Body structure

Abstract

To obtain a vehicle body structure which can secure rigidity against a load applied in a vehicle width direction at a border part between a front pillar upper and a front pillar lower while enabling release of a connection state between the front pillar upper and the front pillar lower.SOLUTION: A pillar reinforcement part 40 is provided at a front pillar upper 30 forming a vehicle upper portion of a front pillar 16 of a vehicle body 12. The pillar reinforcement part 40 is partially inserted into a front pillar lower 28.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses an invention related to an automobile body. In this automobile body, the lower end of a front pillar upper is fastened to a front pillar lower with a bolt, and the connection between the front pillar upper and the front pillar lower can be released. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6150365 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the lower end of the front pillar upper is connected to the upper end of the front pillar lower while being placed on top of the front pillar lower, which makes it difficult to ensure rigidity against loads in the vehicle width direction at the boundary between the front pillar upper and front pillar lower.

[0005] Taking the above facts into consideration, the present invention aims to obtain a vehicle body structure that allows the connection between the front pillar upper and the front pillar lower to be released, while ensuring rigidity against loads in the vehicle width direction at the boundary between the front pillar upper and the front pillar lower. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle body structure according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1 constitutes a lower portion of a front pillar that constitutes a part of the vehicle front side of the vehicle body, and has a closed cross section when viewed from the vertical direction of the vehicle. At the same time, the floor is welded to a rocker that forms the outer side of the floor in the vehicle width direction.The vehicle has a front pillar lower, a front pillar upper that is arranged on the vehicle upper side of the front pillar lower and constitutes the vehicle upper side portion of the front pillar, and a pillar reinforcement part that is provided relative to the front pillar upper and has a portion that can be inserted into the front pillar lower and is removably attached to the front pillar lower with an attachment member, wherein the pillar reinforcement part has a constant cross-sectional shape when viewed from the vehicle vertical direction and extends in the vehicle vertical direction, and the length of the part that is inserted into the front pillar lower in the vehicle vertical direction is longer than the length of the part that is exposed from the front pillar in the vehicle vertical direction.

[0007] According to the present invention described in claim 1, the lower portion of the front pillar, which constitutes part of the front side of the vehicle body, is made up of a front pillar lower, and this front pillar lower has a closed cross section when viewed from the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0008] Furthermore, a front pillar upper that constitutes the upper portion of the front pillar is disposed on the vehicle upper side of the front pillar lower.

[0009] However, when the lower end of the front pillar upper is connected while being placed on the upper end of the front pillar lower, it is possible that the rigidity at the boundary between the front pillar upper and the front pillar lower against loads in the vehicle width direction may be insufficient.

[0010] In the present invention, the front pillar upper is provided with a pillar reinforcing portion, and a portion of the pillar reinforcing portion is inserted into the front pillar lower.

[0011] Therefore, in the present invention, when a load in the vehicle width direction is input to the boundary between the front pillar upper and the front pillar lower in the front pillar, the load is supported by the pillar reinforcement portion and a portion of the front pillar lower, thereby ensuring the bending rigidity of the front pillar against the load.

[0012] Furthermore, the pillar reinforcing portion is removably attached to the front pillar lower section by the attachment member, and in the present invention, the front pillar upper section can be removed from the front pillar lower section.

[0013] The vehicle body structure of the present invention described in claim 2 is the invention described in claim 1, further comprising a support part that is arranged inside the pillar reinforcement part and has a through-hole that extends in the vehicle width direction, and the mounting member is inserted into the through-hole and connects the front pillar lower and the support part in the vehicle width direction.

[0014] According to the present invention as set forth in claim 2, a support part having a through-hole extending in the vehicle width direction is disposed inside the pillar reinforcement part, and the mounting member is inserted through the through-hole of the support part and connects the front pillar lower and the pillar reinforcement part in the vehicle width direction.

[0015] Therefore, in the present invention, the connection points between the pillar reinforcement portion and the front pillar lower are concentrated in the vehicle width direction, and the pillar reinforcement portion and the front pillar lower can be connected without having to perform the connection work between the pillar reinforcement portion and the front pillar lower on both the outside and inside of the vehicle width direction.

[0016] Furthermore, the pillar reinforcing portion is reinforced by the support portion, and deformation of the pillar reinforcing portion due to a load in the vehicle width direction can be suppressed.

[0017] The vehicle body structure according to the present invention described in claim 3 is the invention described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the end of the instrument panel reinforcement in the vehicle width direction is fixed to the vehicle body by the mounting member that connects the front pillar upper and the front pillar lower.

[0018] According to the present invention as set forth in claim 3, the end portion of the instrument panel reinforcement in the vehicle width direction is fixed to the vehicle body by the mounting member used to connect the front pillar upper and the front pillar lower.

[0019] Therefore, in the present invention, the connection between the upper front pillar and the lower front pillar and the attachment of the instrument panel reinforcement to the vehicle body can be performed using the same attachment member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] As described above, the vehicle body structure of the present invention described in claim 1 has the excellent effect of being able to release the connection between the front pillar upper and the front pillar lower while ensuring rigidity against loads in the vehicle width direction at the boundary between the front pillar upper and the front pillar lower.

[0021] The vehicle body structure of the present invention described in claim 2 has the excellent effect of reducing the number of steps required to assemble the vehicle body while ensuring greater rigidity against loads in the vehicle width direction at the boundary between the front pillar upper and the front pillar lower.

[0022] The vehicle body structure according to the present invention as set forth in claim 3 has the excellent effect of reducing the number of vehicle body parts and reducing the number of steps required for assembling the vehicle body. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view that schematically shows a structure around a front pillar in a vehicle body to which the vehicle body structure according to the first embodiment is applied. [Figure 2] 1 is an enlarged side view that schematically shows the structure of the periphery of a connection portion between a front pillar lower and a front pillar upper in a vehicle body to which the vehicle body structure according to the first embodiment is applied. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view showing a state cut along line 3-3 in FIG. 2) seen from above the vehicle, schematically showing the structure around the connection between the front pillar lower and the front pillar upper in a vehicle body to which the vehicle body structure relating to the first embodiment is applied. [Figure 4] 1 is a side view showing the configuration of a vehicle body to which a vehicle body structure according to a first embodiment is applied. [Figure 5]FIG. 10 is a side view that schematically shows the structure around a front pillar in a vehicle body to which a vehicle body structure according to a second embodiment is applied. [Figure 6] 10 is an enlarged side view schematically showing the structure of the periphery of a connection portion between a lower front pillar and an upper front pillar in a vehicle body to which a vehicle body structure relating to a second embodiment is applied. FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view seen from above the vehicle (a cross-sectional view showing the state cut along line 7-7 in FIG. 6) schematically showing the structure around the connection between the front pillar lower and the front pillar upper in a vehicle body to which the vehicle body structure relating to the second embodiment is applied. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] First Embodiment An example of an embodiment of a vehicle body structure according to the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Note that the arrow FR shown in each figure indicates the front side of the vehicle, the arrow UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle, and the arrow LH indicates the left side in the vehicle width direction.

[0025] First, a schematic configuration of a "vehicle body 12" of a "vehicle 10" to which the vehicle body structure according to this embodiment is applied will be described using Figure 4. In this embodiment, the vehicle body 12 is basically configured symmetrically, and therefore, the following description will mainly focus on the configuration of the left side of the vehicle body 12 in the vehicle width direction, and will omit appropriate description of the configuration of the right side of the vehicle width direction.

[0026] The vehicle body 12 is composed of a roof portion 14, an upper body portion 22 including the upper portion of the vehicle of the "front pillar 16" that forms part of the front side of the vehicle of the vehicle body 12, a center pillar 18, and a rear pillar 20, and a lower body portion 26 including the lower portion of the front pillar 16 and a floor portion 24, which are removably connected.

[0027] This embodiment is characterized in that the front pillar 16 is configured to include a "front pillar lower 28" that constitutes the portion on the lower side of the vehicle, and an "front pillar upper 30" that constitutes the portion on the upper side of the vehicle. Below, the configuration of the front pillar 16 and its surrounding area that constitute the main part of this embodiment will be described in detail.

[0028] First, we will explain the configuration of the front pillar lower 28. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the front pillar lower 28 is configured to include a pillar lower outer 32 that forms the portion on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and a pillar lower inner 34 that forms the portion on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. The pillar lower outer 32 and the pillar lower inner 34 are each configured by pressing a steel plate.

[0029] The pillar lower outer 32 includes a side wall portion 32A, a front wall portion 32B, a rear wall portion 32C, and a pair of flange portions 32D, and its cross-sectional shape when viewed from the vertical direction of the vehicle is hat-shaped with the inner side open in the vehicle width direction.

[0030] The side wall portion 32A constitutes the outer portion of the pillar lower outer panel 32 in the vehicle width direction and is shaped like a plate extending in the vehicle up-down direction with its plate thickness direction being the vehicle width direction. A front wall portion 32B extends inwardly toward the front of the vehicle from the peripheral edge of the side wall portion 32A on the front side of the vehicle, and a rear wall portion 32C extends inwardly toward the rear of the vehicle from the peripheral edge of the side wall portion 32A on the rear side of the vehicle. A flange portion 32D extends inwardly toward the vehicle from the peripheral edge of the front wall portion 32B on the front side of the vehicle and from the peripheral edge of the rear wall portion 32C on the rear side of the vehicle.

[0031] On the other hand, the pillar lower inner panel 34 is configured to include a side wall portion 34A, a front wall portion 34B, and a flange portion 34C. The side wall portion 34A constitutes the main portion of the pillar lower inner panel 34, and is formed in a plate shape extending in the vehicle up-down direction with its plate thickness direction aligned with the vehicle width direction.

[0032] A front wall portion 34B extends outward from the vehicle front peripheral edge of this side wall portion 34A, and a flange portion 34C extends outward from the vehicle front peripheral edge of front wall portion 34B.

[0033] The flange portion 32D of the pillar lower outer panel 32 on the vehicle front side is joined to the flange portion 34C of the pillar lower inner panel 34, and the flange portion 32D of the pillar lower outer panel 32 on the vehicle rear side is joined to the vehicle rear side peripheral edge portion of the side wall portion 34A of the pillar lower inner panel 34 at joints (not shown) such as by welding. As a result, the front pillar lower 28 has a closed cross-sectional structure in which the cross-sectional shape when viewed from the vehicle vertical direction is a trapezoidal closed cross-section that widens toward the inside in the vehicle width direction.

[0034] In addition, the lower portion of the front pillar lower 28 on the vehicle side is integrated with the rocker 36, which forms the outer portion of the floor portion 24 in the vehicle width direction, by being joined to the rocker 36 by welding or the like at a joint not shown.

[0035] Meanwhile, the front pillar upper 30 extends upward and rearward of the vehicle from the upper end 28A of the front pillar lower 28. The front pillar upper 30 includes an outer pillar upper 38 that forms the outer portion of the front pillar 30 in the vehicle width direction, and an inner pillar upper (not shown) that forms the inner portion of the front pillar 30 in the vehicle width direction, and has a closed cross-sectional structure whose cross-sectional shape when viewed from the direction of extension is a closed cross-section. The outer pillar upper 38 and the inner pillar upper 30 are each formed by pressing steel plate.

[0036] A "pillar reinforcement portion 40" is provided at the lower end portion 30A of the front pillar upper 30. More specifically, the pillar reinforcement portion 40 is made of a square steel pipe and extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle, with its upper portion on the vehicle side connected to the lower end portion 30A of the front pillar upper 30 by a joint such as welding or an attachment member. Most of this pillar reinforcement portion 40 is inserted into the front pillar lower 28 from the upper side of the vehicle.

[0037] 2, a "collar 42" serving as a support is disposed inside the pillar reinforcement portion 40. This collar 42 is, for example, made of metal, has a cylindrical shape, and is disposed with its axial direction aligned with the vehicle width direction. That is, a "penetration portion 42A" formed in the collar 42 extends in the vehicle width direction. A plurality of collars 42 (for example, three) are disposed at predetermined intervals in the vehicle up-down direction.

[0038] The outer end of the collar 42 in the vehicle width direction is joined to the outer side wall portion 40A of the pillar reinforcement portion 40 in the vehicle width direction, and the inner end of the collar 42 in the vehicle width direction is joined to the inner side wall portion 40B of the pillar reinforcement portion 40 in the vehicle width direction, each at a joint not shown, such as by welding.

[0039] Furthermore, at positions overlapping with the through-holes 42A in the side wall portions 40A and 40B, through-holes 44 are formed, respectively. Furthermore, at positions overlapping with the through-holes 42A in the side wall portions 32A and 34A of the front pillar lower portion 28, through-holes 46 are formed, respectively, at positions overlapping with the through-holes 42A in the side wall portions 32A and 34A of the front pillar lower portion 28 when the pillar reinforcing portion 40 is inserted into the front pillar lower portion 28.

[0040] Then, in a state where the shaft portion 48A of the "bolt 48" serving as the mounting member is inserted through the through-hole 44 of the pillar reinforcing part 40, the through-hole 42A of the collar 42, and the through-hole 46 of the front pillar lower 28 from the outside in the vehicle width direction, a nut 50 is fastened to the shaft portion 48A, thereby connecting the front pillar lower 28 and the front pillar upper 30. Note that it is also possible to use a weld nut joined to the side wall portion 34A of the pillar lower inner 34 from the inside in the vehicle width direction instead of the nut 50.

[0041] (Actions and Effects of This Embodiment) Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0042] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the lower portion of the front pillar 16, which constitutes part of the front side of the vehicle body 12, is made up of a front pillar lower 28, and this front pillar lower 28 has a closed cross section when viewed from the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0043] Further, on the vehicle upper side of the front pillar lower 28, a front pillar upper 30 that constitutes the vehicle upper side portion of the front pillar 16 is arranged.

[0044] However, when the lower end 30A of the front pillar upper 30 is connected while being placed on the upper end 28A of the front pillar lower 28, it is possible that the rigidity at the boundary between the front pillar upper 30 and the front pillar lower 28 against loads in the vehicle width direction may be insufficient.

[0045] In this embodiment, a pillar reinforcing portion 40 is provided on the front pillar upper 30. The pillar reinforcing portion 40 is partially inserted into the front pillar lower 28.

[0046] Therefore, in this embodiment, when a load in the vehicle width direction is input to the boundary between the front pillar upper 30 and the front pillar lower 28 at the front pillar 16, the load is supported by the pillar reinforcement portion 40 and a portion of the front pillar lower 28, thereby ensuring the bending rigidity of the front pillar 16 against the load.

[0047] Furthermore, the pillar reinforcing portion 40 is removably attached to the front pillar lower section 28 with bolts 48 and nuts 50, and in this embodiment, the front pillar upper section 30 can be removed from the front pillar lower section 28.

[0048] Therefore, in this embodiment, the connection between the front pillar upper 30 and the front pillar lower 28 can be released, while ensuring rigidity against loads in the vehicle width direction at the boundary between the front pillar upper 30 and the front pillar lower 28.

[0049] In this embodiment, a collar 42 having a through-hole 42A extending in the vehicle width direction is disposed inside the pillar reinforcing portion 40. A bolt 48 is inserted through the through-hole 42A of the collar 42 and connects the front pillar lower 28 and the pillar reinforcing portion 40 in the vehicle width direction.

[0050] For this reason, in this embodiment, the connection points between the pillar reinforcement portion 40 and the front pillar lower 28 are concentrated in the vehicle width direction, and the pillar reinforcement portion 40 and the front pillar lower 28 can be connected without having to perform the connection work between the pillar reinforcement portion 40 and the front pillar lower 28 on both the outside and inside of the vehicle width direction.

[0051] Furthermore, the collar 42 reinforces the pillar reinforcement portion 40, thereby preventing the pillar reinforcement portion 40 from being deformed by a load in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, the number of steps required for assembling the vehicle body 12 can be reduced, while ensuring greater rigidity against a load in the vehicle width direction at the boundary portion between the front pillar upper 30 and the front pillar lower 28.

[0052] In addition, in this embodiment, compared to a configuration in which the front pillar lower 28 and the front pillar upper 30 are joined at a joint such as by welding, the labor required to release the connection between the front pillar lower 28 and the front pillar upper 30 is reduced, and ultimately the labor required to disassemble the vehicle body 12 can be reduced.

[0053] Second Embodiment Next, a vehicle body structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 7. Note that components common to the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted where appropriate.

[0054] This embodiment is characterized in that, as shown in FIG. 5, an "instrument panel reinforcement 60" disposed between a pair of front pillars 16 is attached to the vehicle body 12 using bolts 48 that connect the front pillar lower 28 and the front pillar upper 30.

[0055] 6 and 7, the instrument panel reinforcement 60 includes a main body 62 capable of supporting a steering column (not shown) and a pair of base plates 64. The main body 62 is made of a round steel pipe and extends in the vehicle width direction. The base plates 64 are rectangular plates with their thickness direction aligned with the vehicle width direction and their length direction aligned with the vehicle front-rear direction, and are joined to the ends of the main body 62 at joints (not shown) by welding or the like.

[0056] Furthermore, two through-holes 66 are provided in the portion of the base plate 64 on the vehicle front side at the same pitch as the through-holes 46 of the front pillar lower section 28, and a through-hole 68 is provided in the portion of the base plate 64 on the vehicle rear side. In this embodiment, a through-hole 70 corresponding to the through-holes 68 is provided in the front pillar lower section 28.

[0057] In this embodiment, the shank 48A of the bolt 48 is inserted from the outer side in the vehicle width direction through the through-hole 44 of the pillar reinforcing part 40, the through-hole 42A of the collar 42, the through-hole 46 of the front pillar lower 28, and the through-hole 66 of the base plate 64, and a nut 50 is fastened to the shank 48A from the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the base plate 64. Note that it is also possible to use a weld nut joined to the base plate 64 from the inner side in the vehicle width direction instead of the nut 50.

[0058] Meanwhile, a shaft portion 72A of a bolt 72 is inserted in the vehicle width direction through the through-hole 68 of the base plate 64 and the through-hole 70 of the front pillar lower 28, and a nut 74 is fastened to the shaft portion 72A from the inside of the base plate 64 in the vehicle width direction. Note that, instead of the nut 74, it is also possible to use a weld nut joined to the base plate 64 from the inside of the vehicle width direction.

[0059] In the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, as shown in FIG. 7, the end of the instrument panel reinforcement 60 in the vehicle width direction is fixed to the vehicle body 12 by the bolt 48 used to connect the front pillar upper 30 and the front pillar lower 28.

[0060] For this reason, in this embodiment, the connection between the upper front pillar 30 and the lower front pillar 28 and the attachment of the instrument panel reinforcement 60 to the vehicle body 12 can be performed using the same bolt 48. Therefore, in this embodiment, the number of parts of the vehicle body 12 and the number of steps required to assemble the vehicle body 12 can be reduced.

[0061] <Supplementary explanation of the above embodiment> (1) In the above-described embodiment, the pillar reinforcement portion 40 is configured as a separate member from the front pillar upper 30. However, depending on the specifications of the vehicle 10, a portion of the front pillar upper 30 may be inserted into the front pillar lower 28 to function as a pillar reinforcement portion.

[0062] (2) In the above-described embodiment, the collar 42 is disposed inside the pillar reinforcement portion 40. However, depending on the specifications of the vehicle 10, a configuration may be adopted in which the collar 42 is not disposed inside the pillar reinforcement portion 40. In addition, when such a configuration is adopted, weld nuts may be provided on the side wall portion 40A and the side wall portion 40B on the inside of the pillar reinforcement portion 40, and bolts that connect the pillar reinforcement portion 40 and the front pillar lower 28 may be fastened to these weld nuts.

[0063] (3) In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the components of the vehicle body 12, such as the front pillars 16, are made of steel. However, depending on the specifications of the vehicle 10, these components may be made of carbon fiber reinforced resin or the like. When such a configuration is adopted, the collar 42 may be joined to the pillar reinforcement portion 40 at a joint using an adhesive or the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 10 vehicles 12 Body 16 Front pillar 28 Front pillar lower 30 Front pillar upper 40 Pillar reinforcement 42 Collar (support part) 42A Penetration 48 bolts (mounting parts) 60 Instrument panel reinforcement

Claims

1. a front pillar lower that constitutes a vehicle lower portion of a front pillar that constitutes a part of the vehicle front side of the vehicle body, has a closed cross section when viewed from the vehicle vertical direction, and is joined by a welded joint to a rocker that constitutes a vehicle width direction outer portion of a floor portion of the vehicle body; a front pillar upper portion disposed on a vehicle upper side of the front pillar lower portion and constituting a vehicle upper side portion of the front pillar; a pillar reinforcing portion provided to the front pillar upper, a portion of which can be inserted into the front pillar lower section, and which is removably attached to the front pillar lower section by an attachment member; and the pillar reinforcement portion has a constant cross-sectional shape as viewed from the vehicle vertical direction and extends in the vehicle vertical direction, and the length of the portion inserted into the front pillar lower in the vehicle vertical direction is longer than the length of the portion exposed from the front pillar in the vehicle vertical direction; Body structure.

2. a support portion disposed inside the pillar reinforcing portion and having a through portion extending in the vehicle width direction; The mounting member is inserted through the through-portion and connects the front pillar lower section and the support portion in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 .

3. an end portion of the instrument panel reinforcement in the vehicle width direction is fixed to the vehicle body by the mounting member connecting the front pillar upper and the front pillar lower; The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 or 2.

Images