Roof bow and vehicle roof structure

Abstract

To provide a roof bow that is included in a vehicle of a type making presence or absence of a sunroof selectable and can upgrade rigidity without the necessity of altering the shape of the roof bow itself though it depends on whether the sunroof is present or absent, and a roof structure of a vehicle including the roof bow.SOLUTION: A roof bow is disposed on an undersurface of a roof panel of a vehicle. The roof bow includes a roof bow body and a reinforcement disposed along a length direction of the roof bow body. The roof bow body has a hat-like shape that an apex projects downward on a cross section perpendicular to the length direction. The reinforcement is brought into contact with the undersurface of the apex of the roof bow body, and secured.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a roof bow and a vehicle roof structure, and more particularly to a roof bow and a vehicle roof structure equipped with the same that can improve rigidity depending on whether or not a sunroof is installed in a vehicle that can choose whether or not a sunroof is installed, without changing the shape of the roof bow itself. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in order to increase the surface rigidity of a vehicle roof panel, a roof bow having a U-shaped cross section has been proposed in which the end of the bow is further folded back to increase the rigidity (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-112655 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the roof bow as described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that in order to increase the surface rigidity of the roof panel in the roof structure of a vehicle that does not have a sunroof, it is necessary to change the shape of the roof bow itself.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems associated with the conventional technology, and aims to provide a roof bow that can improve rigidity without changing the shape of the roof bow itself, depending on whether or not a sunroof is installed, for vehicles in which the presence or absence of a sunroof can be selected, and a roof structure for a vehicle equipped with the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] As a result of extensive research into achieving the above-mentioned objective, the inventors discovered that the above-mentioned objective can be achieved by fixing a reinforcement in contact with the underside of the top of a roof bow body having a hat-shaped cross-sectional shape with the top protruding downward, and thus completed the present invention.

[0007] That is, the roof bow of the present invention is a roof bow provided on the underside of a vehicle roof panel. This roof bow comprises a roof bow body and a reinforcement provided along the length of this roof bow body. Furthermore, this roof bow body has a hat-shaped shape with an apex that protrudes downward in a cross section perpendicular to the length direction. Furthermore, this reinforcement is fixed in contact with the underside of the apex of the roof bow body.

[0008] The vehicle roof structure of the present invention is a vehicle roof structure including a vehicle roof panel and a plurality of roof bows provided on the underside of the roof panel. At least one of the plurality of roof bows A roof bow has a main body and a reinforcement provided along the length of the main body, The roof bow body has a hat-shaped cross section perpendicular to its longitudinal direction, with a top portion protruding downward, The reinforcement is a roof bow fixed in contact with the underside of the top of the roof bow body, The plurality of roof bows include a plurality of types of roof bows each having a different rigidity of the roof bow body and a different length of the reinforcement, These roof bows are characterized in that the reinforcement, which is relatively long, is provided on the roof bow body, which has a relatively low rigidity. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, the reinforcement is fixed in contact with the underside of the top of the roof bow body, which has a hat-shaped cross-sectional shape with the top protruding downward.Therefore, in vehicles where it is possible to choose whether or not to have a sunroof, it is possible to provide a roof bow and a roof structure for a vehicle equipped with this that can achieve improved rigidity without changing the shape of the roof bow itself, depending on whether or not a sunroof is installed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a bottom view schematically showing an embodiment of a vehicle roof structure of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2(A) and 2(B) are an enlarged bottom view and an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an example of the roof bow shown in FIG. [Figure 3] 3(A) and 3(B) are an enlarged bottom view and an enlarged cross-sectional view showing another example of the roof bow shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The roof bow and vehicle roof structure of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions of the drawings cited below are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle roof structure 1 of this embodiment includes a vehicle roof panel 2 and multiple roof bows 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 provided on the underside 2A of the roof panel 2. The vehicle roof structure 1 also includes a front roof rail 8 and a rear roof rail 9. Here, in this embodiment, the roof bow 4 is disposed between both center pillars of the vehicle (not shown), and is what is called a center roof bow.

[0013] In this embodiment, the roof bows 5, 6, and 7 at the position where the center roof bow is located, that is, the roof bows 5, 6, and 7 located rearward of the center pillar position CPP, correspond to the roof bows of the present invention. These roof bows 5, 6, and 7 are evenly arranged between the center roof bow 4 and the rear roof rail 9. In Fig. 1, the left side indicates the front side (forward moving side) of the vehicle (automobile), and the right side indicates the rear side (rear moving side).

[0014] Here, Figures 2(A) and 3(A) are enlarged bottom views showing the roof bows 6 and 7 shown in Figure 1, and Figures 2(B) and 3(B) are enlarged cross-sectional views taken along line BB in Figures 2(A) and 3(A). Note that in Figures 2(B) and 3(B), the lower side is the passenger compartment side CS.

[0015] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, in this embodiment, these roof bows 6, 7 (the same applies to the roof bow 5) are equipped with roof bow main bodies 61, 71 and reinforcements 62, 72 provided along the longitudinal direction of the roof bow main bodies 61, 71.

[0016] In this embodiment, the roof bow main bodies 61, 71 have a hat shape, a so-called inverted hat shape, with apexes 61A, 71A protruding downward in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the roof bow main bodies 61, 71. The reinforcements 62, 72 have a U-shape with apexes 62A, 72A protruding downward in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the reinforcements 62, 72. Furthermore, the inner surfaces 62B, 72B of the apexes of the reinforcements 62, 72 are fixed in contact with the lower surfaces 61B, 71B of the apexes of the roof bow main bodies 61, 71.

[0017] Furthermore, the width of the reinforcements 62, 72 is smaller than the width of the roof bow main bodies 61, 71. Here, these reinforcements 62, 72 are fixed to the roof bow main bodies 61, 71 by spot joining through welding, specifically by spot welding at a plurality of locations.

[0018] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the rigidity of the roof bow main bodies 61, 71 and the lengths of the reinforcements 62, 72 are different in the roof bows 6, 7. The roof bow main body 71 has a flattened hat-shaped cross section and its rigidity, expressed as a second moment of area, is relatively lower than that of the roof bow main body 61. The roof bow main body 71 is provided with a reinforcement 72 that is relatively longer than the reinforcement 62.

[0019] Next, advantages of the roof bow and vehicle roof structure of this embodiment will be described. According to the roof bows 6, 7 of this embodiment, the inner surface 62b, 72B of the top of the reinforcement 62, 72, which has a predetermined U-shaped cross-sectional shape, is fixed in contact with the underside 61B, 71B of the top of the roof bow main body 61, 71, which has a hat-shaped cross-sectional shape.Therefore, in vehicles where it is possible to choose whether or not to have a sunroof, the rigidity can be improved depending on whether or not a sunroof is installed, without changing the shape of the roof bow itself.

[0020] Furthermore, in the roof bows 6, 7 of this embodiment, the reinforcements 62, 72 are fixed to the roof bow bodies 61, 71 by spot joining through welding, so that the rigidity can be improved efficiently with a small joining area.

[0021] Furthermore, according to the vehicle roof structure 1 of this embodiment, in the roof structure of a vehicle without a sunroof, which requires more rigidity from the roof panel than the roof structure of a vehicle with a sunroof, it is possible to improve the rigidity against external forces such as when snow accumulates without changing the shape of the roof bow itself.

[0022] In addition, for vehicles that can choose whether or not to have a sunroof, the roof bow body can be used as is in the roof structure of a vehicle that has a sunroof, which has the advantage of reducing costs.Furthermore, even in areas where the roof panel has no curvature, the rigidity can be efficiently improved while ensuring head clearance inside the vehicle cabin, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in the design of the vehicle roof structure.

[0023] Furthermore, in the vehicle roof structure 1 of this embodiment, the roof bow main body 71, which has a rigidity relatively lower than that of the roof bow main body 61, is provided with a reinforcement 72 that is relatively longer than the reinforcement 62.Therefore, even if the rigidity cannot be improved due to shape or other constraints at the location of each roof bow main body, the reinforcement can be efficiently arranged from the standpoint of weight and cost, and the rigidity can be improved.

[0024] Here, the rigidity of each roof bow main body is not particularly limited as long as it can ensure the rigidity of the vehicle roof structure. For example, from the viewpoint of ensuring approximately uniform rigidity, the ratio of the relatively high rigidity of the roof bow to the relatively low rigidity of the roof bow is preferably 1.1 or more, and preferably 3 or less. Furthermore, the length of each reinforcement can be set within a range that can improve the rigidity of the vehicle roof structure and does not interfere with the fixation of the roof bow main body to side roof rails (not shown) or the like. From the viewpoint of improving the rigidity of the vehicle roof structure, it is preferable that the length be, for example, 20% or more of the length of the roof bow main body.

[0025] Furthermore, in the vehicle roof structure 1 of this embodiment, predetermined reinforcements 62, 72 are provided on predetermined roof bow bodies 61, 71 that are positioned rearward of the center pillar position CPP of the vehicle compared to the front side, which has higher rigidity for side collisions, so that rigidity at positions far from the center pillar position CPP can be efficiently improved.

[0026] Furthermore, in the vehicle roof structure 1 of this embodiment, a roof bow 6 having a predetermined reinforcement 62 attached to a predetermined roof bow body 61 is provided in the center between the center roof bow 4 and the rear roof rail 9, and roof bows 5, 7 are provided in front of and behind it, so that rigidity can be improved almost evenly.

[0027] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to one embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0028] The gist of this invention is that in order to improve rigidity without changing the shape of the roof bow itself, regardless of whether a sunroof is installed or not, a structure is adopted in which a reinforcement is fixed in contact with the underside of the top of the roof bow body, which has a hat-shaped cross-sectional shape with the top protruding downward.

[0029] Therefore, as long as the reinforcement can be fixed to the roof bow body, the shape of the reinforcement does not have to be U-shaped in cross section, but may be flat in cross section. Also, the outer surface of the top of the reinforcement may be fixed in contact with the underside of the top of the roof bow body. Furthermore, the reinforcement may be fixed in contact with the roof bow body via an adhesive such as a structural adhesive. Surface joining using an adhesive is effective when the roof bow body or the reinforcement is thin.

[0030] Furthermore, in the vehicle roof structure of the above embodiment, the roof bow of the present invention is described as being positioned rearward of the center pillar position of the vehicle, but the roof bow of the present invention may also be positioned at the center pillar position or further forward. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1 Vehicle roof structure 2 roof panels 2A Bottom 3,4,5,6,7 Roof Bow 61,71 Roof bow body 61A,71A Top 61B,71B bottom surface 62,72 Reinforcement 62A,72A top 62B, 72B inner surface 8 Front roof rails 9 Rear roof rails CPP Center pillar position CS cabin side

Claims

1. A vehicle roof structure comprising a vehicle roof panel and a plurality of roof bows provided on the underside of the roof panel, At least one of the plurality of roof bows is A roof bow has a main body and a reinforcement provided along the length of the main body, The roof bow body has a hat-shaped cross section perpendicular to its longitudinal direction, with a top portion protruding downward, The reinforcement is a roof bow fixed in contact with the underside of the top of the roof bow body, The plurality of roof bows include a plurality of types of roof bows each having a different rigidity of the roof bow body and a different length of the reinforcement, In these roof bows, the vehicle roof structure is characterized in that the reinforcement, which is relatively long, is provided on the roof bow main body, which has a relatively low rigidity.

2. A roof structure for a vehicle as described in claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcement is provided on the roof bow body of the roof bow arranged at a position rearward of the center pillar position of the vehicle.

3. The reinforcement has a U-shaped cross section perpendicular to its longitudinal direction, with the top protruding downward, 2. The vehicle roof structure according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the top of the reinforcement is fixed in contact with the lower surface of the top of the roof bow body.

4. A roof structure for a vehicle as described in claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcement is fixed by spot joining using welding.

5. A roof structure for a vehicle as described in claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcement is fixed by surface bonding with an adhesive.

Images