Vehicle structure

Abstract

To obtain a vehicle structure that can improve transfer force of a load to a side member at the time of a collision.SOLUTION: A vehicle structure 10 includes: a first engagement part 30 formed at an end portion of a bumper reinforcement 16; and a second engagement portion 40 disposed at a side member 12 to be engaged with the first engagement part 30. The first engagement part 30 and the second engagement part 40 engage with each other in both directions in plan view and side view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle front body structure in which a gusset that expands in diameter in the vehicle width direction toward the front extends from a front side frame, and in which a gap is provided between the rear surface of a bumper reinforcement and the front end surface of the gusset, and a restricting means is provided that restricts the relative position of the front end surface of the gusset with respect to the rear surface of the bumper reinforcement within a predetermined area. For example, in a vehicle equipped with a gusset like the vehicle front body structure described in Patent Document 1, the gusset functions as a load-receiving member in the event of a slight overlap collision in which an obstacle collides only with the end of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-137082 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] On the other hand, in the event of a frontal collision such as a slight overlap collision, it is desirable for the front side members extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction to be compressed in the axial direction and bear the collision load. In the vehicle front body structure described in Patent Document 1, the collision load input from the bumper reinforcement is transmitted to the front side members via the gasket. However, in the event of a frontal collision, there are cases in which the front side members are unable to sufficiently transmit the collision load due to misalignment of the contact position between the gasket and the front side members, and there is room for improvement in load transmission.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle structure that can improve the force of transmission of load to side members during a collision. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle structure of the present invention described in claim 1 comprises a first meshing portion formed at an end of a bumper reinforcement and a second meshing portion provided on a side member and meshing with the first meshing portion, and the first meshing portion and the second meshing portion mesh with each other in both a plan view and a side view of the vehicle.

[0007] In the vehicle structure according to the present invention, a first meshing portion formed on an end of the bumper reinforcement and a second meshing portion provided on the side member and meshing with the first meshing portion mesh with each other in both a plan view and a side view of the vehicle. Therefore, the end of the bumper reinforcement and the side member can be more firmly meshed with each other compared to a case where the first meshing portion and the second meshing portion mesh with each other in only one of a plan view and a side view of the vehicle. This allows the load to be transmitted to the side member regardless of the direction from which the load is applied during a collision, thereby improving the force with which the load is transmitted to the side member during a collision.

[0008] A vehicle structure according to the present invention as set forth in claim 2 is the configuration as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first meshing portion and the second meshing portion mesh with each other by means of a concave-convex shape.

[0009] In the vehicle structure according to the present invention as set forth in claim 2, the first and second meshing portions mesh with each other due to their concave and convex shapes. Therefore, the concave and convex shapes mesh with each other, thereby enabling the end of the bumper reinforcement to mesh firmly with the side member.

[0010] The vehicle structure of the present invention described in claim 3 is the configuration described in claim 1, wherein, in a plan view, the first meshing portion has a plurality of shoulder portions arranged in a stepped manner, and the second meshing portion has a step portion that engages with at least a portion of the plurality of shoulder portions.

[0011] In the vehicle structure according to the present invention described in claim 3, in plan view, the first meshing portion has a plurality of shoulders in a stepped shape, and the second meshing portion has a step portion that engages with at least a portion of the plurality of shoulders. Therefore, the step portion can be engaged with the stepped shoulder portion, so that the end of the bumper reinforcement and the side member can be more firmly meshed.

[0012] The vehicle structure of the present invention described in claim 4 is configured as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, in a side view, the first meshing portion is formed in a prismatic shape and the second meshing portion is formed in a concave shape.

[0013] In the vehicle structure according to the present invention as set forth in claim 4, the first meshing portion is formed in a rectangular column shape and the second meshing portion is formed in a concave shape in a side view. Therefore, by fitting the rectangular column into the concave portion, the end of the bumper reinforcement and the side member can be firmly meshed with each other.

[0014] A vehicle structure according to the present invention as set forth in claim 5 is the structure as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the side members are integrally formed by die casting.

[0015] In the vehicle structure according to the present invention, the side member is integrally formed by die casting, which allows for more precise design of the shape, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in design. Also, by devising the shapes of the first and second interlocking portions, the end of the bumper reinforcement and the side member can be interlocked more firmly. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] As described above, the vehicle structure according to the present invention has the excellent effect of improving the force of transmission of load to the side members during a collision. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view showing an example of a main part of a front part of a vehicle including a vehicle structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a front end portion of a front side member and a left end portion of a bumper reinforcement. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a front end portion of a front side member. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a left end portion of the bumper reinforcement. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another schematic configuration of the front end portion of the front side member. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another schematic configuration of the left end portion of the bumper reinforcement. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] A vehicle front structure as a vehicle structure according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Because the vehicle front structure is symmetrical, only the left side is shown in each drawing, and the right side is omitted. In addition, the arrow FR, as appropriate, shown in each drawing indicates the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the arrow UP indicates the upper side in the vehicle vertical direction. The arrow LH indicates the left side in the vehicle width direction, which in this embodiment indicates the outer side in the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, for convenience, the left side of the vehicle is referred to as the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and the right side in the vehicle width direction is referred to as the center side in the vehicle width direction. Hereinafter, when the terms "front-rear," "up-down," and "left-right" are used in the description, they refer to the front and rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the up and down in the vehicle vertical direction, and the left and right in the vehicle lateral direction (vehicle width direction), unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which the right side in the vehicle width direction is the outer side in the vehicle width direction and the left side in the vehicle width direction is the center side, as in a configuration symmetrical to the configuration of this embodiment.

[0019] (Vehicle front structure configuration) First, the configuration of a vehicle front structure 10 according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, in this embodiment, the vehicle front structure 10 is incorporated into, for example, an electric vehicle or a fuel cell vehicle that runs on power generated by a power unit P. A power unit compartment 11 in which the power unit P is installed is provided at the front of the vehicle.

[0020] The vehicle front structure 10 is a lateral frame member of the vehicle, and is arranged on both sides of the front of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle has front side members 12 extending in the front-to-rear direction, and cross members 14 extending in the vehicle width direction and connecting the left and right front side members 12. The front side members 12 and the cross members 14 are made of steel, for example, and the front side members 12 have a hollow, generally rectangular cross-sectional shape. In this embodiment, the front side members 12 are integrally formed by die-casting, for example.

[0021] The vehicle front structure 10 includes a bumper reinforcement 16 (hereinafter referred to as "bumper RF") extending in the vehicle width direction at the front end side of the front side members 12 and at the front end of the power unit compartment 11. The bumper RF 16 is a member that receives a collision load in the event of a vehicle collision and transmits the received collision load to the rear side of the vehicle. The bumper RF 16 has a hollow, approximately rectangular cross section and includes a center portion 17 located at the front ends of the left and right front side members 12 and bumper RF spacers 18 that extend inward from both left and right end portions of the center portion 17 toward the inside of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0022] A central portion 17 of the bumper RF16 has a bent or curved shape that projects forward and is convex, and both left and right end portions extend toward the rear of the vehicle on the vehicle width direction outer sides of the left and right front side members 12. The left and right front side members 12 are connected to both ends of the central portion 17 in the vehicle width direction via crash boxes 19 that serve as energy absorbing members.

[0023] The crash boxes 19 are configured to deform in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle, absorbing part of the energy of the collision before the front side members 12 deform. When an impact load is transmitted from the bumper reinforcement 16 to the crash boxes 19, the crash boxes 19 are compressed in the front-to-rear direction.

[0024] A frontal collision can be classified into a symmetrical collision (full-lap collision) in which the entire front of the vehicle collides, and an asymmetrical collision (offset collision) in which one side of the front of the vehicle collides. In this embodiment, an offset collision in which an outer portion of the front side member 12 in the vehicle width direction collides with a colliding body B such as another vehicle (see FIG. 1) is referred to as a small-lap collision.

[0025] The bumper RF spacer 18 extends from both left and right ends of the central portion 17 toward the vehicle rear and inward, and has a tip end 18A connected to the front side member 12. The tip end 18A corresponds to an end of the bumper RF 16. Here, the connection structure between the tip end 18A of the bumper RF spacer 18 and the front side member 12 will be described below.

[0026] 2, a first meshing portion 30 is formed at the tip end of the bumper reinforcement member 16. In addition, a second meshing portion 40 is formed at the front end portion 12A of the front side member 12. The first meshing portion 30 and the second meshing portion 40 are configured to mesh with each other in both a plan view (see FIG. 2) and a side view of the vehicle.

[0027] 2 and 3, the front end portion 12A of the front side member 12 of this embodiment includes an elongated main body member 41 having a cross section shaped like a square. The vehicle outer surface 41A of the main body member 41 includes protrusions 42 that protrude toward the outside of the vehicle at both ends in the vertical direction.

[0028] The protrusion 42 includes a rectangular parallelepiped portion 42A formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape on the vehicle front side, and an oblique side portion 42B extending from the rear end of the rectangular parallelepiped portion 42A toward the vehicle outer surface 41A. In this embodiment, a recess 44 is formed by the inner surfaces in the vertical direction of the protrusions 42 provided on the top and bottom and the vehicle outer surface 41A, and this recess 44 functions as the second meshing portion 40. The recess 44 is configured so that the distance between the inner surfaces in the vertical direction of the protrusions 42 provided on the top and bottom is H1.

[0029] In addition, a first step portion 45 formed by the vehicle outer side surface 41A and the front surface 43 of the rectangular parallelepiped portion 42A, and a second step portion 46 formed by the front surface 41B of the main body member 41 and the vehicle outer side surface 41A also function as the second meshing portion 40. In addition, a front corner portion 43A of the rectangular parallelepiped portion 42A also functions as the second meshing portion 40.

[0030] 2, the tip end portion of the bumper reinforcement member 16 of this embodiment, i.e., the tip end portion 18A of the bumper reinforcement spacer 18, is formed with a first shoulder portion 32, a second shoulder portion 34, and a third shoulder portion 36 in a stepped shape from the rear side to the front side of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the second shoulder portion 34 is formed at a position where it engages with the first step portion 45 of the front side member 12.

[0031] Additionally, a first boundary 37 between the second shoulder 34 and the third shoulder 36 is formed at a position that engages with a second step portion 46 of the front side member 12. Additionally, a second boundary 39 between the first shoulder 32 and the second shoulder 34 is formed at a position that engages with a front corner portion 43A of the rectangular parallelepiped portion 42A of the front side member 12. In this embodiment, the second shoulder 34, the first boundary 37, and the second boundary 39 function as a first meshing portion 30.

[0032] 4, a rectangular parallelepiped protrusion 38 is formed at the rear end of the vehicle interior side surface 32A on which the first shoulder 32 is formed, approximately in the center in the up-down direction. When viewed individually, this protrusion 38 is formed in the shape of a rectangular pillar, and functions as the first meshing portion 30. The front end side of the protrusion 38 is connected to the second shoulder 34. The protrusion 38 is formed to a height H2 in the vehicle up-down direction. The height H2 of the protrusion 38 is formed slightly smaller than the height H1 of the recess 44 so that the protrusion 38 meshes with the recess 44 of the front side member 12 described above.

[0033] (Action and effect) Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0034] A vehicle front structure 10 as a vehicle structure according to this embodiment includes a first meshing portion 30 formed on a bumper RF spacer 18 as an end portion of a bumper RF 16, and a second meshing portion 40 provided on a front end portion 12A of a front side member 12 and meshing with the first meshing portion 30. The first meshing portion 30 and the second meshing portion 40 mesh with each other in both a plan view and a side view of the vehicle.

[0035] 2, in a plan view, the first meshing portion 30 has multiple shoulders, namely, a first shoulder 32, a second shoulder 34, and a third shoulder 36, arranged in a stepped pattern. The second meshing portion 40 has a first step 45 that engages with the second shoulder 34. Therefore, the second shoulder 34 and the first step 45 engage with each other. The front corner 43A and the second step 46 of the rectangular parallelepiped portion 42A of the first meshing portion 30 engage with the second boundary 39 and the first boundary 37 of the second meshing portion 40, respectively.

[0036] In this manner, in the present embodiment, the step portion can be engaged with the stepped shoulder portion in a plan view, so that the tip end portion 18A of the bumper RF spacer 18, which serves as the end portion of the bumper RF 16, and the front side member 12 can be more firmly engaged with each other.

[0037] 2 and 4, the tip end portion 18A of the bumper RF spacer 18 has a protrusion 38 serving as the first meshing portion 30. Also, as shown in Fig. 2 and 3, the front end portion 12A of the front side member 12 has a recess 44 serving as the second meshing portion 40. Therefore, by fitting the protrusion 38 to the recess 44 in a side view, the bumper RF spacer 18 of the bumper RF 16 and the front side member 12 can be firmly meshed with each other in the vehicle up-down direction.

[0038] In this way, the first meshing portion 30 and the second meshing portion 40 mesh with each other in both the plan view and the side view of the vehicle, which allows the bumper RF spacer 18 of the bumper RF 16 to mesh more firmly with the front side member 12 compared to when the first meshing portion 30 and the second meshing portion 40 mesh with each other in only one of the plan view and the side view of the vehicle. This allows the load to be transmitted to the front side member 12 regardless of the direction from which the load is applied during a collision, particularly during a small overlap collision, and therefore the force with which the load is transmitted to the front side member 12 during a collision can be improved.

[0039] Furthermore, in the vehicle front structure 10 according to this embodiment, the front side members 12 are integrally formed by die casting, which allows for more precise design of the shape, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in design. Furthermore, by devising the shapes of the first and second meshing portions 30 and 40, the bumper RF spacers 18 of the bumper RF 16 and the front side members 12 can be more firmly meshed with each other.

[0040] In the above embodiment, the first meshing portion 30 and the second meshing portion 40 are configured to mesh with each other by the recessed portion 44 and the protruding portion 38 in side view, i.e., by a single concave-convex shape, but this embodiment is not limited to this.

[0041] (Variation) As shown in Fig. 5, in the modified example, the front end portion 12A of the front side member 12 has a first recess 44A and a second recess 44B as the second meshing portion 40. Specifically, while in the above embodiment the front end portion 12A of the front side member 12 is provided with two protrusions 42, in the modified example, the front end portion 12A is provided with three protrusions 42 that are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. Note that in Fig. 5, duplicated reference numerals may be omitted.

[0042] In this modification, the first recess 44A and the second recess 44B are configured so that the distance between the inner surfaces of the adjacent protrusions 42 in the vertical direction is a height H3.

[0043] 6, in the modified example, a first protrusion 38A and a second protrusion 38B serving as the first meshing portion 30 protruding from a rectangular parallelepiped are formed at both ends in the vertical direction of the tip end 18A of the bumper RF spacer 18. That is, while there is one protrusion 38 in the above embodiment, two protrusions 38 are formed.

[0044] In the modified example, as described above, the tip end portion 18A of the bumper RF spacer 18 has the first convex portion 38A and the second convex portion 38B as the first meshing portion 30, and the front end portion 12A of the front side member 12 has the first concave portion 44A and the second concave portion 44B as the second meshing portion 40. Therefore, by attaching the first convex portion 38A and the second convex portion 38B to the first concave portion 44A and the second concave portion 44B, respectively, in a side view, the bumper RF spacer 18 of the bumper RF 16 and the front side member 12 can be firmly meshed with each other in the vehicle up-down direction.

[0045] In the above-described embodiment, the first meshing portion 30 has a plurality of shoulders in a stepped shape in a plan view, and the second meshing portion 40 has a step portion that engages with at least some of the shoulders of the first meshing portion 30, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a structure in which the meshing occurs by a concave-convex shape in a plan view may also be used. Furthermore, the first meshing portion 30 may be formed on the front side member 12, and the second meshing portion 40 may be formed on the tip end portion 18A of the bumper RF spacer 18.

[0046] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the front side member 12 is integrally formed by die casting, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the front side member 12 may be formed separately, or may be formed by a known method other than die casting.

[0047] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the vehicle structure has been described as a vehicle front structure 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be applied to a vehicle rear structure as the vehicle structure. In this case, as an example, the first meshing portion 30 is formed at the end of the rear bumper reinforcement, and the second meshing portion 40 is formed at the rear side member. This allows the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment to be obtained at the rear of the vehicle.

[0048] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and one embodiment may be appropriately combined with various modified examples, and the present invention may of course be embodied in various forms as long as it does not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 10. Vehicle front structure (vehicle structure) 12 Front side member (side member) 16 Bumper reinforcement (bumper RF) 30 First meshing part 32 1st shoulder (shoulder) 34 Second shoulder (shoulder) 36 Third shoulder (shoulder) 38 Convex part (prismatic) 38A First convex part (convex part; prismatic) 38B Second convex part (convex part; prismatic) 40 Second meshing part 44 Concave (concave) 44A First recess (recess; concave) 44B Second recess (recess; concave) 45 First step (step) 46 Second step (step)

Claims

1. a first meshing portion formed at an end portion of the bumper reinforcement; a second meshing portion provided on the side member and meshing with the first meshing portion, A vehicle structure in which the first meshing portion and the second meshing portion mesh with each other in both a plan view and a side view of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first meshing portion and the second meshing portion mesh with each other by means of a concave-convex shape.

3. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein, in a plan view, the first engagement portion has a plurality of shoulder portions arranged in a stepped manner, and the second engagement portion has a step portion that engages with at least a portion of the plurality of shoulder portions.

4. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein, in a side view, the first meshing portion is formed in a prismatic shape, and the second meshing portion is formed in a concave shape.

5. 2. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the side member is integrally formed by die casting.

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