Side structure of the vehicle

Abstract

To effectively reinforce the upper part of a center pillar portion without decreasing a production efficiency for a swelling portion that stores therein a rail through which a slide side door runs.SOLUTION: A swelling portion 24 is provided at a roof side rail portion 20 of a vehicle side section structure. A reinforcement member 30 is joined to the roof side rail portion 20 located at the forehead side of the swelling portion 24. Respective external side ends of the front portion and the rear portion of the roof cross member 5 are placed so as to have a clearance therebetween in the vertical direction. The reinforcement member 30 is joined to the external side end portion of the front portion in the vehicle widthwise direction. A side body outer panel 10 and a roof panel 1 are joined to the external side end portion of the rear portion in the vehicle widthwise direction in a triple laid-over manner. A space S is defined by the reinforcement member 30, the front portion of the roof cross member 5, and a roof side inner center panel 23 located inwardly relative to the roof side rail portion 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A known structure for the roof portion of the upper part of a vehicle is one in which a roof cross member extending in the vehicle width direction is provided on the underside of the roof panel, as disclosed in Patent Document 1. Such a roof cross member is configured to connect roof side rail portions provided on both sides of the roof panel in the vehicle width direction, and functions as a reinforcement that increases the rigidity of the roof portion.

[0003] On the other hand, in vehicles with sliding rear side doors, the rear sliding door runs on a rail installed on the side of the vehicle body to open and close the rear door opening. The rail on the upper part of the vehicle body is located, for example, inside a bulge that bulges outward from the roof side rail. The bulge is usually located above or near the center pillar.

[0004] In such a structure, the rigidity of the upper part of the vehicle near the bulge is lower than that of the upper part of a vehicle with side doors that open and close via hinges, which may result in a reduction in the support rigidity of the roof member that supports the roof panel, etc. The reduction in support rigidity of the roof cross member may result in primary mode bending deformation in the vertical direction of the vehicle. This primary mode is a cause of muffled noise at low revolutions. Therefore, in the structure of the above example, the outer portion of the roof cross member in the vehicle width direction is connected to the bulge to ensure rigidity. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-213694 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The roof side rail portion including the bulge portion has a side body outer panel that forms the outer side of the vehicle body and a roof side inner panel that is placed inside the side body panel, forming a closed cross section. In the normal assembly process of a vehicle body, the side body outer panel and the roof panel are joined together first. During this manufacturing process, the roof side inner panel that forms the bulge portion is separated from the roof cross member.

[0007] Even if the reinforcing member is to be joined to the bulge portion and the roof cross member by welding, the structure of the above example may not provide enough space for a welding robot arm to pass through, making the joining by welding difficult. Therefore, the bulge portion and the roof cross member are fastened together, for example, with bolts. Since joining by bolting is performed manually, it is difficult to increase the speed of the production line. As such, structures that require bolting can sometimes make it difficult to improve production efficiency. Therefore, the structure of the above example leaves room for improvement when attempting to effectively reinforce the upper part of the center pillar portion without reducing production efficiency.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a vehicle side structure that can effectively reinforce the upper part of the center pillar section in the bulge section that stores the rail along which the sliding side door runs, without reducing production efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the vehicle side structure of the present invention comprises a roof panel arranged on the upper part of the vehicle, a roof cross member arranged on the underside of the roof panel and extending in the vehicle width direction, a side body outer panel arranged on the side of the vehicle, a roof side rail portion arranged on the outer side of the roof panel in the vehicle width direction and extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, a door opening arranged on the side of the vehicle and opened and closed by a rear sliding door, and a center pillar portion arranged in front of the door opening. In this vehicle side structure, the roof side rail portion has a bulge portion that bulges toward the inside of the vehicle and accommodates the rail member along which the rear sliding door runs, a reinforcing member is joined to the front of the bulge portion, the vehicle widthwise outer ends of the front and rear portions of the roof cross member are arranged at a distance from each other in the vertical direction of the vehicle, the reinforcing member is joined to the vehicle widthwise outer end portion of the front portion, and the side body outer panel and the roof panel are joined in three layers to the vehicle widthwise outer end portion of the rear portion, and when viewed in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, a space is defined by the reinforcing member, the front portion of the roof cross member, and an inner panel located on the vehicle inside of the roof side rail portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, the bulge that houses the rail along which the sliding side door runs can effectively reinforce the upper part of the center pillar without reducing production efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a vehicle side structure according to the present invention, seen from below the vehicle. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view including a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow BB in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow CC in FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is a perspective view of the reinforcing member of FIG. 1 as viewed from the front of the vehicle. FIG. [Figure 7] 2 is a perspective view showing the vehicle from below with the bulging portion of FIG. 1 omitted, and the upper side in the figure corresponds to the lower side of the vehicle. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vehicle as seen from the front, with the upper side in the figure corresponding to the lower side of the vehicle. [Figure 10] 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the periphery of the reinforcing member of FIG. 9, viewed from an angle different from that of FIG. 9. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, one embodiment of a vehicle side structure for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings (Figs. 1 to 10). In the drawings, the direction of the arrow Fr indicates the front in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In the description of the embodiment, the "front (front end) and rear (rear end)" correspond to the front and rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Furthermore, the arrows R and L indicate the right and left sides when an occupant looks forward of the vehicle. Furthermore, the arrow U indicates the upper side of the vehicle.

[0013] The vehicle side structure of this embodiment is an upper structure of the vehicle side, and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, has a roof panel 1, a roof cross member 5, a side body outer panel 10, a roof side rail portion 20, and a reinforcing member 30. Each component will be described below.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the roof panel 1 is a metal member that is arranged on the upper part of the vehicle and that constitutes the roof of the upper part of the vehicle. In this example, it is a panel material that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 2, an outer wall 1a and an outer flange 1b are provided on the outer part of the roof panel 1 in the vehicle width direction. The outer wall 1a is a wall surface that protrudes downward from the outer end of the upper surface of the roof panel 1 in the vehicle width direction and extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The outer flange 1b protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the lower end of the outer wall 1a and extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. An outer roof portion 14 (described later) of a side body outer panel 10 is joined to the outer flange 1b. The joining of the roof panel 1 and the side body outer panel 10 will be explained later.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1, 9 and 10, the roof cross member 5 is a metal member that is placed on the underside of the roof panel 1 and extends in the vehicle width direction. The roof cross member 5 has a predetermined length in the vehicle front-rear direction and is joined to the underside of the roof panel 1, for example, by adhesive. The vehicle width outer portion of the roof cross member 5 is joined to the reinforcing member 30, the side body outer panel 10, the roof panel 1, etc. The shape of the vehicle width outer portion of the roof cross member 5 will be explained later.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the side body outer panel 10 is a highly rigid metal member disposed on the side of the vehicle and constituting the outermost portion of the vehicle body. The side body outer panel 10 has a front side door opening 11, a rear side door opening (door opening) 12, a pillar portion (not shown), and an outer roof portion 14. The front side door opening 11 is an opening that is opened and closed by a front side door (not shown). The rear side door opening 12 is an opening that is opened and closed by a rear side door (not shown), and is disposed on the vehicle rear side of the front side door opening 11 via a pillar portion. The rear side door of this embodiment is a slide type that opens and closes the rear side door opening 12 by traveling on a rail member (not shown) provided on the vehicle body.

[0017] A roof side drip molding (not shown) is attached to the upper part of the side body outer panel 10. The roof side drip molding is a member made of a resin material that guides water droplets and the like on the roof in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in rainy weather and prevents rainwater from flowing into the front side door opening 11 or the rear side door opening 12 when the front side door or the rear side door is opened. In this example, the roof side drip molding is attached to a recess formed between the inner wall 14a of the outer roof portion 14 and the outer wall 1a of the roof panel 1, and hides the welding points (spot welding points) where the inner flange 14b of the outer roof portion 14 and the outer flange 1b of the roof panel 1 are spot welded.

[0018] The center pillar portion 3 is provided on a side of the vehicle body, disposed in front of the rear side door opening 12, and extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The center pillar portion 3 includes a pillar portion of the side body outer panel 10, a pillar inner panel 26, and a center extension panel 27. As shown in FIGS. 1, 7, and 9, the pillar inner panel 26 is a metal member disposed inside the pillar portion of the side body outer panel 10 and extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The center extension panel 27 is disposed inside the pillar portion of the side body outer panel 10 and is a panel formed of a metal material that connects the lower portion of the roof side rail portion 20 and the pillar inner panel 26. A front portion of the upper portion of the center extension panel 27 protrudes forward of the vehicle and is joined to, for example, the roof side inner front panel 22. A rear portion of the upper portion of the center extension panel 27 is joined to the roof side inner center panel 23, which in this example is joined to a bulge portion 24 described below. Although not shown in the drawings, the lower portion of the center pillar portion 3 is connected to a side sill (not shown) of the vehicle body or the like.

[0019] The roof side rail portion 20 is provided on the outer side of the roof panel 1 in the vehicle width direction and extends in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle. In this example, the roof side rail portion 20 is arranged in the upper part of the vehicle on the inner side of the side body outer panel 10 in the vehicle width direction. The roof side rail portion 20 has a roof side reinforcement 21, a roof side inner front panel 22, and a roof side inner center panel 23, which form a closed cross-sectional structure. The roof side rail portion 20 also has a bulging portion 24 that bulges toward the inside of the vehicle and houses a rail member along which the rear sliding door runs. The bulging portion 24 will be described later.

[0020] Although not shown in detail, the roof side reinforcement 21 extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction and has a convex shape that convex toward the outside of the vehicle when viewed in the vehicle longitudinal direction. An upper portion of the roof side reinforcement 21 is joined to a roof side inner front panel 22, a roof side inner center panel 23, etc., as shown in Figures 3 and 4, for example. In addition, a lower portion of the roof side reinforcement 21 is also joined directly or indirectly to the roof side inner front panel 22, the roof side inner center panel 23, etc. By being joined in this manner, a closed cross-sectional structure is formed by the roof side reinforcement 21 and the roof side inner front panel 22, or by the roof side reinforcement 21 and the roof side inner center panel 23.

[0021] The roof side inner front panel 22 is disposed inside the roof side reinforcement 21 in the vehicle width direction, above the front side door opening 11, and extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction. As shown in Figures 1, 7 and 10, the rear portion of the roof side inner front panel 22 is disposed above the center pillar portion 3, and is joined to the front portion of the roof side inner center panel 23, the reinforcing member 30, and the center extension panel 27 located above the center pillar portion 3, etc.

[0022] The roof side inner center panel 23 is located inside the roof side reinforcement 21 in the vehicle width direction, above the rear side door opening 12, and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction. As shown in Figures 1, 7, and 10, the front portion of the roof side inner center panel 23 is located above the center pillar portion 3, and is joined to the reinforcing member 30, the center extension panel 27, the roof side inner front panel 22, etc.

[0023] Next, the bulging portion 24 will be described. As shown in Figures 1, 6, 9, and 10, the bulging portion 24 of this embodiment is provided on the roof side rail portion 20 and bulges toward the inside of the vehicle. The bulging portion 24 of this example is formed by the front portion of the roof side inner center panel 23 bulging inward in the vehicle width direction, and has a lower surface portion 24a, an inner wall portion 24b, and a front wall portion 24c.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 8, the lower surface portion 24a extends inward from the vehicle width direction outer end at the lower end of the roof side inner center panel 23. The inner wall portion 24b is a wall portion that extends upward from the vehicle width direction inner end of the lower surface portion 24a and faces the vehicle width direction inner side, and extends in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction from a side rearward of the center pillar portion 3 toward the front of the vehicle, slanting inward in the vehicle width direction. The front wall portion 24c is a wall portion that faces the front of the vehicle and extends outward in the vehicle width direction from the front end of the inner wall portion 24b. In addition, a curved portion 24d that curves toward the front of the vehicle is provided on the vehicle width direction outer side of the front wall portion 24c, and the vehicle width direction outer end of the curved portion 24d is joined to the rear portion of the roof side inner front panel 22.

[0025] The reinforcing member 30 is joined to the roof side rail portion 20 located on the vehicle front side of the bulging portion 24. The reinforcing member 30 is plate-shaped and has an outer inclined portion 31 that inclines downward toward the vehicle as it extends outward in the vehicle width direction, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6 to 10. The reinforcing member 30 is joined to the roof cross member 5, and is further joined to the bulging portion 24 of the roof side rail portion 20. Details of the shape of the reinforcing member 30 and details of the joining of the reinforcing member 30 to each member will be described later.

[0026] Next, the shape of the vehicle widthwise outer portion of the roof cross member 5 will be described. The vehicle widthwise outer ends of the front and rear portions of the roof cross member 5 are arranged with a gap between them in the vertical direction of the vehicle. As shown in Figures 5 to 7, 9 and 10, the vehicle widthwise outer portion of the roof cross member 5 has a branch portion 6 that branches off above and below in the middle in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. In addition, a reinforcing member 30 is joined to the vehicle widthwise outer end of the front portion of the roof cross member 5, and a side body outer panel 10 and a roof panel 1 are joined in a triple layer to the vehicle widthwise outer end of the rear portion.

[0027] More specifically, a front inclined portion 7 is provided at the front portion of the branching portion 6 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The front inclined portion 7 extends at an incline downward on the vehicle as it extends outward in the vehicle width direction. The outer end of the front inclined portion 7 in the vehicle width direction is joined to an inner joint portion 37 (described later) of the reinforcing member 30. The inclination direction of the front inclined portion 7 extends along the inclination direction of the outer inclined portion 31 of the reinforcing member 30. In this example, the front portion of the branching portion 6 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is connected to the roof side rail portion 20 via the reinforcing member 30.

[0028] 7, 9, and 10, the rear portion of the branching portion 6 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction has a straight portion 8 that continues from the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the branching portion 6 and extends outward in the vehicle width direction. The straight portion 8 extends outward in the vehicle width direction while being spaced apart from the underside of the bulging portion 24, and is joined by spot welding to the side body outer panel 10 and the roof panel 1 in a three-layered state.

[0029] Furthermore, when viewed in the vehicle longitudinal direction, a space S is defined by the reinforcing member 30, the front portion of the roof cross member 5, and a roof side inner front panel (inner panel) 22 located on the vehicle inner side of the roof side rail portion 20. In this example, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 , the space S is defined by the main body portion of the reinforcing member 30, the front portion (front inclined portion 7) of the roof cross member 5 that is located outside the branch portion 6 in the vehicle width direction, the roof side inner center panel 23, and further the roof panel 1.

[0030] According to the vehicle side structure configured as described above, the upper portion of the center pillar portion 3 can be effectively reinforced for the bulge portion 24, which houses the rail along which the sliding side door runs, without reducing production efficiency. Furthermore, because the reinforcing member 30 is joined to the roof side rail portion 20, which has a highly rigid structure, the rigidity of supporting the roof cross member 5 is also improved. This suppresses deformation of the roof portion in the first bending mode in the vehicle's vertical direction and also suppresses worsening of muffled noise at low revolutions. Furthermore, because the rear portion of the reinforcing member 30 is joined to the bulge portion 24, which has lower rigidity than the surrounding area, the rigidity of the bulge portion 24 can be ensured. The reinforcing member 30 also has joints at three locations: the outer and inner ends in the vehicle width direction, and the rear end. This allows the three joints to work in conjunction with the respective joined components to achieve a highly rigid structure.

[0031] Furthermore, since the space S is defined as described above, it is possible to secure a work space for spot welding. Specifically, since a robot arm for welding can enter the space S from the front side of the vehicle, it is possible to join the reinforcing member 30 by spot welding. As a result, there is no need to employ a fastening method such as bolt fastening, which reduces manual work. Furthermore, it is desirable that a robot arm having a rectangular cross section of approximately 43 mm x 47 mm can enter the space S.

[0032] Here, the details of the shape of the reinforcing member 30 will be described. In this embodiment, the reinforcing member 30 has an outer inclined portion 31 on its outer side in the vehicle width direction, which inclines downward toward the vehicle width direction as it extends outward in the vehicle width direction. Flanges 33, 34 that protrude downward toward the vehicle are provided on the outer end and rear end of the outer inclined portion 31 in the vehicle width direction, and the flanges 33, 34 are joined to the roof side inner center panel (inner panel) 23 of the roof side rail portion 20 and the front wall portion 24c (front portion) of the bulging portion 24. The outer inclined portion 31 and the front inclined portion 7 extend continuously as shown in FIG. 3. These will be described in detail below.

[0033] 1 and 6 to 10, the reinforcing member 30 of this embodiment has the outer inclined portion 31, flange portions 33, 34, and inner joint portion 37, as described above. Each portion will be described below. The outer inclined portion 31 is provided on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the main body of the reinforcing member 30, and is inclined downward toward the vehicle as it extends outward in the vehicle width direction. In this example, the outer inclined portion 31 is a substantially rectangular plate in plan view that extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle and has a notched outer corner in the vehicle width direction on the rear side of the vehicle.

[0034] In detail, the front end of the outer inclined portion 31 extends linearly along the inclination direction. The rear end of the outer inclined portion 31 extends linearly along the inclination direction from the inner end in the vehicle width direction toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction, bends toward the front of the vehicle at the middle part in the vehicle width direction, and further extends at an incline toward the front of the vehicle as it extends toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The outer end and inner end in the vehicle width direction extend approximately parallel along the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle. The outer inclined portion 31 in this embodiment constitutes the main body of the reinforcing member 30. Note that the outer inclined portion 31 may be part of the main body of the reinforcing member 30.

[0035] Furthermore, multiple ribs 31a, 31b are provided within the surface of the outer inclined portion 31. In this example, the outer inclined portion 31 has, in a plan view, three widthwise ribs 31a extending in the vehicle width direction and two longitudinal ribs 31b extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. The three widthwise ribs 31a extend from the outer end of the outer inclined portion 31 in the vehicle width direction toward the inside of the vehicle and are arranged at intervals from each other in the vehicle front-rear direction. The two longitudinal ribs 31b extend from a portion of the rear end of the outer inclined portion 31 that extends linearly in the vehicle width direction toward the front of the vehicle and are arranged at intervals from each other in the vehicle width direction. In this example, the front ends of the two longitudinal ribs 31b are arranged on extensions of the rearmost widthwise rib 31a.

[0036] 3, the inclination direction of the outer inclined portion 31 extends along the inclination direction of the front inclined portion 7 of the roof cross member 5, and is continuous with it. In other words, when viewed in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the outer inclined portion 31 and the front inclined portion 7 form a single inclined wall.

[0037] The flange portions 33, 34 include an outer flange portion 33 and a rear flange portion 34. The outer flange portion 33 protrudes downward from the outer end of the outer inclined portion 31 in the vehicle width direction and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction. The outer flange portion 33 is joined by spot welding to the roof side inner front panel 22 and the roof side inner center panel 23 of the roof side rail portion 20. Note that the outer flange portion 33, the roof side inner front panel 22, and the roof side inner center panel 23 may be partially joined together. The rear flange portion 34 protrudes downward from the rear end of the outer inclined portion 31 and extends along the rear end to correspond to the curved shape of the rear end. The rear flange portion 34 is joined by spot welding to a middle portion of the front wall portion 24c of the bulging portion 24 in the vehicle up-down direction. The curved shape of the rear flange portion 34 roughly corresponds to the shape of the curved portion 24d of the front wall portion 24c of the bulging portion 24. In this example, a slight gap may be formed between the curved portion 24d and the rear flange portion .

[0038] By providing the inclined shape as described above, it is possible to prevent the space S from being narrowed, and welding can be performed easily. Furthermore, since the flanges 33, 34 are provided that are curved toward the inside of the vehicle compartment, the rigidity of the reinforcing member 30 is improved. As the rigidity of the reinforcing member 30 is improved, it is also possible to improve the rigidity of the members surrounding the reinforcing member 30. As a result, the effect of suppressing the primary bending mode of the roof portion can be further improved.

[0039] Furthermore, by aligning the inclination directions of the front inclined portion 7 and the outer inclined portion 31 and forming them so that they are continuous, it is possible to suppress stress concentration. Compared to when the front inclined portion 7 is not provided, the inclination of the outer inclined portion 31 can be set to be gentler, making it possible to suppress deformation due to loads in the vertical direction of the vehicle. By providing the branch portion 6 (bending portion) at a position a predetermined distance inward in the vehicle width direction from the inner end of the bulging portion 24 in the vehicle width direction, the inclination becomes even gentler, making it possible to create a structure that is strong against vertical loads.

[0040] In this embodiment, a joint is provided at the rear of the reinforcing member 30 to be joined to the front of the bulge 24, and the joint faces the rear of the vehicle and extends from the inner portion of the center pillar 3 toward the inside of the vehicle width direction, and the joint is disposed between the front and rear ends of the center pillar 3 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and between the front and rear ends of the roof cross member 5. In this example, a rear flange (joint) 34 provided at the rear end of the outer inclined portion 31 is joined to the front wall (front portion) 24c of the bulge 24.

[0041] 8 and 10, the position of the rear flange portion 34 in the vehicle longitudinal direction corresponds to the position between the front and rear ends of the center pillar portion 3. In addition, the rear flange portion 34 is disposed so as to correspond to the position between the front and rear ends of the roof cross member 5.

[0042] The center pillar portion 3 has a closed cross-sectional structure and is one of the most rigid portions of the vehicle body. By placing the rear flange portion 34 at a position corresponding to the area between the front and rear ends of the highly rigid center pillar portion 3, the rigidity of the reinforcing member 30 can be more easily ensured. This can enhance the effect of suppressing primary bending mode deformation in the vehicle's vertical direction in the roof portion. Furthermore, when an impact load in the vehicle width direction acts on the roof cross member 5 due to a side collision, for example, the reinforcing member 30 can more effectively withstand the load.

[0043] In this embodiment, a balance panel 28 having a sloped portion that slopes downward toward the rear of the vehicle is disposed on the vehicle rear side of the roof cross member 5. The rear end of the balance panel 28 is joined to the bulge portion 24 that is located rearward of the center pillar portion 3. In this example, the balance panel 28 is disposed at the corner formed by the bulge portion 24 and the straight portion 8 of the roof cross member 5, as shown in Figures 1 and 10 .

[0044] As described above, the front portion of the bulge portion 24 is positioned so as to overlap the roof cross member 5 in a plan view. In this case, the vehicle width directional inner end of the front portion of the bulge portion 24 is positioned at a distance below the roof cross member 5 in the vehicle vertical direction. In this embodiment, a balance panel 28 is provided in this space. The front end of the balance panel 28 is joined by spot welding to the rear end of the straight portion 8 of the roof cross member 5. The balance panel 28 extends at an angle downward toward the rear of the vehicle. The rear portion of the balance panel 28 is joined by spot welding to the upper end of the vehicle width directional inner end of the bulge portion 24.

[0045] This configuration makes it possible to improve the support rigidity in the vehicle's vertical direction of the wide roof cross member 5, which has a predetermined length in the vehicle's fore-and-aft direction. In addition, because the balance panel 28 is joined to the roof cross member 5 and the roof side rail portion 20, it is possible to configure a highly rigid structure in conjunction with the joined members, and further increase the rigidity of the parts surrounding the balance panel 28. As a result, the effect of suppressing primary bending deformation of the roof portion is further improved.

[0046] The description of the present embodiment is merely an example for explaining the present invention, and does not limit the invention described in the claims. Furthermore, the configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the technical scope described in the claims.

[0047] For example, in this embodiment, the outer inclined portion 31 is configured as a linearly inclined plane, but is not limited to this. It may have a slightly curved shape. In this case, for example, the outer inclined portion 31 may be curved downward as it extends outward in the vehicle width direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1 roof panel 1a Exterior wall 1b Outer flange 3 Center pillar 5 Roof cross member 6 Branch 7 Front slope 8 Straight section 10 Side body outer panel 11 Front side door opening 12 Rear side door opening (side door opening) 14 Outer roof section 14a Inner wall 14b Inner flange 20 Roof side rail 21 Roof side reinforcement 22 Roof side inner front panel 23 Roof side inner center panel (inner panel) 24 Bulge 24a Bottom part 24b Inner wall 24c Front wall 24d curved section 26 Pillar inner panel 27 Center extension panel 28 Balance Panel 30 Reinforcement member 31 Outer slope 31a Width direction rib 31b Front-rear rib 33 Outer flange (flange) 34 Rear flange (flange) 37 Inner joint S space

Claims

1. A roof panel located at the top of the vehicle, a roof cross member disposed on the underside of the roof panel and extending in the vehicle width direction; a side body outer panel disposed on a side of the vehicle; a roof side rail portion provided on an outer side of the roof panel in the vehicle width direction and extending in the vehicle front-rear direction; a door opening provided on a side of the vehicle and opened and closed by a rear sliding door; a center pillar portion disposed in front of the door opening, The roof side rail portion is provided with a bulging portion that bulges toward the inside of the vehicle and accommodates a rail member along which the rear sliding door travels, A reinforcing member is joined to the front portion of the bulging portion, The vehicle width direction outer ends of the front and rear portions of the roof cross member are disposed spaced apart from each other in the vehicle up-down direction, The reinforcing member is joined to an outer end portion in the vehicle width direction of the front portion, the side body outer panel and the roof panel are joined in three layers to the outer end of the rear portion in the vehicle width direction, A vehicle side structure characterized in that, when viewed in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, a space is defined by the reinforcing member, the front portion of the roof cross member, and an inner panel located on the inside of the vehicle of the roof side rail portion.

2. an outer inclined portion inclined downward toward the vehicle as it extends outward in the vehicle width direction is provided on an outer portion of the reinforcing member in the vehicle width direction, and a flange portion protruding downward toward the vehicle is provided on an outer end and a rear end of the outer inclined portion in the vehicle width direction, and the flange portion is joined to the inner panel of the roof side rail portion and a front portion of the bulge portion, a front inclined portion that bends downward and slopes downward as it extends outward in the vehicle width direction, at a front portion of the roof cross member that is located more inward in the vehicle width direction than the inner end of the bulging portion; The vehicle side structure according to claim 1, wherein the outer inclined portion and the front inclined portion extend continuously.

3. a joint portion that is joined to the front portion of the bulge portion is provided at a rear portion of the reinforcing member, the joint portion facing the rear of the vehicle and extending inward in the vehicle width direction from an inner portion of the center pillar portion in the vehicle width direction, A vehicle side structure as described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the joint portion is arranged between the front and rear ends of the center pillar portion in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and between the front and rear ends of the roof cross member.

4. A balance panel having a sloped portion that slopes downward toward the rear of the vehicle is disposed on the vehicle rear side of the roof cross member, 3. The vehicle side structure according to claim 1, wherein a rear end of the balance panel is joined to the bulging portion located rearward of the center pillar portion of the vehicle.

Images