Vehicle side structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle side structure capable of preventing a front pillar or a roof side rail from being bent at the time of a frontal collision, with a simple structure.SOLUTION: A vehicle side structure 100 comprises: a front pillar inner panel 114 that constitutes a vehicle inside surface of a front pillar 104 of a vehicle 102; and a roof side inner panel 116 that constitutes a vehicle inside surface of a roof side rail 106 extended in a vehicle longitudinal direction along a side edge 110 of a vehicle roof 108. A rigidity or a mechanical strength of the roof side inner panel against frontal collision is smaller than that of the front pillar inner panel. The front pillar inner panel is overlapped with an outside in a vehicle width direction of the roof side inner panel and joined.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] The roof side rails and front pillars arranged on the sides of the roof of a vehicle such as an automobile constitute the sides of the vehicle. Patent Document 1 describes a front pillar in which a side member outer panel and a side member inner panel are joined to form a closed cross section.

[0003] Within the closed cross section of the front pillar in Patent Document 1, a front pillar reinforcement is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the front pillar on the lower side of the front pillar, and a rail reinforcement is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the front pillar on the upper side of the front pillar. Furthermore, the front pillar reinforcement and the rail reinforcement are formed so that the lower end face of the front pillar reinforcement and the lower end face of the rail reinforcement are disposed opposite each other and further intersect with each other.

[0004] Patent Document 1 states that when a collision load acts on the front pillar along the longitudinal direction of the front pillar, the lower end face of the front pillar reinforcement and the lower end face of the rail reinforcement intersect, and the end faces collide with each other, suppressing the progression of the bending deformation of the front pillar. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5857921 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in the front pillar of Patent Document 1, in order to prevent the progression of folding deformation during a frontal collision, the lower end face of the front pillar reinforcement and the lower end face of the rail reinforcement need to be arranged opposite each other and also formed so as to intersect, which makes the configuration complicated.

[0007] In view of the above problems, the present invention has an object to provide a vehicle side structure that can prevent the front pillar or roof side rail from breaking during a frontal collision with a simple configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, a typical configuration of the present invention comprises a front pillar inner panel that forms the interior surface of a vehicle's front pillar, and a roof side inner panel that forms the interior surface of a roof side rail that extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle along the side edge of the vehicle roof, wherein the rigidity or mechanical strength of the roof side inner panel against a frontal collision is smaller than that of the front pillar inner panel, and the front pillar inner panel is joined to the outer side of the roof side inner panel in the vehicle width direction by overlapping it. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle side structure that can prevent the front pillar or roof side rail from breaking during a frontal collision with a simple configuration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle side structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a main part of the vehicle side structure shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] 2(a) is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle side structure taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the vehicle side structure in FIG. 2(a) with the various members omitted. [Diagram 5]5 is a diagram showing the vehicle side structure of FIG. 4 with the various members omitted. [Figure 6] 3A is a diagram showing a modified example of the vehicle side structure of FIG. 2(a). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] A typical configuration of one embodiment of the present invention comprises a front pillar inner panel that forms the interior surface of the vehicle's front pillar, and a roof side inner panel that forms the interior surface of a roof side rail that extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle along the side edge of the vehicle roof, characterized in that the rigidity or mechanical strength of the roof side inner panel against a frontal collision is smaller than that of the front pillar inner panel, and the front pillar inner panel is overlapped and joined to the outer side of the roof side inner panel in the vehicle width direction.

[0012] Here, as an example, it is assumed that the panel constituting the outer surface of the front pillar and the panel constituting the outer surface of the roof side rail are the same panel (e.g., a side body outer panel). In the above configuration, the front pillar inner panel is positioned outboard of the roof side inner panel in the vehicle width direction and overlaps and is joined to it. Therefore, the roof side inner panel is positioned inboard of the front pillar inner panel in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the cross-sectional area of ​​the roof side rail including the roof side inner panel is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the front pillar including the front pillar inner panel.

[0013] For this reason, although the roof side inner panel has less rigidity or mechanical strength against a frontal collision than the front pillar inner panel, by being located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the front pillar inner panel, its rigidity or mechanical strength against a frontal collision is improved compared to when it is located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, with the above configuration, with the simple configuration in which the front pillar inner panel is located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the roof side inner panel, it is possible to prevent the roof side inner panel from becoming a starting point for breaking of the front pillar or roof side rail in a frontal collision, and it is possible to efficiently transmit the load in the event of a frontal collision and improve the frontal collision performance.

[0014] The roof side inner panel is preferably formed with a reinforcing bead extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the reinforcing bead is preferably formed within a region of the roof side inner panel that overlaps with the front pillar inner panel.

[0015] In this way, since the reinforcing bead is formed on the roof side inner panel, the rigidity or mechanical strength of the roof side inner panel against a frontal collision is further improved. Here, during a frontal collision, a load from the front is transmitted from the front pillar inner panel to the roof side inner panel. In the above configuration, since the reinforcing bead is formed in the area where the front pillar inner panel and the roof side inner panel overlap, the load transmitted to this area can be efficiently transmitted to the reinforcing bead. Furthermore, since the reinforcing bead extends in the vehicle front-rear direction, the load from the front during a frontal collision can be efficiently transmitted rearward along the reinforcing bead. Therefore, in the above configuration, by efficiently transmitting the load during a frontal collision, stress concentration can be avoided and the occurrence of breakage of the front pillar or roof side rail can be prevented.

[0016] The above-mentioned roof side inner panel is formed with a reinforcing bead extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and a protrusion is formed at the rear end of the front pillar inner panel that protrudes further rearward than the surrounding area, and the reinforcing bead is preferably formed within a range of the roof side inner panel that does not overlap with the front pillar inner panel and in which the protrusion of the front pillar inner panel extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

[0017] In this way, since the reinforcing bead is formed on the roof side inner panel, the rigidity or mechanical strength of the roof side inner panel against a frontal collision is further improved. In addition, in the above-mentioned configuration, the reinforcing bead is formed in the roof side inner panel within a range in which the protruding portion of the front pillar inner panel extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction, although the reinforcing bead does not overlap with the front pillar inner panel. Therefore, the load transmitted within the above-mentioned range of the roof side inner panel can be efficiently transmitted to the reinforcing bead. Furthermore, since the reinforcing bead extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the load from the front during a frontal collision can be efficiently transmitted rearward along the reinforcing bead. Therefore, in the above-mentioned configuration, by efficiently transmitting the load during a frontal collision, stress concentration can be avoided, and the occurrence of breakage of the front pillar or roof side rail can be prevented.

[0018] Furthermore, since a protrusion is formed at the rear end of the front pillar inner panel, even if the front pillar bends upward during a frontal collision and the lower side is subjected to a compressive load, buckling of the front pillar can be prevented by joining this protrusion to the roof side inner panel.

[0019] The above vehicle side structure further includes a side body outer panel that constitutes the exterior surface of the front pillar and the exterior surface of the roof side rail, and the roof side inner panel further includes first and second mounting seats formed on the upper and rear sides of the reinforcing bead, for mounting a bracket supporting an assistant grip that can be grasped by an occupant when getting in and out of the vehicle, and the protruding portion of the front pillar inner panel is positioned below the reinforcing bead, so that the front pillar inner panel, roof side inner panel and side body outer panel are overlapped in front of and below the reinforcing bead.

[0020] In this way, the first and second mounting surfaces of the roof side inner panel are high-rigidity areas for mounting the bracket, and are formed above and behind the reinforcing bead. The front pillar inner panel, the roof side inner panel, and the side body outer panel are overlapped in front of and below the reinforcing bead, increasing their rigidity. In particular, below the reinforcing bead, these three panels are overlapped and welded to increase their rigidity. In other words, in the above configuration, by forming the reinforcing bead in an area of ​​the roof side inner panel that is surrounded by areas of high rigidity but has locally low rigidity, the rigidity of this area can be increased, and the front pillar or roof side rail can be more efficiently prevented from breaking during a frontal collision. EXAMPLES

[0021] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific values ​​shown in the embodiments are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are given the same reference numerals to avoid repeated explanations, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle side structure 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1(a) is a diagram showing a vehicle 102 to which the vehicle side structure 100 is applied. FIG. 1(b) is a diagram showing the vehicle side structure 100 of FIG. 1(a) as viewed from the inside of the vehicle. In each of the following drawings, the front-rear direction of the vehicle is illustrated by arrows Front and Back, the left and right in the vehicle width direction are illustrated by arrows Left and Right, and the up-down direction of the vehicle is illustrated by arrows Up and Down. In the following description, the right side of the vehicle 102 is illustrated, but this embodiment may be applied to either the left or right side of the vehicle 102.

[0023] The vehicle side structure 100 includes a front pillar 104 and a roof side rail 106 shown in Fig. 1(a). The roof side rail 106 extends in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle along a side edge 110 (see Fig. 1(b)) of a roof 108 of the vehicle 102, and is further joined to a center pillar 112. The center pillar 112 extends in the up-down direction in the center of the vehicle side, and is a member that supports the roof 108 of the vehicle 102.

[0024] 1(b), the front pillar 104 has a front pillar inner panel 114 that forms the surface facing the vehicle interior side. The roof side rail 106 has a roof side inner panel 116 that forms the surface facing the vehicle interior side. Therefore, in the vehicle side structure 100, a load from the front is transmitted from the front pillar inner panel 114 to the roof side inner panel 116 during a frontal collision.

[0025] Furthermore, the rigidity or mechanical strength of the roof side inner panel 116 against a frontal collision is set to be smaller than that of the front pillar inner panel 114. Therefore, the vehicle side structure 100 employs a configuration that prevents the roof side inner panel 116 from becoming a starting point for breaking of the front pillar 104 or roof side rail 106 during a frontal collision, thereby preventing breakage from occurring during a frontal collision.

[0026] Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the vehicle side structure 100 in Fig. 1(b). Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the vehicle side structure 100 in Fig. 2(a). Fig. 3(a) shows the cross-section taken along line AA of the vehicle side structure 100 as viewed obliquely from the front.

[0027] In the vehicle side structure 100, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the roof side inner panel 116 is located on the inner side (left side) of the front pillar inner panel 114 in the vehicle width direction, and the front pillar inner panel 114 overlaps the outer side (right side) of the roof side inner panel 116 in the vehicle width direction.

[0028] 3(a), the side body outer panel 118 constitutes the exterior surface of the front pillar 104 and the exterior surface of the roof side rail 106.

[0029] For this reason, the front pillar 104 forms a closed cross section by joining the front pillar inner panel 114 and the side body outer panel 118 as shown in Fig. 3(b). The front pillar upper reinforcement 120 is disposed between the front pillar inner panel 114 and the side body outer panel 118, i.e., within the closed cross section, to reinforce the front pillar 104. In addition, the roof side rail 106 forms a closed cross section by joining the roof side inner panel 116 and the side body outer panel 118 as shown in Fig. 3(b).

[0030] The roof side inner panel 116 is located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the front pillar inner panel 114. Therefore, the cross-sectional area of ​​the roof side rail 106 including the roof side inner panel 116 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the front pillar 104 including the front pillar inner panel 114.

[0031] As a result, although the roof side inner panel 116 has less rigidity or mechanical strength against a frontal collision than the front pillar inner panel 114, by being positioned more inward in the vehicle width direction than the front pillar inner panel 114, the rigidity or mechanical strength against a frontal collision is improved compared to when it is positioned more outward in the vehicle width direction.

[0032] Therefore, according to the vehicle side structure 100, with a simple configuration in which the front pillar inner panel 114 is positioned outside the roof side inner panel 116 in the vehicle width direction, it is possible to prevent the roof side inner panel 116 from becoming the starting point for breaking of the front pillar 104 or roof side rail 106 during a frontal collision, and it is possible to efficiently transmit load during a frontal collision, thereby improving frontal collision performance.

[0033] Here, we will explain the arrangement of each member in the vehicle side structure 100. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the vehicle side structure 100 in Fig. 2(a) with each member omitted. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the vehicle side structure 100 in Fig. 4 with each member omitted.

[0034] Fig. 4(a) is a diagram in which the roof side inner panel 116 is omitted from the vehicle side structure 100 in Fig. 2(a). In the vehicle side structure 100, in addition to the front pillar inner panel 114 and the front pillar upper reinforcement 120 (see Fig. 3), a roof side reinforcement 122 is arranged on the outer side of the roof side inner panel 116 in the vehicle width direction as shown in Fig. 4(a). Also, a protruding portion 126 that protrudes further rearward than the surrounding area is formed at the rear end 124 of the front pillar inner panel 114.

[0035] Fig. 4(b) is a diagram in which the front pillar inner panel 114 is omitted from the vehicle side structure 100 in Fig. 4(a). In the vehicle side structure 100, a front pillar upper reinforcement 120 is disposed on the outer side of the front pillar inner panel 114 in the vehicle width direction.

[0036] Fig. 5(a) is a diagram in which the front pillar upper reinforcement member 120 is omitted from the vehicle side structure 100 in Fig. 4(b). In the vehicle side structure 100, a side body outer panel 118 (see Fig. 3) is disposed on the outer side of the front pillar upper reinforcement member 120 in the vehicle width direction.

[0037] Fig. 5(b) is a diagram in which the roof side reinforcement 122 is omitted from the vehicle side structure 100 in Fig. 5(a). In the vehicle side structure 100, a side body outer panel 118 that constitutes the vehicle exterior surface of the front pillar 104 and the vehicle exterior surface of the roof side rail 106 is disposed on the outer side of the roof side reinforcement 122 in the vehicle width direction.

[0038] 2(a), a reinforcing bead 128 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction is formed on the roof side inner panel 116. By forming the reinforcing bead 128 in this way, the rigidity or mechanical strength of the roof side inner panel 116 against a frontal collision is further improved. Furthermore, in the vehicle side structure 100, since the reinforcing bead 128 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction, a load from the front during a frontal collision can be efficiently transmitted rearward along the reinforcing bead 128.

[0039] Further, a protruding portion 126 (see FIG. 4(a)) extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction is formed below a rear end 124 of the front pillar inner panel 114, which is indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 2(a). The reinforcing bead 128 is formed in the roof side inner panel 116 within a range in which the protruding portion 126 of the front pillar inner panel 114 extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction by a predetermined dimension L, although the reinforcing bead 128 does not overlap with the front pillar inner panel 114.

[0040] Therefore, in the vehicle side structure 100, the load transmitted within the range of the predetermined dimension L of the roof side inner panel 116 can be efficiently transmitted to the reinforcing bead 128. Therefore, in the vehicle side structure 100, by efficiently transmitting the load during a frontal collision, it is possible to avoid stress concentration and prevent the front pillar 104 or roof side rail 106 from breaking.

[0041] Furthermore, in the vehicle side structure 100, a protrusion 126 is formed at the rear end 124 of the front pillar inner panel 114. Therefore, even if the front pillar 104 bends upward during a frontal collision and the lower side receives a compressive load, by joining this protrusion 126 to the roof side inner panel 116, it is possible to prevent the front pillar 104 from buckling.

[0042] The roof side inner panel 116 is further formed with mounting seats 130, 132, and 134 shown in Fig. 2(a). A bracket 136 is attached to these mounting seats 130, 132, and 134 as shown in Fig. 2(b). The bracket 136 supports an assistant grip (not shown) that can be held by an occupant when getting in and out of the vehicle.

[0043] The mounting seat surface 130 is a first mounting seat surface formed on the upper side of the reinforcing bead 128, and a leg 138 of a bracket 136 shown in Fig. 2(b) is attached to the mounting seat surface 132. The mounting seat surface 132 is a second mounting seat surface formed on the rear side of the reinforcing bead 128, and a leg 140 of the bracket 136 is attached to the mounting seat surface 134. The mounting seat surface 134 is formed on the rear side of the mounting seat surface 132, and a leg 142 of the bracket 136 is attached to the mounting seat surface 134. The reinforcing bead 128 and the mounting seat surfaces 130, 132, 134 are portions that protrude toward the vehicle interior as shown in Fig. 3(a) and have high rigidity.

[0044] 2(a), the protruding portion 126 of the front pillar inner panel 114 is located below the reinforcing bead 128. As a result, the rear end 124 of the front pillar inner panel 114, the roof side inner panel 116, and the side body outer panel 118 shown in FIG. 3 are overlapped in front of and below the reinforcing bead 128, thereby increasing rigidity. In particular, below the reinforcing bead 128, the lower portion 144 of the roof side inner panel 116 is overlapped on the rear end 124 of the front pillar inner panel 114 and the side body outer panel 118 and further welded to increase rigidity.

[0045] In this way, the reinforcing bead 128 is formed in an area of ​​the roof side inner panel 116 that is surrounded by areas of high rigidity but has locally low rigidity, i.e., the area overlapping the rear end 124 of the front pillar inner panel 114 and the area surrounded by the mounting seats 130, 132.

[0046] As a result, in the vehicle side structure 100, the rigidity of the areas of the roof side inner panel 116 that have locally low rigidity is increased by the reinforcing bead 128, making it possible to more efficiently prevent the front pillar 104 or roof side rail 106 from breaking in the event of a frontal collision.

[0047] In addition, in the vehicle side structure 100, by positioning the front pillar inner panel 114 on the vehicle width outer side of the roof side inner panel 116, the reinforcing bead 128 can be extended toward the front of the vehicle, thereby further increasing the rigidity of the roof side inner panel 116.

[0048] 2(a), the front pillar inner panel 114 is provided with a joggle 146. The joggle 146 is a step provided in the front pillar inner panel 114 located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction by the thickness of the roof side inner panel 116 located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. By providing the step, i.e., the joggle 146, in the front pillar inner panel 114, the surfaces of the two panels 114, 116 can be made flat when the front pillar inner panel 114 and the roof side inner panel 116 are joined together.

[0049] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a modified example of the vehicle side structure 100 in Fig. 2(a). The modified vehicle side structure 100A shown in Fig. 6(a) differs from the vehicle side structure 100 in that a protruding portion 126A formed on a rear end 124A of a front pillar inner panel 114A is extended further toward the upper side of the vehicle than the protruding portion 126 described above.

[0050] In the vehicle side structure 100A, as shown in Fig. 6(a), a reinforcing bead 128 is formed in an area of ​​the roof side inner panel 116 that overlaps with the protruding portion 126A of the front pillar inner panel 114A. Therefore, in the vehicle side structure 100A, the load during a frontal collision that is transmitted to the area where the protruding portion 126A of the front pillar inner panel 114A and the roof side inner panel 116 overlap is efficiently transmitted to the reinforcing bead 128, thereby preventing stress concentration and preventing the front pillar 104 or roof side rail 106 from breaking.

[0051] A modified vehicle side structure 100B shown in FIG. 6(b) differs from the vehicle side structure 100 in that a rear end 124B of a front pillar inner panel 114B extends toward the rear of the vehicle and the above-mentioned protrusion 126 is not formed.

[0052] In the vehicle side structure 100B, as shown in Fig. 6(b), a reinforcing bead 128 is formed in an area of ​​the roof side inner panel 116 that overlaps with the rear end 124B of the front pillar inner panel 114B. Therefore, in the vehicle side structure 100B, the load during a frontal collision that is transmitted to the area where the rear end 124B of the front pillar inner panel 114B and the roof side inner panel 116 overlap is efficiently transmitted to the reinforcing bead 128, thereby preventing stress concentration and preventing the front pillar 104 or roof side rail 106 from breaking.

[0053] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can think of various modifications or alterations within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0054] The present invention can be used in a vehicle side structure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 100, 100A, 100B...vehicle side structure, 102...vehicle, 104...front pillar, 106...roof side rail, 108...roof, 110...side edge of roof, 112...center pillar, 114, 114A, 114B...front pillar inner panel, 116...roof side inner panel, 118...side body outer panel, 120...front pillar upper reinforcement, 122...roof side reinforcement, 124, 124A, 124B...rear end of front pillar inner panel, 126, 126A...protrusion, 128...reinforcing bead, 130, 132, 134...mounting seat, 136...bracket, 138, 140, 142...leg of bracket, 144...lower part of roof side inner panel, 146...joggle

Claims

1. A front pillar inner panel that constitutes an interior surface of a front pillar of a vehicle; a roof side inner panel that constitutes an interior surface of a roof side rail that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction along a side edge of the roof of the vehicle, The rigidity or mechanical strength of the roof side inner panel against a frontal collision is smaller than that of the front pillar inner panel, The front pillar inner panel is overlapped and joined to the outer side of the roof side inner panel in the vehicle width direction, The roof side inner panel is formed with a reinforcing bead extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, The vehicle side structure, wherein the reinforcing bead is formed within a region of the roof side inner panel that overlaps with the front pillar inner panel.

2. A front pillar inner panel that constitutes an interior surface of a front pillar of a vehicle; a roof side inner panel that constitutes an interior surface of a roof side rail that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction along a side edge of the roof of the vehicle, The rigidity or mechanical strength of the roof side inner panel against a frontal collision is smaller than that of the front pillar inner panel, The front pillar inner panel is overlapped and joined to the outer side of the roof side inner panel in the vehicle width direction, The roof side inner panel is formed with a reinforcing bead extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, A protruding portion is formed at a rear end of the front pillar inner panel, the protruding portion protruding toward the rear of the vehicle from the surrounding area, A vehicle side structure characterized in that the reinforcing bead is formed within a range of the roof side inner panel that does not overlap with the front pillar inner panel and in which a protruding portion of the front pillar inner panel extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle side structure further includes a side body outer panel that constitutes a vehicle exterior surface of the front pillar and a vehicle exterior surface of the roof side rail, The roof side inner panel further includes first and second mounting seats on the upper and rear sides of the reinforcing bead, to which a bracket for supporting an assistant grip that an occupant can grasp when getting in and out of the vehicle is attached, 3. The vehicle side structure according to claim 2, wherein a protruding portion of the front pillar inner panel is located below the reinforcing bead, whereby the front pillar inner panel, the roof side inner panel and the side body outer panel are overlapped in front of and below the reinforcing bead.

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