Rain Closed Section 10...Tunnel section 25... Front convex part 25a...front convex top 25b…Shoulder part 32…Rear of the front frame 32r... Rear end of the front frame (rear of the front frame) 32cr…Inner edge of rear end 32br…Rear edge outer part 32er...Center of rear end CR…Car interior PR...Power Unit Room

Claims

1. A dashboard panel that separates the passenger compartment from the space in front of the passenger compartment in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, A pair of left and right front frames extending forward from their rear ends, which are connected to the front of the dash panel on both the left and right sides of the aforementioned front space, A floor panel having a tunnel section whose front end is connected to the rear end of the dash panel and which bulges upward in the center in the vehicle width direction, on which the left and right front seats, consisting of the driver's seat and passenger seat, are mounted on the outside in the vehicle width direction relative to the tunnel section, A vehicle body structure comprising a pair of left and right side sills extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and connected to the outer end of the floor panel, The rear part of the front frame is a box-shaped hollow body that is open to the rear and gradually widens towards the rear. The aforementioned dashboard panel has a pair of forward-convex portions on the left and right sides, each of which faces the front portion in front of the left and right front seats, forming a forward-convex surface in a plan view. The aforementioned forward-protruding portion comprises a forward-protruding top portion that coincides with the axis of the front frame in the vehicle width direction, and left and right shoulder portions that slope while increasing in distance from the forward-protruding top portion towards the rear in the vehicle width direction. The rear end of the rear of the front frame comprises a rear end central portion positioned forward and spaced apart from the front convex portion, and left and right rear end side portions extending rearward from both the left and right sides of the rear end central portion along the left and right shoulder portions. The left and right rear end sides are connected to the left and right shoulder portions of the dash panel. The body structure of a vehicle.

2. The interior side of the aforementioned dashboard panel is provided with a dashboard rain that forms a closed cross-section between it and the interior side of the dashboard, The side sill has a closed cross-sectional space extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle between the side sill inner and the side sill outer. The closed section of the dash rain is configured to overlap with the outer edge of the rear end of the rear of the front frame, which is a box-shaped hollow body, when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, and to overlap with the side sill inner when viewed from the side of the vehicle, extending continuously downward from the outer edge of the rear of the front frame towards the side sill inner in the direction of the vehicle width. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1.

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