A-pillar for vehicle and vehicle body frame unit comprising same

Abstract

Provided, in an embodiment of the present invention, is an A-pillar for a vehicle which is disposed in a front portion of a vehicle body frame unit to support a roof. The A-pillar for a vehicle comprises: an inner member including a first flange protruding outward from one end and having a first length; and an outer member including a second flange protruding outward from one end to face the first flange, and having a second length different from the first length, wherein the inner member and the outer member are coupled in a state in which the first flange and the second flange are in contact with each other to form a closed cross-section, and the closed cross-section extends with a constant area along a longitudinal direction of the A-pillar.

Description

Vehicle A-pillar and body frame unit including the same

[0001] The present invention relates to an A-pillar for a vehicle and a vehicle body frame unit including the same.

[0002] Generally, the side reinforcement structure of the vehicle body is formed by including a side rail reinforcement positioned on the upper part of the vehicle body, an A-pillar reinforcement positioned vertically in front of the front door of the vehicle body, a B-pillar reinforcement positioned vertically in the center to separate the front door and the rear door of the vehicle body, a C-pillar reinforcement positioned vertically behind the rear door, and a side sill outer positioned on the lower part of the vehicle body, thereby providing structural rigidity to the upper, lower, and side parts of the vehicle body.

[0003] At this time, side body reinforcements such as the A-pillar are manufactured by producing inner and outer parts separately and combining them; however, there is an increasing need for A-pillars that allow for shape changes to accommodate various vehicle forms, are suitable for mass production, can lower manufacturing costs, and ensure structural rigidity.

[0004] (Prior Art Literature)

[0005] (Patent Document 1) Republic of Korea Published Patent No. 10-2024-0026694 (February 29, 2024)

[0006] The present invention was devised to solve the above-mentioned problems and aims to provide a vehicle A-pillar and a vehicle body frame unit including the same, which are easy to manufacture and assemble, making them advantageous for mass production, and simultaneously capable of lowering manufacturing costs.

[0007] The problems of the present invention are not limited to those described above. A person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will have no difficulty understanding additional problems of the present invention from the overall contents of this specification.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, a vehicle A-pillar according to one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle A-pillar that supports a roof and is disposed in the front portion of a vehicle body frame unit, comprising an inner member that includes a first flange having a first length and protruding outward from one end, and an outer member that includes a second flange having a second length different from the first length and protruding outward from one end and facing the first flange, wherein the inner member and the outer member are joined in a state where the first flange and the second flange are in contact with each other to form a closed cross-section, and the closed cross-section may extend with the same area along the extension direction of the A-pillar.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first flange and the second flange are provided in pairs, and the two first flanges are each positioned at both ends of the inner member, and the two second flanges are each positioned at both ends of the outer member, so that they can face the two first flanges in a one-to-one manner.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first length may be longer than the second length.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first length may be shorter than the second length.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, when the inner member and the outer member are combined, a first area in which the first flange and the second flange are arranged together so as to overlap, and a second area in which only one of the first flange and the second flange is arranged may be formed.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the second region may have a longer length than the first region.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, the length of the first region may be 2 to 7 mm.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, the length of the second region may be 10 to 15 mm.

[0016] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first flange and the second flange are joined in the first region by a first joining method, and in the second region, a side outer can be joined using a second joining method.

[0017] In an embodiment of the present invention, the second region is formed on each side of the inner member or the outer member, and the side outer is connected at one end to either side of the inner member or the outer member, and at the other end to the other side of the inner member or the outer member, so as to cover the outer side of the A-pillar.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first joining method is a laser welding method, and the second joining method may be a spot welding method.

[0019] A vehicle body frame unit according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a front side rail that supports a roof and is disposed on the side portion of the vehicle body, a side sill that supports the lower portion of the vehicle body, and an A-pillar disposed between the front side rail and the side sill, connecting one end of the front side rail and the side sill. The A-pillar comprises an inner member that protrudes outward from one end and includes a first flange having a first length, and an outer member that protrudes outward from one end and faces the first flange and includes a second flange having a second length different from the first length. The inner member and the outer member are joined in such a state that the first flange and the second flange are in contact with each other to form a closed cross-section, and the closed cross-section may extend with the same area along the extension direction of the A-pillar.

[0020] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first flange and the second flange are provided in pairs, and the two first flanges are each positioned at both ends of the inner member, and the two second flanges are each positioned at both ends of the outer member, so that they can face the two first flanges in a one-to-one manner.

[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, when the inner member and the outer member are combined, a first area in which the first flange and the second flange are arranged together so as to overlap, and a second area in which only one of the first flange and the second flange is arranged may be formed.

[0022] In an embodiment of the present invention, the second region may have a longer length than the first region.

[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first flange and the second flange are joined in the first region by a first joining method, and in the second region, a side outer can be joined using a second joining method.

[0024] In an embodiment of the present invention, the second region is formed on each side of the A-pillar, and the side outer is connected at one end to one of the two sides of the A-pillar and at the other end to the other of the two sides of the A-pillar, so as to cover the outer side of the A-pillar.

[0025] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first joining method may be a laser welding method, and the second joining method may be a spot welding method.

[0026] The A-pillar and the body frame unit including it according to embodiments of the present invention can reduce the number of welding layers when manufacturing the A-pillar and when attaching the side outer and other additional parts to the A-pillar. By doing so, welding defects and strength reduction caused by four-layer welding can be prevented, and sufficient strength can be secured while reducing the overall weight of the A-pillar.

[0027] In addition, when manufacturing a vehicle body, changes in the shape of the A-pillar can be easily implemented in response to various shapes of the vehicle body, thereby enabling improved productivity and cost reduction during mass production of the vehicle body or A-pillar.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a vehicle body frame unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the A-pillar viewed from the II' direction of Figure 1.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an A-pillar according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the direction II' of FIG. 1.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an A-pillar according to another embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the direction II' of FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 5a is a cross-sectional view of an A-pillar according to another embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the direction II' of FIG. 1.

[0033] FIG. 5b is a cross-sectional view of an A-pillar according to another embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the direction II' of FIG. 1.

[0034] Figure 6 is an enlarged view of area A of Figure 1.

[0035] FIG. 7a is a cross-sectional view showing the view from the direction II-II' of FIG. 6.

[0036] FIG. 7b is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 seen from the direction III-III'.

[0037] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. However, embodiments of the present invention may be modified in various other forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0038] In addition, embodiments of the present invention are provided to more fully explain the present invention to those with average knowledge in the relevant technical field.

[0039] In drawings, the shapes and sizes of elements may be exaggerated for clearer explanation.

[0040] In describing the embodiments of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the essence of the present invention, such detailed description will be omitted. Furthermore, the terms described below are defined considering their functions in the present invention, and these may vary depending on the intentions or conventions of the user or operator. Therefore, such definitions should be based on the content throughout this specification. The terms used in the detailed description are merely for describing the embodiments of the present invention and should not be limited in any way. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, expressions in the singular form include the meaning of the plural form.

[0041] In this description, expressions such as “include” or “equipped” are intended to refer to certain characteristics, numbers, steps, actions, elements, parts or combinations thereof, and should not be interpreted to exclude the existence or possibility of one or more other characteristics, numbers, steps, actions, elements, parts or combinations thereof other than those described.

[0042] In this specification, terms such as 'top', 'upper', 'upper surface', 'lower', 'lower surface', 'lower surface', and 'side surface' are based on the drawings and may actually vary depending on the direction in which the elements or components are arranged.

[0043] Additionally, throughout the specification, when it is said that one part is 'connected' to another part, this includes not only cases where they are 'directly connected,' but also cases where they are 'indirectly connected' with other elements in between.

[0044] The present invention will be described in detail below through each embodiment or example of the invention. It should be noted that each embodiment or example described in this specification is not limited to a single embodiment or example, but may also be combined with other embodiments or examples. Accordingly, the citation of claims in the patent claims is merely an example of an embodiment, and the technical concept of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited only to a combination with the cited claims; rather, combinations with various claims are also included within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention.

[0045] The present invention will be described in detail below through examples. However, it should be noted that the examples described below are intended merely to illustrate and embody the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. This is because the scope of the present invention is determined by the matters described in the patent claims and matters reasonably inferred therefrom.

[0046] FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a vehicle body frame unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an A-pillar viewed from the direction II' of FIG. 1.

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle body frame unit (10) is a skeletal body that supports the side of a vehicle (not shown) and can be formed by connecting a plurality of frames. At this time, the vehicle body frame unit (10) may include a vehicle A-pillar (hereinafter A-pillar) (100), a front side rail (SR1), and a side sill (SS). Additionally, the vehicle body frame unit (10) may further include a vehicle B-pillar (hereinafter B-pillar) (200), a vehicle C-pillar (hereinafter C-pillar) (not shown), and a rear side rail (SR2).

[0048] The A-pillar (100) is positioned at the front of the vehicle body frame unit (10) to support the roof (not shown) of the vehicle. Here, "front" may refer to the front part of the vehicle where the vehicle body frame unit (10) is installed.

[0049] The A-pillar (100) is a skeletal body extending from the rear position of the dash wheel arch (not shown) where the front tire is located in the vehicle to the front windshield (not shown) and the front door panel (not shown), and may have a structure in which an inner member (110) and an outer member (120) are joined together to form a closed cross-section.

[0050] The inner member (110) may include a first body (111) and a first flange (112, 113). The first flange (112, 113) may be a part that comes into contact with and is joined to the second flange (122, 123) to be described later when the inner member (110) is joined to the outer member (120).

[0051] Two first flanges (112, 113) may be provided. Of the two first flanges (112, 113), one (hereinafter referred to as the first-1 flange) (112) may be positioned to protrude in a first outward direction (e.g., -X) from one end of the first body (111). And, of the two first flanges (112, 113), the other (hereinafter referred to as the first-2 flange) (113) may be positioned to protrude in a second outward direction (e.g., +X) from the other end of the first body (111).

[0052] In this case, the first body (111) can have various shapes. That is, the first body (111) can be provided in any shape as long as it includes a first flange (112, 113) at each end.

[0053] For example, the drawing illustrates an embodiment in which the first body (111) is curved to protrude inward (e.g., -Y) and has a '_' shape [hereinafter referred to as a hat shape], with first flanges (112, 113) provided at each end, but is not limited thereto. However, for convenience of explanation, the description will focus on the case where the first body (111) is in a hat shape.

[0054] In this specification, the inner direction refers to the direction in which the A-pillar (100) or the body frame unit (10) faces the interior of the vehicle when installed on the vehicle, and may mean the “-Y-axis direction” in the drawing. This is based on the case where the body frame unit (10) is installed on the right side when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Although not shown in the drawing, if the body frame unit (10) is installed on the left side of the vehicle, the inner direction may be the “+Y-axis direction.” For convenience of explanation, the following description will focus on the case where the inner direction is the “-Y-axis direction” and the outer direction is the “+Y-axis direction.”

[0055] The outer member (120) may include a second body (121) and a second flange (122, 123). The second flange (122, 123) may be a part that comes into contact with and is joined to the first flange (112, 113) described above when the outer member (120) is joined to the inner member (110).

[0056] Two second flanges (122, 123) may be provided. Of the two second flanges (122, 123), one (hereinafter referred to as the second-1 flange) (122) may be positioned to protrude in the first outer direction (-X) as described above from one end of the second body (121). And, of the two second flanges (122, 123), the other (hereinafter referred to as the second-2 flange) (123) may be positioned to protrude in the second outer direction (+X) as described above from the other end of the second body (121).

[0057] In this case, the second body (121) can have various shapes. That is, the second body (121) can be provided in any shape as long as it includes a second flange (122, 123) at each end.

[0058] For example, as illustrated in the drawing, only an embodiment is shown in which the second body (121) is curved to protrude outwardly (+Y) and has a '_' shape (i.e., a hat shape), with second flanges (122, 123) provided at both ends of the second body (121), but the present invention is not limited thereto. However, for convenience of explanation, the explanation will focus on the case where the second body (121) is in a hat shape. Meanwhile, as previously stated, the outward direction (+Y) refers to the direction facing outward from the vehicle when the A-pillar (100) or the vehicle body frame unit (10) is installed on the vehicle.

[0059] The inner member (110) and outer member (120) of the above form are manufactured by bending a steel plate multiple times using a roll-forming method, and this will be described later.

[0060] When the inner member (110) and the outer member (120) are joined, as described above, the first flange (112, 113) and the second flange (122, 123) can be joined in a state where they are in contact. More specifically, the first-1 flange (112) and the second-1 flange (122) can be joined through a 'first joining method' in a state where their opposing surfaces are in contact with each other. Also, the first-2 flange (113) and the second-2 flange (123) can be joined through a 'first joining method' in a state where their opposing surfaces are in contact with each other. The first joining method may be, for example, a laser welding method.

[0061] At this time, the length of the first flange (112, 113) (hereinafter, the first length) may be different from the length of the second flange (122, 123) (hereinafter, the second length). Due to this difference in length, when the first flange (112, 113) and the second flange (122, 123) come into contact with each other and are joined, a first region (A10) and a second region (A20) may be formed.

[0062] The first area (A10) may be an area where the first flange (112, 113) and the second flange (122, 123) are in contact with each other and overlap. The second area (A20) may be an area where only one of the first flange (112, 113) and the second flange (122, 123) is placed. The second area (A20) may be an area in which one end is connected to the first area (A10) and the other end extends outwardly from the first area (A10). In this case, only one of the first-1 flange (112), the first-2 flange (113), the second-1 flange (122), and the second-2 flange (123) may be placed in the second area (A20).

[0063] A first region (A10) may be formed between the first-1 flange (112) and the second-1 flange (122), and between the first-2 flange (113) and the second-2 flange (123), respectively. At this time, two second regions (A20) may also be formed. One of the two second regions (A20) may be a region extending in a first outer direction (-X) from the first region (A10) formed between the first-1 flange (112) and the second-1 flange (122). And the other of the two second regions (A20) may be a region extending in a second outer direction (+X) from the first region (A10) formed between the first-2 flange (113) and the second-2 flange (123).

[0064] In the above case, a first weld (Wb1) may be formed in each of the first area (A10) where the first-1 flange (112) and the second-1 flange (122) come into contact and overlap, and the first area (A10) where the first-2 flange (113) and the second-2 flange (123) come into contact and overlap. In this way, the outer member (120) and the inner member (110) are provided in a hat shape curved in opposite directions, and the outer member (120) and the inner member (110) are joined to the first flange (112, 113) and the second flange (122, 123) through a first joining method, thereby forming an A-pillar (100) having a closed cross-section. Accordingly, an empty space (E) may be arranged inside the A-pillar (100).

[0065] Meanwhile, the first region (A10) and the second region (A20) described above may have different lengths. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the length of the first region (A10) will be referred to as the 'first region length (L1)' and the length of the second region (A20) will be referred to as the 'second region length (L2)'.

[0066] More specifically, the second region (A20) may have a longer length than the second region (A20). That is, the length of the second region (L20) may be longer than the length of the first region (L10). The length of the second region (L20) may be at least twice the length of the first region (L10). For example, the length of the first region (L10) may be 2 to 7 mm, and the length of the second region (L20) may be 10 to 15 mm. Preferably, the length of the first region (L10) may be at least 5 mm, and the length of the second region (L20) may be at least 13 mm.

[0067] As illustrated exemplarily in FIG. 2, a side outer (SO) may be assembled to the A-pillar (100). The side outer (SO) is a part that covers the outer surface of the body frame unit (10) and may include a front quarter positioned at the front of the body and a rear quarter positioned at the rear of the body.

[0068] The side outer (SO) can be connected to the second area (A20) of the A-pillar (100). At this time, the side outer (SO) can be connected to the second area (A20) through a second connection method. More specifically, one end of the side outer (SO) can be connected to one of the two second areas (A20) formed in the A-pillar (100) by the second connection method. And, the other end of the side outer (SO) can be connected to the other of the two second areas (A20) formed in the A-pillar (100) by the second connection method. By being connected in this way, the side outer (SO) can cover the outer side of the A-pillar (100). Here, the outer side refers to the outer direction (+Y) of the vehicle, so when the side outer (SO) is connected to the A-pillar (100), the A-pillar (100) may not be visible to the naked eye from the outside of the vehicle.

[0069] In one embodiment, the second joining method may be different from the first joining method. For example, the first joining method is a laser welding method as described above, and the second joining method may be a spot welding method.

[0070] In this case, the first region (A10) has a relatively narrow area due to the relatively short length (L1) of the first region, and the inner member (110) and the outer member (120) can be joined by applying concentrated heat to this first region (A10) through the first joining method, the 'laser welding method'.

[0071] Furthermore, the second region (A20) has a relatively wide length (L2) due to the relatively long second region length, and by applying heat to this second region (A20) through a second joining method, a 'spot welding method,' the inner member (110) and the side outer (SO) can be joined. At this time, one end of the side outer (SO) can be joined to the second region (A20) of the first-1 flange (112) by a spot welding method to form a second weld (Wb2). Then, the other end of the side outer (SO) can be joined to the second region (A20) of the first-2 flange (113) by a spot welding method to form a second weld (Wb2).

[0072] In this way, the inner / outer members (110, 120) constituting the A-pillar (100) are joined in the first area (A10), and separately, the side outer (SO) can be joined to the second area (A20) where only one of the first and second flanges (111, 112, 121, 122) is placed. Accordingly, the joining portion of the side outer (SO) can be composed of a double weld in which only one flange and the side outer (SO) are welded in an overlapping state. Additionally, when additional parts other than the side outer (SO) are assembled to the A-pillar (100), the additional parts can be joined to the second area (A20) having a relatively large area. At this time, the additional parts can be joined to the second area (A20) where the side outer (SO) is joined and the double weld is formed. In this way, even when additional parts are added to the A-pillar (100), only three-layer welding is formed at the part where the additional parts are added, thereby preventing four-layer welding from being formed on the A-pillar (100). This ensures high strength of the joined part and prevents the weight of the vehicle body frame unit (10) from increasing excessively due to four or more layers of overlapping welding.

[0073] The B-pillar (200) is positioned in the center of the vehicle body frame unit (10) to support the roof (not shown) of the vehicle. That is, the B-pillar (200) is positioned between the A-pillar (100) and the C-pillar to support the roof.

[0074] A C-pillar (not shown) is positioned at the rear of the vehicle body frame unit (10) and can support the roof (not shown) of the vehicle. Here, "rear" may refer to the rear part of the vehicle where the vehicle body frame unit (10) is installed. The C-pillar may be a skeletal body that extends from the front position of the dash wheel arch (not shown) where the rear tire is located in the vehicle to between the rear windshield (not shown) and the rear door panel (not shown).

[0075] The front side rail (SR1) and the rear side rail (SR2) together can form a roof side rail (RS). This roof side rail (RS) can be formed on both sides of the roof in the vehicle body portion. With respect to the vehicle's front-rear direction (X), the front side rail (SR1) can support the front portions of both sides of the roof, and the rear side rail (SR2) can support the rear portions of both sides of the roof. At this time, the front side rail (SR1) and the rear side rail (SR2) can be continuously extended along the vehicle's front-rear direction (e.g., X) to form a roof side rail (RS) in the form of a single structure. The roof side rail (RS) supports the side portions of the vehicle's roof and can perform the role of maintaining the upper rigidity of the vehicle body.

[0076] The side sill (SS) is installed at the bottom of the vehicle body or vehicle body frame unit (10) to extend along the front-to-rear direction (e.g., X) of the vehicle and can perform the function of maintaining the lower rigidity of the vehicle body.

[0077] In the above case, the A-pillar (100) may be positioned between the front side rail (SR1) and the side sill (SS). More specifically, the upper portion of the A-pillar (100) may be connected to the front end of the front side rail (SR1), and the lower portion of the A-pillar (100) may be connected to the front end of the side sill (SS). At this time, the upper portion of the A-pillar (100) may be connected to the front side rail (SR1) by a first upper connecting member (Cb11). And, the lower portion of the A-pillar (100) may be connected to the side sill (SS) by a first lower connecting member (Cb12). The first upper connecting member (Cb11) and the first lower connecting member (Cb12) may be, for example, brackets for connecting two members. The first upper connecting member (Cb11) and the first lower connecting member (Cb12) can be connected to the A-pillar (100), the front side rail (SR1), and the side sill (SS) through a welding method, but are not limited thereto.

[0078] The non-pillar (200) can be positioned between the roof side rail (RS) and the side sill (SS). More specifically, the non-pillar (200) can be connected to the middle portion of the roof side rail (RS), and the lower portion of the non-pillar (200) can be connected to the middle portion of the side sill (SS). At this time, the upper portion of the non-pillar (200) can be welded to the roof side rail (RS) by means of a second upper connecting member (Cb21). And, the lower portion of the non-pillar (200) can be welded to the side sill (SS) by means of a second lower connecting member (Cb22). As previously mentioned, the second upper connecting member (Cb21) and the second lower connecting member (Cb22) can be provided as connecting brackets.

[0079] Additionally, although not shown in the drawing, a C-pillar (not shown) may be positioned between the rear side rail (SR2) and the side sill (SS). More specifically, the upper end of the C-pillar may be connected to the rear side rail (SR2), and the lower end of the C-pillar may be connected to the rear end of the side sill (SS). At this time, the upper end of the C-pillar may be joined to the rear side rail (SR2) by welding via a third upper connecting member (not shown). And, the lower end of the C-pillar may be joined to the side sill (SS) by welding via a third lower connecting member (not shown). As previously mentioned, the third upper connecting member and the third lower connecting member may be provided as connecting brackets.

[0080] In this way, the body frame unit (10) may be a structure formed by connecting the A-pillar (100), B-pillar (200), and C-pillar to the roof side rail (RS), respectively, and connecting the side sill (SS) to the lower part of the roof side rail (RS).

[0081] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an A-pillar according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the direction II' of FIG. 1.

[0082] Referring to FIG. 3, an A-pillar (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, Embodiment 1) may be formed by combining an inner member (110) and an outer member (120) as described above. In this case, the length of the first body (111) of the inner member (110) (hereinafter, first body length) (D1) may be longer than the length of the second body (121) of the outer member (120) (hereinafter, second body length) (D2).

[0083] In the case of the A-pillar (100) according to Example 1, the first flange (112, 113) may have a longer length than the second flange (122, 123). At this time, the first-1 flange (112) and the first-2 flange (113) may have the same length (L1+L2). The length (L1+L2) of the first flange (112, 113) may be the same or similar to the sum of the first area length (L1) and the second area length (L2). Also, the second-1 flange (122) and the second-2 flange (123) may have the same length (L1+L3).

[0084] At this time, the first-1 flange (112) and the second-1 flange (122) may be joined by a first joining method so that a first weld (Wb1) may be formed in the first region (A10) between them. Also, the first-2 flange (113) and the second-2 flange (123) may be joined by a first joining method so that a first weld (Wb1) may be formed in the first region (A10) between them. In this manner, the A-pillar (100) has a structure in which the inner member (110) and the outer member (120) are joined together to form a closed cross-section, as described above.

[0085] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an A-pillar according to another embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the direction II' of FIG. 1.

[0086] Referring to FIG. 4, an A-pillar (100a) according to another embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, Embodiment 2) may be formed by combining an inner member (110a) and an outer member (120a) as described above. In this case, the first body length (D1) of the first body (111a) of the inner member (110a) may be longer than the second body length (D2) of the second body (121a) of the outer member (120a).

[0087] In the case of the A-pillar (100a) according to Example 2, unlike Example 1, the first flange (111a, 112a) may have a shorter length than the second flange (121a, 122a). At this time, the first-1 flange (111a) and the first-2 flange (112a) may have the same length (L1). Also, the second-1 flange (121a) and the second-2 flange (122a) may have the same length (L1+L2+L3). The length (L1+L2+L3) of the second flange (121a, 122a) may be longer than the sum of the length of the first region (L1) and the length of the second region (L2).

[0088] At this time, the first-1 flange (111a) and the second-1 flange (121a) are joined by a first joining method, and a first weld (Wb1) can be formed in the first region (A10) between them. Also, the first-2 flange (112a) and the second-2 flange (122a) are joined by a first joining method, and a first weld (Wb1) can be formed in the first region (A10) between them. In this way, the A-pillar (100a) has a structure in which the inner member (110a) and the outer member (120a) are joined together to form a closed cross-section, which is the same or similar to the previously described embodiment 1.

[0089] FIG. 5a is a cross-sectional view of an A-pillar according to another embodiment of the present invention viewed from the direction II' of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5b is a cross-sectional view of an A-pillar according to another embodiment of the present invention viewed from the direction II' of FIG. 1.

[0090] Referring to FIG. 5a, an A-pillar (100b) according to another embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, Embodiment 3) may be formed by combining an inner member (110b) and an outer member (120b) as described above. In this case, the first body length (D1) of the first body (111b) of the inner member (110b) may be longer than the second body length (D2) of the second body (121b) of the outer member (120b).

[0091] In the case of the A-pillar (100b) according to Example 3, unlike Examples 1 and 2, the first-1 flange (111b) and the first-2 flange (112b) may have different lengths. Similarly, the second-1 flange (121b) and the second-2 flange (122b) may have different lengths.

[0092] For example, the first-1 flange (111b) may have a longer length than the first-2 flange (112b). And, the second-1 flange (121b) may have a longer length than the second-2 flange (122b). In this case, the first-2 flange (112b) may have a first area length (L1), and the first-1 flange (111a) may have a length (L1+L2+L3) longer than the first area length (L1). The second-1 flange (121b) may have a first area length (L1), and the second-2 flange (122b) may have a length (L1+L2+L3) longer than the first area length (L1).

[0093] Thus, the inner member (110b) may have an asymmetrical shape in which the lengths of the first-1 flange (111b) and the first-2 flange (112b) are different, and the outer member (120b) may have an 'asymmetrical shape' in which the lengths of the second-1 flange (121b) and the second-2 flange (122b) are different. In this case, the first-1 flange (111b) with a relatively long length and the second-1 flange (121b) with a relatively short length may be joined by a first joining method, and a first weld (Wb1) may be formed in the first region (A10) between them. Also, the first-2 flange (112b) with a relatively short length and the second-2 flange (122b) with a relatively long length may be joined by a first joining method, and a first weld (Wb1) may be formed in the first region (A10) between them.

[0094] In this way, the A-pillar (100b) has a structure in which the inner member (110b) and the outer member (120b) are combined to form a closed cross-section, which is the same or similar to the embodiments described above.

[0095] Referring to FIG. 5b, according to another embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, Embodiment 4), the pillar (100c) may have a first-1 flange (111c) and a first-2 flange (112c) of different lengths, similar to Embodiment 3. Similarly, a second-1 flange (121c) and a second-2 flange (122c) may have different lengths.

[0096] For example, the first-1 flange (111c) may have a shorter length than the first-2 flange (112c). Also, the second-1 flange (121c) may have a shorter length than the second-2 flange (122c). In this case, the first-1 flange (111c) may have a length equal to the first area length (L1), and the first-2 flange (111c) may have a length (L1+L2+L3) longer than the first area length (L1). The second-2 flange (112c) may have a length equal to the first area length (L1), and the second-1 flange (121c) may have a length (L1+L2+L3) longer than the first area length (L1).

[0097] Thus, the inner member (110c) may have an asymmetrical shape in which the lengths of the first-1 flange (111c) and the first-2 flange (112c) are different, and the outer member (120c) may have an asymmetrical shape in which the lengths of the second-1 flange (121c) and the second-2 flange (122c) are different. In this case, the first-1 flange (111c) with a relatively short length and the second-1 flange (121c) with a relatively long length may be joined by a first joining method, and a first weld (Wb1) may be formed in the first region (A10) between them. And, the first-2 flange (112c) with a relatively long length and the second-2 flange (122c) with a relatively short length may be joined by a first joining method, and a first weld (Wb1) may be formed in the first region (A10) between them.

[0098] In this way, the A-pillar (100c) has a structure in which the inner member (110c) and the outer member (120c) are combined to form a closed cross-section, which is the same or similar to the embodiments described above.

[0099] Meanwhile, the size and shape of the inner member (110) and the outer member (120), including the lengths of the first flange (112, 113) and the second flange (122, 123), and the lengths of the first body (111) and the second body (121), may be changed based on the shape and type of the vehicle body frame unit (10) and the vehicle (not shown) on which the A-pillar (100, 100a, 100b, 100c) is installed. For example, the second body length (D2) may be larger than the first body length (D1) or may be configured to have the same length, and as another example, at least one of the first body (111) and the second body (121) may have an asymmetrical shape.

[0100] However, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the following description will focus on the A-pillar (100) according to Example 1 and the vehicle body frame structure (10) including it.

[0101] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of area A of FIG. 1. FIG. 7a is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 viewed from the direction II-II', and FIG. 7b is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 viewed from the direction III-III'.

[0102] Referring again to FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIG. 6, the A-pillar (100) may be in the form of at least two unit structures combined that extend in different directions.

[0103] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the A-pillar (100) may be in the form of a combination of a first unit structure (100) extending in a 'first extension direction (B1)' parallel to the vertical direction (Z) and a second unit structure (100-2) extending in a 'second extension direction (B2)' inclined downward toward the rear from the bottom of the first unit structure (100).

[0104] In this case, the unit structures (100, 100-2) forming the A-pillar (100) may have a structure in which the inner member (110) and the outer member (120) are interconnected to form a closed cross-section, as described above. At this time, the unit structures (100, 100-2) may have the same closed cross-section. Here, having the same closed cross-section may mean that the shape and area of ​​the closed cross-section formed by being surrounded by the inner member (110, 110-2) and the outer member (120, 120-2) are the same.

[0105] More specifically, the first unit structure (100) may be extended along the first extension direction (B1). In this case, the first unit structure (100) may have a uniform closed cross-section throughout along the first extension direction (B1). Similarly, the second unit structure (100-2) may be extended along the second extension direction (B2). In this case, the second unit structure (100-2) may have a uniform closed cross-section throughout along the second extension direction (B2).

[0106] Additionally, the unit structures (100, 100-2) may have the same closed cross-section. Accordingly, when the first unit structure (100) and the second unit structure (100-2) are combined, the closed cross-section may also be the same at the part where the unit structures (100, 100-2) are connected (hereinafter, unit structure connection part). The unit structure connection part is a part where the extension direction of the A-pillar (100) changes, and it may be a part where the lower part of the first unit structure (100) and the upper part of the second unit structure (100-2) are cut along the same cutting direction (C) and then joined. At this time, as the unit structures (100, 100-2) have the same closed cross-section, when manufacturing the A-pillar (100), the closed cross-section formed in the first unit structure (100) and the closed cross-section formed in the second unit structure (100-2) at the unit structure connection part can be connected to each other and become continuous.

[0107] An A-pillar (100) having the shape described above can be manufactured using a long structure having the same closed cross-section manufactured through a roll forming process. That is, the A-pillar (100) can be manufactured by cutting a single long structure that extends to have the same closed cross-section overall to form a plurality of unit structures (100, 100-2) and then rejoining them through a method such as welding.

[0108] A method for manufacturing an A-pillar (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be as follows. At this time, for convenience of explanation, the A-pillar (100) according to Example 1 will be described in detail.

[0109] The roll forming device may include a first roll forming unit (not shown) and a second roll forming unit (not shown). The first roll forming unit and the second roll forming unit may be arranged side by side in a horizontal direction (e.g., left-right direction) and extend along the same direction.

[0110] Two plates can be supplied simultaneously to the roll forming device. One of the two plates, the first plate, can be supplied to the first roll forming unit, and the other of the two plates, the second plate, can be supplied to the second roll forming unit. After being supplied to the roll forming device, the first plate and the second plate can be transported in the same direction. The transport direction of the first and second plates may be the same direction as the extension direction of the first roll forming unit and the second roll forming unit. Meanwhile, the aforementioned horizontal direction may refer to the width direction of the first and second plates supplied to the device, and may mean a direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

[0111] For example, the first roll forming unit and the second roll forming unit may be provided as separate units. In this case, the first roll forming unit and the second roll forming unit may be arranged to face each other in the left-right direction and extended parallel to each other along the aforementioned extension direction to form a roll forming device. As another example, the first roll forming unit and the second roll forming unit may be provided as a single device. In this case, the first roll forming unit may form a part of the roll forming device, and the second roll forming unit may form a different part of the roll forming device.

[0112] The first roll forming unit may include a first front forming section and a first forming section.

[0113] The first front forming section is a part that bends and forms the first plate material, and may include a plurality of first front roller sets arranged in a row along the above-mentioned conveying direction.

[0114] The first front roller set may include a first pressing part for pressing at least a portion of the first plate material to form a bend. The first pressing part may be formed in a protruding shape and / or a groove shape. At this time, the shape, location, and number of the first pressing part may be changed based on the target shape of the first plate material [or the target shape of the A-pillar (100)] to be bent by the first front forming part.

[0115] When supplied to the first front roller set, the first plate passes through the first pressing sections of a plurality of first front forming sections along the conveying direction and can be bent and formed by gradually applying pressure. By this, first flanges (112, 113) can be formed at both ends of the first plate. That is, by the first front forming section, an inner member (110) having an open cross-section and including first flanges (112, 113) at both ends can be manufactured. The inner member (110) can be manufactured in a hat shape, but is not limited thereto.

[0116] In the above case, the first pressure part and the second pressure part may be provided in the same or different forms. For example, if the A-pillar (100) is manufactured in a symmetrical shape, the first pressure part and the second pressure part may be provided in the same form. As another example, if the A-pillar (100) is manufactured in an asymmetrical shape, the first pressure part and the second pressure part may be provided in different forms.

[0117] The first forming section is a part that processes the first plate material formed by bending so that it rotates, and can be positioned downstream of the first front forming section with respect to the conveying direction.

[0118] The first forming section may include a plurality of first roller sets arranged in a row along the aforementioned conveying direction. The first roller sets may be positioned downstream of the first front roller set so as to be continuous with the first front roller set.

[0119] Accordingly, a plurality of first front roller sets and a plurality of first roller sets can be continuously arranged in a line along the conveying direction. The first plate material that has passed through the first front forming section can be rotated in the first forming section, and this will be described later.

[0120] Similarly, the second roll forming unit may include a second front forming section and a second forming section.

[0121] The second front forming section is a part that bends and forms the second plate material, and may include a plurality of second front roller sets arranged in a row along the aforementioned conveying direction.

[0122] The second front roller set may include a second pressing part for bending and forming at least a portion of the second plate by pressing. The second pressing part may be formed in a protruding shape and / or a groove shape. At this time, the shape, location, and number of the second pressing part may be changed based on the target shape of the second plate [or the target shape of the A-pillar (100)] that is bent by the first front forming part.

[0123] When supplied to the second front roller set, the second plate passes through the second pressing sections of a plurality of first front forming sections along the conveying direction and can be bent and formed by gradually applying pressure. By this, second flanges (122, 123) can be formed at both ends of the second plate. That is, by the second front forming section, an outer member (120) having an open cross-section and including second flanges (122, 123) at both ends can be manufactured. The outer member (120) can be manufactured in a hat shape, but is not limited thereto.

[0124] The second forming section is a part that processes the second plate material, which has been bent, to rotate, and can be positioned downstream of the second front forming section with respect to the conveying direction.

[0125] The second forming section may include a plurality of second roller sets arranged in a row along the aforementioned transfer direction. The second roller sets may be positioned downstream of the first front roller set so as to be continuous with the second front roller set.

[0126] Accordingly, a plurality of second front roller sets and a plurality of second roller sets can be continuously arranged in a line along the conveying direction. The first plate material that has passed through the first front forming section can be rotated in the first forming section, and this will be described later.

[0127] In the above case, the first front forming section and the second front forming section are arranged side by side in the aforementioned left-right direction, and the first forming section and the second forming section may be arranged side by side in the aforementioned left-right direction. In this state of being arranged side by side, the first plate and the second plate can be supplied simultaneously to the first front forming section and the second front forming section.

[0128] After passing through the first and second front forming sections as described above, the first plate material can be supplied to the first forming section, and the second plate material can be supplied to the second forming section.

[0129] The first plate can pass through a plurality of first roller sets provided in the first forming section along the conveying direction. During this process, the first plate can gradually rotate toward the second plate.

[0130] When pressurized between the first roller sets, the first plate may be sandwiched between the first roller sets so as to be inclined at a predetermined angle (hereinafter referred to as the first angle) with respect to the width direction described above. At this time, as the first forming section moves from upstream to downstream, the plurality of first roller sets may be configured such that the first angle gradually increases. Accordingly, the first plate may gradually rotate to approach the second plate while passing through the plurality of first roller sets along the conveying direction.

[0131] Similarly, the second plate can pass through a plurality of second roller sets provided in the second forming section along the conveying direction. During this process, the second plate can gradually rotate toward the first plate.

[0132] When pressurized between the second roller sets, the second plate may be sandwiched between the second roller sets so as to be inclined at a predetermined angle (hereinafter referred to as the second angle) with respect to the width direction described above. At this time, as the second forming section moves from upstream to downstream, the plurality of second roller sets may be configured such that the second angle gradually increases. Accordingly, the second plate may gradually rotate to approach the first plate while passing through the plurality of second roller sets along the conveying direction.

[0133] In the above case, the shape of the first roller set and / or the second roller set, the size of the first angle and / or the second angle, or the degree to which the first angle and / or the second angle increases in the direction of transport may be changed based on the target shape of the A-pillar (100) being manufactured.

[0134] When the rotational processing of the first plate and the second plate is completed in the manner described above, the first plate and the second plate may be in a 'contact state' in which at least a portion is in contact. The contact portions of the plates may be the first flange (112, 113) and the second flange (122, 123). That is, the contact state may mean a state in which the first flange (112, 113) of the inner member (110) and the second flange (122, 123) of the outer member (120) are in one-to-one contact.

[0135] Meanwhile, the aforementioned bending forming and rotational processing may be performed at least partially simultaneously. That is, the first plate and the second plate may gradually rotate toward each other while the bending forming is in progress. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the bending forming and rotational processing may be performed at different times. That is, rotational processing may begin after the bending processing of the first plate and the second plate is completed.

[0136] The plates in contact can be continuously transported along the transport direction. At this time, the plates in contact can be transported while being pressed by the first roller set and the second roller set.

[0137] While being transported under pressure in this manner, the contact portions of the plates can be welded and joined by a joining unit. More specifically, the joining unit continuously irradiates a laser beam at a specific point along the transport path of the plates, and the first flange (112, 113) and the second flange (122, 123) that are in contact with each other pass through the aforementioned specific point and can be welded by the laser.

[0138] In this manner, the first-1 flange (112) located on both sides of the contact plates is welded to the second-1 flange (122), and the first-2 flange (113) is welded to the second-2 flange (123), thereby forming a first weld (Wb1). At this time, the first weld (Wb1) is formed in the first region (A10) as previously described.

[0139] When welding is completed in the manner described above, the first plate and the second plate are joined together to form a single structure having a closed cross-section and a long length. Even after welding is completed, the structure can be pressed by roller sets positioned downstream of the roll forming device. In this way, by pressing the welded flanges (112, 113, 122, 123), thermal deformation such as warping of the plate caused by laser welding can be prevented.

[0140] Meanwhile, when supplying the plates, the distance between the first plate and the second plate in the width direction described above can be adjusted. For example, the first plate and the second plate may be supplied in a state where they are almost in contact in the width direction, or, as another example, the first plate and the second plate may be supplied in a state where they are separated by a predetermined distance in the width direction.

[0141] In this way, when supplied with the distance between the plates adjusted, the steps of bending, rotational processing, and welding can be performed as the first plate and the second plate move along the conveying direction while maintaining the adjusted distance. At this time, the position and shape of the plates being bent can be adjusted based on whether the first plate and the second plate are separated and the change in the distance between them. Additionally, the area where the first flange (112, 113) and the second flange (122, 123) come into contact with each other can be varied so that the position and area of ​​the first region (A10) and the second region (A20) can be adjusted. Accordingly, various shapes of A-pillars (100) can be manufactured using a single roll forming device without changing the device.

[0142] Subsequently, by cutting the above-mentioned structure to a predetermined length, a unit structure (100, 100-2) or an A-pillar (100) with an adjusted length can be manufactured. Additionally, various types of A-pillars (100) can be manufactured by preparing a number of the unit structures (100, 100-2) cut to a predetermined length, arranging them to extend in different directions, and then recombining them.

[0143] A method for manufacturing an A-pillar (100) according to another embodiment of the present invention may be as follows. For convenience of explanation, the A-pillar (100) according to Example 1 will be described in detail.

[0144] The roll forming device may include a first roll forming unit (not shown) and a second roll forming unit (not shown) arranged to face each other in the vertical direction and extending parallel along a first conveying direction. Additionally, the roll forming device may further include a shearing unit (not shown) and a joining unit (not shown).

[0145] The first roll forming unit may be extended to a longer length than the second roll forming unit based on the first conveying direction. At this time, the roll forming device may include a roll forming section in which the front portion of the first roll forming unit and the second roll forming unit are arranged together to form an inner member (110) and an outer member (120) by bending.

[0146] Additionally, the roll forming device may further include a transition section located behind the aforementioned roll forming section, in which the transport direction of either the inner member (110) or the outer member (120), which has completed bending forming, is switched to a second transport direction. Furthermore, the roll forming device may further include a joining section located behind the aforementioned transition section, in which the inner member (110) and the outer member (120) are transported together in a first transport direction and joined to each other. Such roll forming section, transition section, and joining section may be provided to be continuous along the first transport direction.

[0147] For example, the first roll forming unit may receive a first plate in the form of a coil and manufacture an inner member (110) by bending and forming it. At this time, the first roll forming unit may include a plurality of upper rolls and lower rolls arranged in a row along a first conveying direction. The first plate may be bent and formed by passing between the plurality of upper rolls and lower rolls along the first conveying direction and being gradually pressed. By doing so, a first flange (112, 113) is formed on each side of the first plate, thereby manufacturing, for example, a hat-shaped inner member (110).

[0148] And, the second roll forming unit can receive a second plate in the form of a coil and manufacture an outer member (120) by bending and forming it. At this time, the second roll forming unit may include a plurality of upper rolls and lower rolls arranged in a row along the first conveying direction. The second plate can be bent and formed by passing between the plurality of upper rolls and lower rolls along the first conveying direction and being gradually pressed. By doing so, a second flange (122, 123) is formed on each side of the second plate, thereby manufacturing, for example, a hat-shaped outer member (120).

[0149] In the above case, a portion of the second plate may be sheared by a shearing unit before entering the roll forming section. The sheared portion (hereinafter referred to as the narrow portion) may have a narrower width compared to other parts of the second plate that are not sheared. Additionally, when the narrow portion of the second plate passes through the second roll forming unit, it may not come into contact with the upper roll and the lower roll due to its narrow width. As a result, even after the bending process of the second plate is completed, the narrow portion of the second plate may have a flat plate shape without any bent portion. Due to having such a shape, the narrow portion may have lower rigidity than other parts of the outer member (120) (e.g., the part where the second flange is formed).

[0150] Additionally, a plurality of narrow sections may be spaced apart and formed on the outer member (120). When the bending molding is completed, the outer member (120) may have a long, extended shape with second flanges (122, 123) arranged between the aforementioned plurality of narrow sections.

[0151] The bending forming process of the roll forming method described above can be performed in the aforementioned roll forming section. In addition, the bending forming process of the first roll forming unit and the bending forming process of the second roll forming unit can be performed simultaneously.

[0152] After passing through the roll forming section, the inner member (110) can continue to move along the first conveying direction, pass through the transition section, and enter the joining section.

[0153] On the other hand, when the outer member (120) enters the transition section, the transfer direction may be switched to a second transfer direction. As the second roll forming unit is spaced apart from the first roll forming unit in the up-down or left-right direction, the second transfer direction may be a direction inclined upward, downward, left, or right relative to the first transfer direction.

[0154] After the transfer direction is switched, the outer member (120) can move along the second transfer direction, pass through the transition section, and be transferred to the rear end of the first roll forming unit placed within the coupling section. At this time, prior to entering the coupling section, the transfer direction of the outer member (120) can be switched back to the first transfer direction.

[0155] In this manner, when the transfer direction is switched and re-switched, the outer member (120) moves while partially bending because the second transfer direction is inclined with respect to the first transfer direction. At this time, the outer member (120) may switch or re-switch its transfer direction while the narrow section and the adjacent section, which have relatively low rigidity, are bent. By including the narrow section in this way, damage such as buckling can be prevented when the transfer direction of the outer member (120) is switched.

[0156] Then, the inner member (110) and the outer member (120) can be transported along the first transport direction in a state where they meet and overlap at the joining section. At this time, the inner member (110) and the outer member (120) can be moved while being pressed by a plurality of upper and lower rolls positioned at the rear end of the first roll forming unit, with the first flange (112, 113) and the second flange (122, 123) in contact with each other in a one-to-one manner. In this process, the first flange (112, 113) and the second flange (122, 123) can be joined by the joining unit. For example, the joining unit can perform a joining process to form a first weld (Wb1) by using a joining laser welding method (i.e., a first joining method) that irradiates a laser beam into a first region (A10) formed by the contact of the first flange (112, 113) and the second flange (122, 123).

[0157] In this way, a single long structure having a closed cross-section can be formed. Subsequently, a unit structure (100, 100-2) or an A-pillar (100) having a predetermined length can be manufactured by cutting the single structure at a position corresponding to a narrow section to adjust the length. Additionally, various types of A-pillars (100) can be manufactured by preparing a number of the unit structures (100, 100-2) cut to a predetermined length, arranging them to extend in different directions, and then recombining them.

[0158] Meanwhile, although the A-pillar (100) has been described with an embodiment in which two unit structures (100, 100-2) are connected, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the number of unit structures constituting the A-pillar (100) can be increased or decreased, and the connection form of the unit structures can also be freely changed as needed.

[0159] As described above, the A-pillar (100, 100a, 100b, 100c) and the body frame unit (10) according to the embodiments of the present invention are formed such that the first region (A10), which is an area where the inner member (110, 110a, 110b, 110c) and the outer member (120, 120a, 120b, 120c) are mutually coupled, and the second region (A20), to which parts such as the side outer (SO) are additionally coupled, are formed to be distinguished, thereby reducing the number of welding layers formed in the second region (A20) when additional parts are coupled.

[0160] As a result, welding defects and strength reduction caused by an excessive increase in the number of welding layers, such as 4-layer welding, can be prevented. In addition, additional processing such as trimming of outer panel parts to avoid 4-layer welding becomes unnecessary, and while sufficient strength is secured, the total weight of the A-pillar (100, 100a, 100b, 100c) can be reduced.

[0161] In addition, by shaping the A-pillars (100, 100a, 100b, 100c) into a form having an overall identical closed cross-section along their extension directions (B1, B2, B3, B4), it is possible to easily implement shape changes of the A-pillars (100, 100a, 100b, 100c) in response to various shapes of the vehicle body during manufacturing, and thereby, the effects of increased productivity and cost reduction can be secured during mass production of the vehicle body or the A-pillars (100, 100a, 100b, 100c).

[0162] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention may be implemented in other specific forms without changing its technical concept or essential features. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive.

[0163] (Explanation of symbols)

[0164] 10: Chassis frame unit

[0165] 100, 100a, 100b, 100c: A-pillar

[0166] 110, 110a, 110b, 110c: Inner members

[0167] 120, 120a, 120b, 120c: outer members

[0168] 200: B-Pillar

[0169] SR1: Front side rail

[0170] SR2: Rear side rail

[0171] SS: Side Sill

[0172] RS: Roof side rail

Claims

1. In a vehicle A-pillar positioned at the front of a body frame unit to support the roof, An inner member comprising a first flange having a first length and protruding outwardly from one end; and An outer member comprising a second flange that protrudes outward from one end and faces the first flange and has a second length different from the first length; The inner member and the outer member are, A vehicle A-pillar characterized in that the first flange and the second flange are joined in a state of contact with each other to form a closed cross-section, and the closed cross-section extends with the same area along the extension direction of the A-pillar.

2. In Paragraph 1, The first flange and the second flange are each provided in two numbers, The two first flanges are each disposed at both ends of the inner member, and Two of the second flanges are each disposed at both ends of the outer member and face one-to-one with the two first flanges, for a vehicle A-pillar.

3. In Paragraph 2, A vehicle A-pillar, the first length being longer than the second length.

4. In Paragraph 2, A vehicle A-pillar, the first length being shorter than the second length.

5. In Paragraph 3 or 4, When the inner member and the outer member are combined, A vehicle A-pillar formed by a first area in which the first flange and the second flange are arranged together so as to overlap, and a second area in which only one of the first flange and the second flange is arranged.

6. In Paragraph 5, The above second region has a longer length than the above first region, a vehicle A-pillar.

7. In Paragraph 6, A vehicle A-pillar, wherein the length of the first region is 2 to 7 mm.

8. In Paragraph 6, A vehicle A-pillar, wherein the length of the second region is 10 to 15 mm.

9. In Paragraph 6, The first flange and the second flange are joined in the first area in a first joining manner, and In the second region above, a vehicle A-pillar is joined using a second joining method to a side outer.

10. In Paragraph 9, The second region is formed on each side of the inner member or the outer member, respectively. The above side outer is, A vehicle A-pillar, wherein one end is connected to either side of the inner member or the outer member, and the other end is connected to the other side of the inner member or the outer member to cover the outer side of the A-pillar.

11. In Paragraph 9, A vehicle A-pillar, wherein the first joining method is a laser welding method and the second joining method is a spot welding method.

12. A front side rail positioned on the side of the vehicle body to support the roof; Side sills supporting the lower part of the vehicle body; and A pillar disposed between the front side rail and the side sill, connecting one end of the front side rail and the side sill; The above A-pillar is, An inner member comprising a first flange having a first length and protruding outwardly from one end; and An outer member comprising a second flange that protrudes outward from one end and faces the first flange and has a second length different from the first length; The inner member and the outer member are, A vehicle body frame unit in which the first flange and the second flange are joined in contact with each other to form a closed cross-section, and the closed cross-section extends with the same area along the extension direction of the A-pillar.

13. In Paragraph 12, The first flange and the second flange are each provided in two numbers, The two first flanges are each disposed at both ends of the inner member, and A vehicle body frame unit having two second flanges each disposed at both ends of the outer member and facing one-to-one with two first flanges.

14. In Paragraph 12, When the inner member and the outer member are combined, A vehicle body frame unit having a first area in which the first flange and the second flange are arranged together so as to overlap, and a second area in which only one of the first flange and the second flange is arranged.

15. In Paragraph 14, The above-mentioned second region is a body frame unit having a longer length than the above-mentioned first region.

16. In Paragraph 15, The first flange and the second flange are joined in the first area by a first joining method, In the second area above, a body frame unit in which a side outer is joined using a second joining method.

17. In Paragraph 16, The second region is formed on each side of the A-pillar, and The above side outer is, A body frame unit having one end connected to one of the two sides of the A-pillar and the other end connected to the other of the two sides of the A-pillar to cover the outer side of the A-pillar.

18. In Paragraph 16, A vehicle body frame unit, wherein the first joining method is a laser welding method and the second joining method is a spot welding method.

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