Vehicle beam

Abstract

A vehicle beam (10) comprises a cylindrical beam body (30) configured to be disposed so as to extend in the vehicle width direction within an instrument panel. Both ends of the beam body (30) in the vehicle width direction are configured to be attached to a vehicle body. The beam body (30) is composed of a plurality of resin beam split bodies (30a, 30b) separated from each other in the circumferential direction of the beam body (30). Central sections (C1, C2) in the circumferential direction of each of the beam split bodies (30a, 30b) are provided with thin-walled sections (36) that are thinner than the other parts in the circumferential direction.

Description

Vehicle beam

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a beam for a vehicle.

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a metal reinforcement member that is fixed to a vehicle body frame to reinforce the vehicle body frame. This reinforcement member is installed across the interior space between the dash panel and the instrument panel in the vehicle width direction.

[0003] Various components such as an instrument panel, a steering device, and an airbag are attached to the reinforcement member via connectors and mounting members that extend from the reinforcement member in multiple limbs.

[0004] Such reinforcement members are formed in a cylindrical shape to suitably distribute loads input from multiple directions. Patent Document 2 describes a steering support beam having a beam body made of resin. The beam body is divided into two segments in the circumferential direction.

[0005] Such a steering support beam can reduce the weight of the steering support beam, and therefore the weight of the vehicle, compared to when it is made of a metal material.

[0006] JP 2017-154597 A JP 2004-345396 A

[0007] Incidentally, when the reinforcement member described in Patent Document 1 is made of resin, it is possible to configure it to be divided into a plurality of segments in the circumferential direction, like the beam main body described in Patent Document 2. However, in this case, the following problems arise.

[0008] That is, when a cylindrical reinforcement member is divided circumferentially, the cross-sectional shape of each divided body is curved like an arc. Therefore, when each divided body molded from a resin material is removed from the mold and cooled, the divided bodies are likely to deform such that the ends in the circumferential direction approach each other around the circumferential center. As a result, when forming the reinforcement member, misalignment of the joints between the multiple divided bodies may occur, making it difficult to assemble the divided bodies.

[0009] A vehicle beam according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a vehicle beam having a cylindrical beam body configured to be arranged to extend in the vehicle width direction within an instrument panel, and both ends of the beam body in the vehicle width direction are configured to be attached to the vehicle body, and the beam body is composed of a plurality of resin beam segments divided in the circumferential direction of the beam body, and a thin-walled portion is provided in the central portion in the circumferential direction of each beam segment that is thinner than other portions in the circumferential direction.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a vehicle beam. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle beam of FIG. 1 as seen from the opposite side. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of a vehicle beam according to one embodiment where a steering support portion protrudes from a beam body. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a preliminary straightening step of the straightening step. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main straightening step of the straightening step.

[0011] Hereinafter, a vehicle beam 10 (hereinafter referred to as the beam 10) according to one embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the vehicle will be referred to as the longitudinal direction, and the front and rear of the longitudinal direction will be simply referred to as the front and rear. The width direction of the vehicle will be referred to as the vehicle width direction, and the right and left sides in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the rear of the vehicle to the front will be simply referred to as the right and left sides. The vertical direction of the vehicle when the vehicle is positioned on a horizontal plane will be referred to as the vertical direction, and the upper and lower sides in the vertical direction will be simply referred to as the upper and lower sides.

[0012] 1 to 4, the beam 10 supports a steering column 11 (see FIG. 4) and the like within the instrument panel. The beam 10 extends in the vehicle width direction as a whole, and both ends in the vehicle width direction are attached to the vehicle body.

[0013] The beam 10 has a beam main body 30 and a peripheral portion 40 as another component. <Beam main body 30> As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the beam main body 30 has a duct portion 31, an inlet 33, a plurality of outlets 34, and a plurality of mounting portions 35. The beam main body 30 has a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole. In the following description, the circumferential direction of the beam main body 30 will be simply referred to as the circumferential direction R.

[0014] The duct portion 31 extends in the vehicle width direction and mainly constitutes the beam body 30. The duct portion 31 has a hollow shape. Specifically, the duct portion 31 is cylindrical with both ends in the vehicle width direction closed. A flow path 32 is formed inside the duct portion 31, through which the conditioned air A from the air conditioning device 12 flows (see FIG. 3 ).

[0015] The inlet 33 is cylindrical and protrudes forward from the center of the duct portion 31 in the vehicle width direction. The cross-sectional shape of the inlet 33 along an imaginary plane perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction is a rectangle that is long in the vehicle width direction. The front end of the inlet 33 is connected to the air conditioning unit 12 (see FIG. 2 ). Thus, the inlet 33 functions to guide the air-conditioning air A from the air conditioning unit 12 to the flow path 32.

[0016] Each outlet 34 is cylindrical and protrudes rearward from the duct portion 31. The cross section of each outlet 34 along an imaginary plane perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction is square. The rear end of each outlet 34 is connected to an outlet 13 for air conditioning air A attached to the instrument panel (see FIG. 1). As a result, each outlet 34 functions to guide the air conditioning air A flowing through the flow path 32 toward the outlet 13. In this embodiment, two outlets 34 are provided in the center of the duct portion 31 in the vehicle width direction, and one outlet 34 is provided at each end of the duct portion 31 in the vehicle width direction, corresponding to the outlet 13.

[0017] The mounting portions 35 are provided on both ends of the duct portion 31 in the vehicle width direction. Each mounting portion 35 has an upper mounting portion 35a that protrudes upward from the outer surface of the duct portion 31 and a lower mounting portion 35b that protrudes downward from the outer surface. When each mounting portion 35 is fastened to a front pillar (not shown) of the vehicle body, the beam main body 30, and therefore the beam 10, is fixed to the vehicle body.

[0018] <Peripheral portion 40> The peripheral portion 40 protrudes from the beam main body 30 in a direction intersecting the vehicle width direction. The peripheral portion 40 includes a plurality of support portions for attaching various components to the beam main body 30, and a plurality of stay portions for connecting the beam main body 30 to the vehicle body.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 4, the multiple support parts include a steering support part 41 that supports and suspends the steering column 11 from above. Fig. 4 shows a cross section of the part of the beam 10 where the steering support part 41 protrudes from the beam main body 30, taken along an imaginary plane perpendicular to the vehicle width direction.

[0020] The steering support portion 41 has a front support portion 42 that protrudes forward from the beam body 30, and a rear support portion 43 that protrudes rearward from the beam body 30. The front end 11a of the steering column 11 is fastened to the front support portion 42 via a bracket or the like (not shown). A portion 11b of the steering column 11 that is rearward of the front end 11a is fastened to the rear support portion 43 via a bracket or the like (not shown). In this embodiment, the steering support portion 41 is provided integrally with the right portion of the beam body 30. In other words, the beam 10 is a vehicle beam configured to be applied to a right-hand drive vehicle.

[0021] The plurality of support parts include, in addition to the steering support part 41, an airbag support part that supports an airbag device for protecting an occupant seated in the passenger seat from an impact such as a frontal collision. The airbag support part is provided integrally with the left portion of the beam body 30.

[0022] The stay portions are, for example, integral with the right side portion of the beam body 30 and fastened to a cowl panel or dash panel of the vehicle body. For convenience, the peripheral portion 40 and the portion of the beam body 30 where the peripheral portion 40 is provided are not shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0023] 1 to 4, the beam 10 is made up of a plurality of divided bodies. In this embodiment, the beam 10 is made up of two divided bodies: the upper divided body 21 that forms the upper part of the beam 10, and the lower divided body 23 that forms the lower part of the beam 10. The divided bodies 21, 23 divide the beam main body 30 into two in the circumferential direction R.

[0024] Each of the divided bodies 21, 23 is integrally molded from a resin material. From the viewpoint of improving rigidity and strength, it is preferable to use a fiber-reinforced resin as the resin material. In this embodiment, a polyamide resin containing glass fiber is used.

[0025] The upper segment 21 has an upper beam half 30a that constitutes the upper half of the beam main body 30, and an upper support segment 41a that constitutes the upper part of the steering support section 41 (see FIG. 4). The upper beam half 30a corresponds to the beam segment according to the present disclosure.

[0026] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the upper beam half 30a has a semi-cylindrical upper peripheral wall portion 31a, an upper inlet half 33a that is connected to the upper peripheral wall portion 31a and protrudes forward, and a plurality of upper outlet half portions 34a that are connected to the upper peripheral wall portion 31a and protrude rearward.

[0027] The upper peripheral wall portion 31a constitutes the upper half of the duct portion 31. The upper inlet half body 33a constitutes the upper half of the inlet 33. The upper outlet half body 34a constitutes the upper half of the outlet 34.

[0028] A flange-shaped upper connecting portion 22 is integrally provided on the peripheral edge of the upper peripheral wall portion 31a and on the lower end portions of the upper inlet half body 33a and the upper outlet half body 34a which are continuous with the peripheral edge.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, the upper connection portion 22 has an upper opposing surface 22a extending along the dividing surface of the beam body 30, and an upper welding rib 22b protruding downward from the upper opposing surface 22a.

[0030] 4, the portion of the upper support section segment 41a that forms the upper portion of the front support section 42 extends further forward from the front end of the upper connecting section 22. The portion of the upper support section segment 41a that forms the upper portion of the rear support section 43 extends further rearward from the rear end of the upper connecting section 22.

[0031] 1 to 4, the lower segment 23 has a lower beam half 30b that constitutes the lower half of the beam main body 30, and a lower support segment 41b that constitutes the lower part of the steering support section 41 (see FIG. 4). The lower beam half 30b corresponds to the beam segment according to the present disclosure.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the lower beam half body 30b has a semi-cylindrical lower peripheral wall portion 31b, a lower inlet half body 33b that is connected to the lower peripheral wall portion 31b and protrudes forward, and a plurality of lower outlet half bodies 34b that are connected to the lower peripheral wall portion 31b and protrude rearward.

[0033] The lower peripheral wall portion 31b constitutes the lower half of the duct portion 31. The lower inlet half body 33b constitutes the lower half of the inlet 33. The lower outlet half body 34b constitutes the lower half of the outlet 34.

[0034] A flange-shaped lower connecting portion 24 is integrally provided on the peripheral edge of the lower peripheral wall portion 31b and on the upper end portions of the lower inlet half body 33b and the lower outlet half body 34b that are continuous with the peripheral edge.

[0035] 3, the lower connection portion 24 has a lower opposing surface 24a extending along the dividing surface of the beam body 30 and a lower welding rib 24b protruding upward from the lower opposing surface 24a. The lower opposing surface 24a faces the upper opposing surface 22a in the vertical direction.

[0036] The upper welding rib 22b and the lower welding rib 24b are welded together using a well-known welding method such as vibration welding, thereby joining the upper connecting portion 22 and the lower connecting portion 24, and ultimately the upper division body 21 and the lower division body 23 together.

[0037] 4, the portion of the lower support section segment 41b that constitutes the lower part of the front support section 42 protrudes forward from the outer surface of the lower peripheral wall 31b that includes the lower connecting section 24. The portion of the lower support section segment 41b that constitutes the lower part of the rear support section 43 extends further rearward from the rear end of the lower connecting section 24.

[0038] <Thin-Walled Portions 36> As shown in FIG. 4 , the central portions C1, C2 of each beam half 30a, 30b in the circumferential direction R are provided with thin-walled portions 36 that are thinner than the other portions in the circumferential direction R. The pair of thin-walled portions 36 extend in the vehicle width direction (the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 4 ) at the central portions C1, C2. The pair of thin-walled portions 36 are formed by recessing the inner surfaces of the beam half 30a, 30b. The pair of thin-walled portions 36 become thinner in the circumferential direction R as they approach the central portions of the thin-walled portions 36. In this embodiment, the thickness of the other portions is 3.5 mm. The thickness of the thin-walled portions 36 is set in the range of 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm at the central portions of the thin-walled portions 36 in the circumferential direction R, i.e., the thinnest portions of the thin-walled portions 36.

[0039] 4, in this embodiment, the pair of thin-walled portions 36 are provided at locations on the beam 10 where the steering support portion 41 protrudes from the beam main body 30. In other words, the pair of thin-walled portions 36 and the steering support portion 41 are located on a common imaginary plane that is perpendicular to the vehicle width direction.

[0040] 1 to 4, the beam body 30 has an upper reinforcing rib 37a and a lower reinforcing rib 37b. The steering support portion 41 has a plurality of upper reinforcing ribs 44a and a plurality of lower reinforcing ribs 44b.

[0041] The upper reinforcing ribs 37a are formed integrally with the upper beam half 30a. The upper reinforcing ribs 37a protrude upward from the outer surface of the upper peripheral wall 31a and extend in a mesh pattern along the outer surface. The protruding height of the upper reinforcing ribs 37a is constant throughout the extension direction. The lower reinforcing ribs 37b are formed integrally with the lower beam half 30b. The lower reinforcing ribs 37b protrude downward from the outer surface of the lower peripheral wall 31b and extend in a mesh pattern along the outer surface. The protruding height of the lower reinforcing ribs 37b is constant throughout the extension direction.

[0042] The plurality of upper reinforcing ribs 44a are formed integrally with the upper support section segment 41a. The plurality of upper reinforcing ribs 44a protrude upward from the outer surface of the upper support section segment 41a. The plurality of lower reinforcing ribs 44b are formed integrally with the lower support section segment 41b. The plurality of lower reinforcing ribs 44b protrude downward from the outer surface of the lower support section segment 41b.

[0043] <Operation of this embodiment> Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. A thin-walled portion 36 is provided in the central portion C1 of the upper beam half 30a in the circumferential direction R. Therefore, when the upper segment 21 is molded from a resin material, the thin-walled portion 36 is likely to cool and solidify before other portions. As a result, after molding, the upper segment 21 is less likely to deform such that the upper connection portions 22, which are the ends of the upper beam half 30a in the circumferential direction R, approach each other around the central portion C1 of the upper beam half 30a in the circumferential direction R.

[0044] Furthermore, according to the beam 10 of this embodiment, the thin-walled portion 36 has lower rigidity than other portions of the upper beam half 30a in the circumferential direction R. Therefore, even if the above-mentioned deformation occurs in the upper beam half 30a after it is removed from the mold, it is easier to correct the shape of the upper beam half 30a compared to when the thin-walled portion 36 is not present.

[0045] The correction process for the upper beam half 30a will be described below with reference to Figures 5 and 6. The correction process includes a preliminary correction process and a main correction process. First, the upper half 21 is molded by injecting and filling a molten resin material into a mold cavity. After the upper half 21 thus molded is removed from the mold, if any deformation occurs, the upper half 21 is attached to a correction jig 50 for shape correction before it completely cools and solidifies.

[0046] The correction jig 50 has a first jig 51 and a second jig 52 configured to be movable in the vertical direction relative to the first jig 51. The first jig 51 has a first surface 51a having the same shape as the molding surface of the molding die that molds the inner surface of the upper half body 21 (see FIG. 5). The second jig 52 has a second surface 52a having the same shape as the molding surface of the molding die that molds the outer surface of the upper half body 21 (see FIG. 6).

[0047] As shown in Figure 5, the deformed upper split body 21 is placed on the first surface 51a of the first jig 51. Specifically, the upper split body 21 is placed so that its inner surface abuts against the first surface 51a. At this time, the upper connection portions 22, which are the ends of the upper beam half bodies 30a, move away from each other around the center portion C1. This returns the upper beam half bodies 30a of the upper split body 21 to the shape immediately after molding (this is the preliminary straightening process).

[0048] 6, the second surface 52a of the second jig 52 is brought into contact with the outer surface of the upper section 21, and pressure is applied by the first jig 51 and the second jig 52. This causes the upper section 21 to solidify in the shape immediately after molding. That is, the shape of the upper beam half 30a in the upper section 21 is corrected (this is the main correction process).

[0049] Similarly, the lower beam half 30b is provided with a thin portion 36. Therefore, the same effect as that described above can be obtained in the lower split body 23. <Effects of this embodiment> Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0050] (1) The beam 10 includes a cylindrical beam body 30 configured to be disposed within the instrument panel and extend in the vehicle width direction. Both ends of the beam body 30 in the vehicle width direction are configured to be attached to the vehicle body. The beam body 30 is composed of two resin beam half bodies 30a, 30b that are split in the circumferential direction R. Central portions C1, C2 in the circumferential direction R of the beam half bodies 30a, 30b are provided with thin-walled portions 36 that are thinner than the other portions in the circumferential direction R.

[0051] This configuration provides the above-described effects, thereby suppressing deformation of the beam half bodies 30a, 30b. (2) The thinner the thinner the portion 36 is in the circumferential direction R, the closer it is to the center of the thin-walled portion 36.

[0052] For example, if the beam halves 30a and 30b are provided with thin-walled portions with a constant thickness in the circumferential direction R, the following problem occurs. In the molding die for forming the beam halves 30a and 30b, the width of the flow path through which the molten resin flows suddenly narrows in the flow path for forming the thin-walled portions. This makes it difficult for the molten resin to flow from the flow path for forming other portions in the circumferential direction R toward the flow path for forming the thin-walled portions. As a result, it may be difficult to mold the thin-walled portions.

[0053] In this regard, according to the above configuration, the thin-walled portion 36 is provided so that the thickness thereof becomes thinner as it approaches the center of the thin-walled portion 36 in the circumferential direction R. In other words, the flow path for molding the thin-walled portion 36 is configured so that its width gradually decreases from the flow paths for molding the other portions. This prevents the molten resin from being difficult to flow from the flow paths for molding the other portions toward the flow path for molding the thin-walled portion 36. This makes it easier to mold the thin-walled portion 36.

[0054] (3) The beam body 30 has a cylindrical duct portion 31 that extends in the vehicle width direction and forms a flow path 32 through which the air conditioning air A from the air conditioning unit 12 flows. The thin-walled portion 36 is formed by recessing the inner surfaces of the beam half bodies 30a and 30b.

[0055] With this configuration, the beam 10 functions as an air conditioning duct. Furthermore, with the above configuration, the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path 32 in an imaginary plane perpendicular to the vehicle width direction is increased by the amount of the thin-walled portion 36. Therefore, the air conditioning air A can be efficiently circulated through the flow path 32.

[0056] (4) The thin-walled portion 36 is provided at a location of the beam main body 30 where the steering support portion 41 protrudes from the duct portion 31. The location of the upper segment 21 where the upper support portion segment 41a protrudes from the upper beam half 30a (see FIG. 4 ; hereinafter, referred to as the first portion 21A) has a larger cross-sectional shape along an imaginary plane perpendicular to the vehicle width direction than the location of the upper segment 21 where the peripheral portion 40 does not protrude from the upper beam half 30a, i.e., the location formed solely by the upper beam half 30a (see FIG. 3 ; hereinafter, referred to as the second portion 21B). In this case, the first portion 21A takes longer to cool and solidify than the second portion 21B. This causes problems, such as the upper beam half 30a being more likely to deform in the first portion 21A than in the second portion 21B, and the amount of deformation being larger.

[0057] In this regard, according to the above-described configuration, the thin-walled portion 36 is provided on the upper peripheral wall portion 31a of the first portion 21A. Therefore, the thin-walled portion 36 effectively suppresses deformation of the first portion 21A. Therefore, deformation of the upper beam half 30a, and therefore the upper split body 21, can be further suppressed.

[0058] The same functions and effects as those described above can be obtained with the lower half body 23. <Modifications> This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0059] The thin-walled portions 36 are not limited to those formed by recessing the inner surfaces of the beam half bodies 30 a, 30 b as exemplified in this embodiment, but may be formed by recessing the outer surfaces of the beam half bodies 30 a, 30 b. Furthermore, the thin-walled portions 36 may be formed by recessing both the inner and outer surfaces of the beam half bodies 30 a, 30 b.

[0060] The thin-walled portion 36 is not limited to being thinner as it approaches the center of the thin-walled portion 36 in the circumferential direction R, as exemplified in this embodiment, but may have a constant thickness in the circumferential direction R.

[0061] The beam 10 may further include thinned portions at locations other than those illustrated in this embodiment. For example, thinned portions may be provided at locations of the beam 10 where the peripheral portion 40 other than the steering support portion 41 protrudes from the beam main body 30. In this case, at locations of the beam 10 where the peripheral portion 40 protrudes from only one of the upper beam half body 30a and the lower beam half body 30b, thinned portions may be provided only on that one half body.

[0062] In the above modified example, a thin-walled portion may be further provided in a portion of the beam 10 where the peripheral portion 40 does not protrude from the beam main body 30 (see FIG. 3 ). This configuration provides the following advantageous effects. Specifically, the cross-sectional shape of the portion of the beam 10 where the peripheral portion 40 does not protrude from the beam main body 30 is smaller than that of the portion where the peripheral portion 40 protrudes. In this case, for example, in the upper segment 21, the rigidity of the second portion 21B where the peripheral portion 40 does not protrude is likely to be smaller than that of the portion where the peripheral portion 40 protrudes. Therefore, in the second portion 21B, the upper beam half 30a is more likely to deform, and the amount of deformation is likely to be greater, than in the portion where the peripheral portion 40 protrudes. In this regard, the above configuration provides a thin-walled portion in the upper peripheral wall portion 31a of the second portion 21B. Therefore, the thin-walled portion effectively suppresses deformation of the second portion 21B. This further suppresses deformation of the upper beam half 30a and, ultimately, the upper segment 21. The lower half body 23 also provides the same functions and effects as those described above.

[0063] Thin-walled portions may be provided over the entire segments 21, 23 in the vehicle width direction. In this case, the thickness of the thin-walled portions may or may not be constant over the entire vehicle width direction. If the thickness of the thin-walled portions is not constant in the vehicle width direction, it is preferable that the thickness of the thin-walled portions is smaller in the portions of the segments 21, 23 where the deformation of the beam half bodies 30a, 30b is large than in other portions. Even in this case, the thickness of the thin-walled portions may be set in the range of 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm at the thinnest part of the thin-walled portions.

[0064] The inlet 33 is not limited to one that protrudes forward from the duct portion 31. For example, the inlet 33 may extend at an angle from the duct portion 31 so as to be positioned higher toward the front, or may extend at an angle from the duct portion 31 so as to be positioned lower toward the front.

[0065] The cross-sectional shapes of the inlet 33 and the outlet 34 are not limited to the shapes exemplified in this embodiment, and may be, for example, an oval shape that is long in the vehicle width direction. The beam 10 does not need to function as a so-called air conditioning duct in which the beam main body 30 guides the air-conditioning air A from the air conditioning unit 12 to the air outlet 13. In this case, the inlet 33 and the outlet 34 can be omitted from the beam main body 30.

[0066] The cross-sectional shape of the beam body 30 may be a perfect circle, an ellipse, an oval, or the like, as long as it is cylindrical overall. The protruding heights of the upper reinforcing rib 37a and the lower reinforcing rib 37b do not have to be uniform throughout the entire extension direction.

[0067] The upper reinforcement rib 44a and the lower reinforcement rib 44b may be omitted. In the present embodiment, the upper division body 21 and the lower division body 23 are joined by welding the upper welding rib 22b and the lower welding rib 24b, but the method for joining the upper division body 21 and the lower division body 23 is not limited to this. Any joining method can be used as long as it defines the flow path 32. For example, the upper division body 21 and the lower division body 23 may be joined by fastening the upper connection portion 22 and the lower connection portion 24 using a plurality of bolts.

[0068] The beam 10 is not limited to being divided into an upper segment 21 and a lower segment 23 as exemplified in this embodiment. For example, the beam 10 may be divided into a front segment and a rear segment. Furthermore, the beam 10 is not limited to being divided into two segments in the circumferential direction R, but may be divided into three or more segments in the circumferential direction R. Even in this case, the thin-walled portion may be provided in the center of each segment in the circumferential direction R.

[0069] The vehicle beam according to the present disclosure is not limited to the beam 10 configured to be applied to a right-hand drive vehicle, but may be configured to be applied to a left-hand drive vehicle. That is, the vehicle beam may be one in which the steering support portion 41 is provided on the left side of the beam body 30.

Claims

1. A vehicle beam having a cylindrical beam body configured to be arranged so as to extend in the vehicle width direction within an instrument panel, wherein both ends of the beam body in the vehicle width direction are configured to be attached to the vehicle body, the beam body being composed of a plurality of resin beam segments divided in the circumferential direction of the beam body, and each beam segment having a central portion in the circumferential direction that is thinner than other portions in the circumferential direction.

2. A vehicle beam according to claim 1, wherein the thin-walled portion is thinner in the circumferential direction as it approaches the center of the thin-walled portion.

3. A vehicle beam as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the beam main body has a duct portion that extends in the vehicle width direction and forms a flow path through which conditioned air from an air conditioning unit flows, and in each beam segment, the thin-walled portion is formed by recessing the inner surface of the beam segment.

Images