Front body structure

Abstract

The present invention relates to a front body structure comprising a front side member connected to a front mounting bracket and a front side upper member spaced apart from the front side member in the width direction of the vehicle body and connected to the front mounting bracket.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a front body structure, and more specifically, to a front body structure capable of responding to a small overlap collision. Background Technology

[0002] Response to the small overlap test is being emphasized as a measure to ensure vehicle safety.

[0003] During the small overlap test, U.S. safety regulations require that in the small overlap front test, a vehicle travels toward a barrier at 40 mph and 25% of the vehicle's front end overlaps with the barrier. This test simulates the situation that occurs when one side of the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or an obstacle such as a tree or a utility pole.

[0004] To address these tests, a structure is adopted in which the fender apron upper member is extended to the front of the FEM mounting, so that upon collision with a barrier, the impact load is transferred to the A-pillar through the upper member that overlaps with the barrier. In this case, the cross-section of the upper member is configured as a zero-matching that contacts the cross-section of the front side member in the width direction.

[0005] In other words, there is a possibility that the collision energy may not be properly dispersed because the overlap area in the body width direction between the upper member cross-section and the front side member cross-section, to which the collision load is transmitted, is insufficient.

[0006] The matters described in this background technology section are written to enhance understanding of the background of the invention and may include matters that are not prior art already known to those skilled in the art to which this technology belongs. The problem to be solved

[0007] The present invention provides a front body structure capable of responding to small overlap collisions by securing a cross-section in the width direction of the front of the vehicle body. means of solving the problem

[0008] A front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a front side member connected to a front mounting bracket and a front side upper member spaced apart from the front side member in the width direction of the body and connected to the front mounting bracket.

[0009] The front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a front side member bracket connecting the front mounting bracket, the front side member, and the front side upper member.

[0010] The above front side member bracket may include a rear portion that is coupled to the above front side member.

[0011] The above rear portion may be formed with an incline in the rearward direction of the vehicle body.

[0012] The above front side member bracket may include a rear stepped portion formed with a step in the rear portion.

[0013] The above front side member bracket may include a rear flange that is formed by bending at the rear portion and coupled to the front side member.

[0014] The above front side member bracket may further include an upper bracket connecting the front mounting bracket and the front side member, and a lower bracket connecting the front mounting bracket and the front side member and mounted on the lower part of the upper bracket.

[0015] The upper bracket may include an upper bracket side surface connecting the front mounting bracket and the rear portion, an upper bracket upper surface connecting the front mounting bracket, the front side member, the rear portion and the upper bracket side surface, and an upper bracket lower surface connecting the front mounting bracket, the front side member, the rear portion and the upper bracket side surface.

[0016] The upper bracket may further include an upper bracket side flange formed by curving from the side surface of the upper bracket and coupled to the front mounting bracket, an upper bracket upper flange formed by extending from the upper surface of the upper bracket and coupled to the upper part of the front side member, and an upper bracket lower flange formed by curving from the lower surface of the upper bracket and coupled to the side of the front side member.

[0017] The upper bracket may include a stepped side portion formed on the side surface of the upper bracket and welded to the lower bracket.

[0018] Welding holes may be formed in the upper surface of the upper bracket and the lower surface of the upper bracket, respectively.

[0019] A front mounting bracket welding hole may be formed in the above front mounting bracket that communicates with the welding hole of the above upper bracket.

[0020] The lower bracket may include a lower bracket side surface connected to the front mounting bracket and the upper bracket side surface, and a lower bracket rear surface formed by curvature on the lower bracket side surface and connected to the rear portion and the front side member.

[0021] The lower bracket may further include a lower bracket front flange formed by curvature on the side surface of the lower bracket and connected to the front mounting bracket, and a lower bracket rear flange formed by curvature on the rear surface of the lower bracket and connected to the front side member.

[0022] The front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include the lower bracket and the lower bracket bulkhead provided on the inner side of the front mounting bracket.

[0023] The above front side upper member may include a front side upper inner member connected to the rear of the front mounting bracket and spaced apart from the front side member and connected to the upper surface of the upper bracket, and a front side upper outer member connected to the front mounting bracket, the side surface of the upper bracket and the rear portion, and coupled with the front side upper inner member.

[0024] The above front side upper member may include a front side upper inner member upper flange formed by extending upward from the front side upper inner member and a front side upper outer member upper flange formed by extending upward from the front side upper outer member and coupled to the front side upper inner member upper flange.

[0025] The front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a front side bulkhead provided within the front side member adjacent to the position where the rear portion is coupled with the front side member.

[0026] The above front mounting bracket may include a front mounting bracket protrusion formed to protrude to be coupled to the front side member.

[0027] The above front side member may include a front side member first unit comprising a front side member inner body coupled to the front mounting bracket protrusion and an inner body upper flange and an inner body lower flange formed by bending in the upper and lower directions from the front side member inner body, and a front side member second unit comprising a front side member outer body coupled to the front mounting bracket protrusion and an outer body upper flange and an outer body lower flange formed by bending in the upper and lower directions from the front side member outer body and coupled to the inner body upper flange and the inner body lower flange, respectively. Effects of the invention

[0028] According to the front body structure of the embodiment of the present invention, the cross-section in the width direction of the front part of the vehicle body corresponding to a front collision of the vehicle is increased, thereby enabling appropriate distribution of collision load during a small overlap collision.

[0029] Furthermore, other effects that can be obtained or predicted by the embodiments of the present invention will be disclosed directly or implicitly in the detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention. That is, various effects predicted according to the embodiments of the present invention will be disclosed within the detailed description to be set forth below. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0030] These drawings are for reference to explain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and therefore, the technical concept of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to the attached drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a front vehicle body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a front vehicle body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. 44, 48 added FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of FIG. 1 excluding the front side upper outer member. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of FIG. 3 excluding the front side upper inner member. FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of FIG. 4 excluding the lower bracket. FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view excluding the upper bracket and the second unit of the front side member from FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view excluding the front mounting bracket of the front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 2. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0031] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. However, the present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0032] To clearly explain the present invention, parts unrelated to the explanation have been omitted, and the same reference numerals are used for identical or similar components throughout the specification.

[0033] The size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are depicted arbitrarily for convenience of explanation, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to what is shown in the drawings; thicknesses are shown enlarged to clearly represent various parts and regions.

[0034] Furthermore, in the detailed description below, the designation of components as "1st," "2nd," etc., is intended to distinguish them due to their identical nature, and is not strictly limited to that order in the description below.

[0035] Throughout the specification, when a part is described as including a certain component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but may include additional components.

[0036] In addition, terms such as ...part, ...means, etc., as described in the specification refer to a comprehensive unit of composition that performs at least one function or operation.

[0037] When a part such as a layer, membrane, region, or plate is said to be "on" another part, this includes not only the case where it is directly on top of the other part, but also the case where there is another part in between.

[0038] Conversely, when it is said that one part is "directly above" another part, it means that there is no other part in between.

[0039] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0040] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a front vehicle body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of a front vehicle body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a front side member (20) connected to a front mounting bracket (10) and a front side upper member (40) spaced apart from the front side member (20) in the width direction of the body and connected to the front mounting bracket (10).

[0042] The front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a front side member bracket (60) connecting the front mounting bracket (10), the front side member (20), and the front side upper member (40).

[0043] In the front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the front side upper member (40) is provided spaced apart from the front side member (20) in the width direction of the vehicle body.

[0044] Typically, the front side upper member and the front side member are surface-matched with a zero relative position in the width direction of the vehicle body. Therefore, upon collision with a small overlap barrier, the front cross-section of the front side upper member and the front side member in contact with the barrier is relatively small, which may result in ineffective distribution of the collision load.

[0045] However, in the front body structure according to the embodiment of the present invention, the widthwise length of the body formed by the front side upper member (40) and the front side member (20) can be relatively longer by the indicated "L". Accordingly, when colliding with the small overlap barrier (160), the collision load distribution through the front side upper member (40) and the front side member (20) can be effectively performed.

[0046] The above front side member bracket (60) may include a rear portion (62) that is coupled to the front side member (20).

[0047] The above rear portion (62) can be formed with an incline in the rear direction of the vehicle body.

[0048] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of FIG. 1 excluding the front side upper outer member, and FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of FIG. 3 excluding the front side upper inner member.

[0049] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view excluding the lower bracket in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view excluding the upper bracket and the second front side member unit in FIG. 5.

[0050] FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view excluding the front mounting bracket of the front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] Hereinafter, a front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

[0052] The front side member bracket (60) may include a rear stepped portion (64) formed at a step on the rear portion (62). The curved shape of the rear stepped portion (64) may increase the rigidity of the rear portion (62) of the front side member bracket (60).

[0053] The front side member bracket (60) may include a rear flange (66) that is formed by bending at the rear portion (62) and connected to the front side member (20). The front side member bracket (60) may be welded to the front side member (20) through the rear flange (66).

[0054] The above front side member bracket (60) may further include an upper bracket (70) connecting the front mounting bracket (10) and the front side member (20), and a lower bracket (100) connecting the front mounting bracket (10) and the front side member (20) and mounted on the lower part of the upper bracket (70).

[0055] The upper bracket (70) includes an upper bracket side surface (72) connecting the front mounting bracket (10) and the rear portion (62). Additionally, the upper bracket (70) includes an upper bracket upper surface (80) connecting the front mounting bracket (10), the front side member (20), the rear portion (62), and the upper bracket side surface (72). Additionally, the upper bracket (70) may include an upper bracket lower surface (90; see FIG. 7) connecting the front mounting bracket (10), the front side member (20), the rear portion (62), and the upper bracket side surface (72).

[0056] The upper bracket (70) may further include an upper bracket side flange (74) formed by bending from the upper bracket side surface (72) and coupled to the front mounting bracket (10), an upper bracket upper flange (84) formed by extending from the upper bracket upper surface (80) and coupled to the upper part of the front side member (20), and an upper bracket lower flange (92; see FIG. 7) formed by bending from the upper bracket lower surface (90) and coupled to the side of the front side member (20).

[0057] That is, the upper bracket (70) can be welded to the front side member (20) in the width direction of the vehicle body through the rear flange (66), and can be welded to the front side member (20) in the height direction of the vehicle body through the upper flange (84) of the upper bracket. Accordingly, the upper bracket (70) is joined to the front side member (20) in the width and height directions of the vehicle body, so that the connection between the upper bracket (70) and the front side member (20) can be made more robust.

[0058] The upper bracket (70) may further include an upper front flange (85) that is formed in a curve on the upper surface (80) of the upper bracket and is coupled to the front mounting bracket (10).

[0059] The upper bracket (70) may include a side surface step portion (76) that is formed with a step on the side surface (72) of the upper bracket and welded to the lower bracket (100). The rigidity of the side surface (72) of the upper bracket can be secured by the step shape of the side surface step portion (76).

[0060] Welding holes (82, 94; see FIG. 7) may be formed in the upper surface (80) of the upper bracket and the lower surface (90) of the upper bracket, respectively.

[0061] In the front mounting bracket (10), a front mounting bracket welding hole (12) communicating with the welding hole (82, 94) of the upper bracket (70) may be formed.

[0062] The welding gun can be inserted into the welding hole (12) of the front mounting bracket and the welding hole (82, 94) of the upper bracket (70) to weld, making the joining process easier.

[0063] The lower bracket (100) may include a lower bracket side surface (110) connected to the front mounting bracket (10) and the upper bracket side surface (72), and a lower bracket rear surface (114) formed in a curve on the lower bracket side surface (110) and connected to the rear portion (62) and the front side member (20).

[0064] The lower bracket (100) may further include a lower bracket front flange (112) formed by bending on the lower bracket side surface (110) and connected to the front mounting bracket (10), and a lower bracket rear flange (116) formed by bending on the lower bracket rear surface (114) and connected to the front side member (20).

[0065] The front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a lower bracket bulkhead (120) provided inside the lower bracket (100) and the front mounting bracket (10). The lower bracket bulkhead (120) can strengthen the connection between the lower bracket (100) and the front mounting bracket (10) and distribute the front collision load of the vehicle.

[0066] The front side upper member (40) may include a front side upper inner member (42) that is connected to the rear of the front mounting bracket (10) and spaced apart from the front side member (20) and connected to the upper bracket upper surface (80), and a front side upper outer member (46) that is connected to the front mounting bracket (10), the upper bracket side surface (72) and the rear portion (62) and coupled with the front side upper inner member (42).

[0067] That is, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the front side upper inner member (42) is spaced apart from the front side member (20) and coupled to the upper bracket upper surface (80), and the front side upper outer member (46) can be welded to wrap around the upper bracket (70). Thus, the front side upper member (40) can be firmly coupled to the upper bracket (70).

[0068] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 7, the front side upper member (40) may include a front side upper inner member upper flange (44) formed by extending upward from the front side upper inner member (42) and a front side upper outer member upper flange (48) formed by extending upward from the front side upper outer member (46) and coupled to the front side upper inner member upper flange (44).

[0069] The upper flange (44) of the front side upper inner member and the upper flange (48) of the front side upper outer member can be welded to connect the front side upper inner member (42) and the front side upper outer member (46). Additionally, the upper flange (44) of the front side upper inner member and the upper flange (48) of the front side upper outer member can also serve to distribute the collision load from the front of the vehicle body to the rear of the vehicle body during a collision.

[0070] The front mounting bracket (10) may include a front mounting bracket protrusion (14) formed to protrude to be coupled to the front side member (20).

[0071] The front side member (20) comprises a front side member inner body (24) coupled to the front mounting bracket protrusion (14), and a front side member first unit (22) comprising an inner body upper flange (26) and an inner body lower flange (28) formed by curving in the upper and lower directions from the front side member inner body (24).

[0072] Additionally, the front side member (20) may include a front side member outer body (34) coupled to the front mounting bracket protrusion (14), and a front side member second unit (32) formed by bending in the upper and lower directions from the front side member outer body (34) and including an outer body upper flange (36) and an outer body lower flange (38).

[0073] The outer body upper flange (36) and the outer body lower flange (38) can be welded together with the inner body upper flange (26) and the inner body lower flange (28), respectively.

[0074] In addition, the rigidity of the front side member (20) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body can be increased by the combination of the outer body upper flange (36) and outer body lower flange (38) formed in the longitudinal direction of the front side member (20) and the inner body upper flange (26) and inner body lower flange (28).

[0075] A wheel guard (150) may be provided on the lower part of the front side member (20), and a subframe mounting rear reinforcement (140) that supports a subframe mounting bolt (142) may be provided on the inner side of the front side member (20).

[0076] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 2.

[0077] Referring to FIGS. 6 and FIGS. 8, the front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a front side bulkhead (130) provided within the front side member (20) adjacent to the position where the rear portion (62) is coupled with the front side member (20).

[0078] Referring to FIGS. 2 and FIGS. 8, the rear portion (62) is formed at an angle toward the rear of the vehicle body, so that the planar shape of the front side member bracket (60) may generally be a rhombus shape. Accordingly, the cross-sectional size can be maximized in correspondence with the shape of the wheel guard (150). In addition, through the planar shape of the front side member bracket (60), the collision load transmitted to the front side member bracket (60) can be appropriately distributed to the front side member (20).

[0079] Additionally, when a vehicle front collision occurs, the front side member bracket (60) may rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 2, but the front side bulkhead (130) may be provided within the front side member (20) adjacent to the position where the rear part (62) is coupled with the front side member (20), thereby preventing the front side member bracket (60) from penetrating into the front side member (20).

[0080] Referring to FIG. 7, the front side member bracket (60) is formed by two components, the upper bracket (70) and the lower bracket (100), and generally has an "H" shaped cross-section. Accordingly, the rigidity of the front side member bracket (60) can be secured, and the collision load transfer effect can be increased.

[0081] In addition, welding can be performed through the welding hole (12) of the front mounting bracket and the welding hole (82, 94) of the upper bracket (70), making welding easier.

[0082] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and includes all modifications within the scope recognized as equivalent that can be easily made by those skilled in the art from the embodiments of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0083] 10: Front mounting bracket 12: Front mounting bracket welding hole 14: Front mounting bracket protrusion 20: Front side member 22: Front Side Member 1st Unit 24: Front Side Member Inner Body 26: Inner body upper flange 28: Inner body lower flange 32: Front Side Member 2nd Unit 34: Front Side Member Outer Body 36: Outer body upper flange 38: Outer body lower flange 40: Front side upper member 42: Front side upper inner member 44: Front side upper inner member upper flange 46: Front side upper outer member 48: Front side upper outer member upper flange 60: Front side member bracket 62: Rear section 64: Rear stepped section 66: Rear flange 70: Upper bracket 72: Upper bracket side 74: Upper bracket side flange 76: Side surface stepped portion 80: Upper bracket upper surface 82: Welding hole 84: Upper bracket upper flange 85: Upper bracket upper front flange 90: Upper bracket lower surface 92: Upper bracket lower flange 94: Welding hole 100: Lower bracket 110: Lower bracket side surface 112: Lower bracket front flange 114: Rear side of lower bracket 116: Rear flange of lower bracket 120: Lower bracket bulkhead 130: Front side bulkhead 140; Subframe Mounting Rear Reinforcement 142: Subframe mounting bolt 150: Wheel guard 160: Small Overlap Barrier

Claims

Claim 1 A front side member connected to a front mounting bracket; a front side upper member spaced apart from the front side member in the vehicle body width direction and connected to the front mounting bracket; and a front side member bracket connecting the front mounting bracket, the front side member, and the front side upper member; wherein the front side member bracket comprises a rear portion coupled to the front side member; an upper bracket connecting the front mounting bracket and the front side member; and a lower bracket connecting the front mounting bracket and the front side member and mounted on the lower part of the upper bracket; wherein the upper bracket comprises an upper bracket side surface connecting the front mounting bracket and the rear portion; an upper bracket upper surface connecting the front mounting bracket, the front side member, the rear portion, and the upper bracket side surface; and an upper bracket lower surface connecting the front mounting bracket, the front side member, the rear portion, and the upper bracket side surface. A front body structure comprising: an upper bracket side flange formed by curvature from the upper bracket side surface and coupled to the front mounting bracket; an upper bracket upper flange formed by extending from the upper surface of the upper bracket and coupled to the upper part of the front side member; and an upper bracket lower flange formed by curvature from the lower surface of the upper bracket and coupled to the side of the front side member. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 delete Claim 4 In paragraph 1, the rear portion is a front body structure formed by sloping in the rearward direction of the vehicle body. Claim 5 In claim 1, the front side member bracket comprises a rear stepped portion formed with a step in the rear portion; a front body structure. Claim 6 In claim 1, the front side member bracket comprises a rear flange formed by bending at the rear portion and coupled to the front side member; a front body structure. Claim 7 delete Claim 8 delete Claim 9 delete Claim 10 In claim 1, the front body structure comprising: a side surface stepped portion formed at a step on the side surface of the upper bracket and welded to the lower bracket. Claim 11 A front side member connected to a front mounting bracket; a front side upper member spaced apart from the front side member in the vehicle body width direction and connected to the front mounting bracket; and a front side member bracket connecting the front mounting bracket, the front side member, and the front side upper member; wherein the front side member bracket comprises a rear portion coupled to the front side member; an upper bracket connecting the front mounting bracket and the front side member; and a lower bracket connecting the front mounting bracket and the front side member and mounted on the lower part of the upper bracket; wherein the upper bracket comprises an upper bracket side surface connecting the front mounting bracket and the rear portion; an upper bracket upper surface connecting the front mounting bracket, the front side member, the rear portion, and the upper bracket side surface; and an upper bracket lower surface connecting the front mounting bracket, the front side member, the rear portion, and the upper bracket side surface; A front body structure including, wherein welding holes are formed in the upper surface of the upper bracket and the lower surface of the upper bracket, respectively. Claim 12 In claim 11, the front body structure has a front mounting bracket weld hole formed in the front mounting bracket that communicates with the weld hole of the upper bracket. Claim 13 A front side member connected to a front mounting bracket; a front side upper member spaced apart from the front side member in the vehicle body width direction and connected to the front mounting bracket; and a front side member bracket connecting the front mounting bracket, the front side member, and the front side upper member; wherein the front side member bracket comprises a rear portion coupled to the front side member; an upper bracket connecting the front mounting bracket and the front side member; and a lower bracket connecting the front mounting bracket and the front side member and mounted on the lower part of the upper bracket; wherein the upper bracket comprises an upper bracket side surface connecting the front mounting bracket and the rear portion; an upper bracket upper surface connecting the front mounting bracket, the front side member, the rear portion, and the upper bracket side surface; and an upper bracket lower surface connecting the front mounting bracket, the front side member, the rear portion, and the upper bracket side surface; A front body structure comprising: a lower bracket side surface connected to the front mounting bracket and the upper bracket side surface; and a lower bracket rear surface formed curved on the lower bracket side surface and connected to the rear portion and the front side member. Claim 14 In claim 13, the lower bracket further comprises: a lower bracket front flange formed by curvature on the side surface of the lower bracket and connected to the front mounting bracket; and a lower bracket rear flange formed by curvature on the rear surface of the lower bracket and connected to the front side member; a front body structure. Claim 15 A front body structure further comprising, in claim 13, a lower bracket bulkhead provided on the inner side of the lower bracket and the front mounting bracket. Claim 16 In claim 13, the front side upper member is connected to the rear of the front mounting bracket and is spaced apart from the front side member and is connected to the upper surface of the upper bracket; and the front side upper outer member is connected to the front mounting bracket, the upper bracket side surface and the rear portion and is coupled to the front side upper inner member; comprising a front body structure. Claim 17 In claim 16, the front side upper member comprises: a front side upper inner member upper flange formed by extending upward from the front side upper inner member; and a front side upper outer member upper flange formed by extending upward from the front side upper outer member and coupled to the front side upper inner member upper flange; a front body structure comprising. Claim 18 A front body structure further comprising, in any one of claims 1, 11, or 13, a front side bulkhead provided within the front side member adjacent to the position where the rear portion is joined to the front side member. Claim 19 A front body structure comprising, in any one of claims 1, 11, or 13, a front mounting bracket protrusion formed to protrude to be coupled to the front side member. Claim 20 In claim 19, the front side member comprises: a first front side member unit comprising a front side member inner body coupled to the front mounting bracket protrusion and an inner body upper flange and an inner body lower flange formed by bending in the upper and lower directions from the front side member inner body; and a second front side member unit comprising a front side member outer body coupled to the front mounting bracket protrusion and an outer body upper flange and an outer body lower flange formed by bending in the upper and lower directions from the front side member outer body and coupled to the inner body upper flange and the inner body lower flange, respectively.

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