JP2011105269A - Pillar lower structure of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a pillar lower structure for a vehicle capable of increasing the strength of the lower part of a pillar against a collision load while suppressing the number of parts.
A portion disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the pillar inner panel and a portion disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the rocker inner panel are integrally formed as one member by the outer panel. Yes. The pillar outer lower portion 42 is formed with a reinforcing portion 50 that is recessed toward the opposite pillar inner lower portion 34 and is coupled to the pillar inner lower portion 34 side. Therefore, the lower part of the center pillar 16 integrated with the rocker 24 is closed by the pillar inner lower part 34 and the pillar outer lower part 42.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a pillar lower structure of a vehicle.

  In the vehicle body side portion, there is a structure in which a pillar outer lower part and a side sill outer (rocker outer) are integrated to form an outer side reinforcement member in order to reduce the number of parts (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-127899 A

  However, in such a structure, the pillar lower part integrated with the side sill (rocker) has an open cross-sectional shape opened in the vehicle vertical direction, and there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of increasing the strength of the pillar lower part against a collision load. There is.

  In view of the above fact, an object of the present invention is to obtain a pillar lower structure of a vehicle that can increase the strength of the pillar lower portion against a collision load while suppressing the number of parts.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the pillar lower structure of the present invention constitutes the lower part of the vehicle inner side of the pillar inner panel disposed on the side of the vehicle body with the vertical direction of the vehicle as the longitudinal direction. The lower part of the pillar inner panel joined to the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the rocker inner panel arranged with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle as the longitudinal direction, the part arranged on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the pillar inner panel, and the rocker inner panel And an outer panel having a cross-sectional hat shape that is integrally formed with one part and is opened inward in the vehicle width direction, and is disposed opposite to the lower portion of the pillar inner side in the vehicle width direction. The flange at the inner end in the vehicle width direction is paired with the pillar inner lower part and the pillar outer lower part joined to the rocker inner panel. The pillar outer panel lower and the formed at least one of the pillar inner lower portion, and a reinforcing portion that is coupled to the mating recessed to the opposite side facing the.

  According to the pillar lower structure of the vehicle according to the first aspect of the present invention, the pillar inner panel is arranged on the side of the vehicle body so that the vehicle vertical direction is the longitudinal direction, and the pillar inner panel constitutes the vehicle vertical direction lower part. The lower part of the pillar inner is joined to the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the rocker inner panel arranged at the lower end of the vehicle body side with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle as the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, in the outer panel, a portion disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the pillar inner panel and a portion disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the rocker inner panel are integrally formed as one member. The pillar outer lower portion, which has a cross-sectional hat shape opened inward in the width direction and forms a portion opposed to the outer side of the pillar inner side in the outer panel in the vehicle width direction, has a flange at the inner end in the vehicle width direction and a flange at the inner end in the vehicle width direction. It is joined to the rocker inner panel.

  Here, at least one of the lower part of the pillar outer and the lower part of the pillar inner that is opposed to each other is formed with a reinforcing part that is recessed toward the opposing counterpart and is coupled to the counterpart. For this reason, since the pillar lower part integrated with the rocker is closed by the pillar inner lower part and the pillar outer lower part, the strength of the pillar lower part against the collision load is increased.

  The pillar lower structure of the vehicle according to a second aspect of the present invention is the structure according to the first aspect, wherein the reinforcing portion is formed on both the pillar outer lower portion and the pillar inner lower portion and coupled to each other.

  According to the pillar lower structure of the vehicle according to the second aspect of the present invention, the reinforcing portion is formed on both the pillar outer lower portion and the pillar inner lower portion and coupled to each other. For this reason, the pillar lower part is closed-sectioned while the depth of the dent of the reinforcing part is suppressed.

  As described above, according to the pillar lower structure of the vehicle according to claim 1 of the present invention, there is an excellent effect that the strength of the pillar lower portion against the collision load can be increased while suppressing the number of parts.

  According to the pillar lower structure of the vehicle according to claim 2, there is an excellent effect that the formability can be improved by suppressing the depth of the recess of the reinforcing portion.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view (enlarged cross-sectional view along the 1-1 line of FIG. 3) of the vehicle front view which shows the center pillar lower part structure concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows a part of vehicle body side part to which the center pillar lower part structure concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention was applied seeing from the vehicle interior side. 1 is a schematic side view showing a part of an automobile to which a center pillar lower structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vehicle front view which shows the center pillar lower part structure concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vehicle front view which shows the front pillar lower part structure concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows a part of vehicle body side part with which the front pillar lower part structure concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention was applied, removing the rocker inner panel and seeing from the vehicle interior side. It is a typical side view for demonstrating an effect | action when the motor vehicle to which the front pillar lower part structure concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention is applied collides front. It is a FS diagram when a car makes a frontal collision with a barrier. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the center pillar lower structure which concerns on contrast structure (comparative example with embodiment of this invention) of the vehicle front view. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the center pillar lower structure which concerns on contrast structure (comparative example with embodiment of this invention) of the vehicle front view.

[First Embodiment]
A pillar lower structure of a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In these drawings, an arrow FR appropriately shown indicates the vehicle front side, an arrow UP indicates the vehicle upper side, and an arrow IN indicates the vehicle width direction inner side.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of a part of an automobile 10 (vehicle) to which a center pillar lower structure 30 as a pillar lower structure of a vehicle is applied. FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 1-1 of FIG. 3, and FIG. 2 shows a part of the vehicle body side portion 12 to which the center pillar lower structure 30 is applied. It is shown in the exploded perspective view seen from the inside.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a front pillar 14 (A pillar), a center pillar 16 (B pillar), and a rear pillar 18 (C pillar) are arranged on the vehicle body side portion 12 in order from the front side. The front pillar 14, the center pillar 16, and the rear pillar 18 are provided as a pair on the left and right. The center pillar 16 is disposed between the front door opening 20A and the rear door opening 20B formed in the vehicle body side portion 12, and is a vehicle body skeleton member whose longitudinal direction is substantially the vehicle vertical direction.

  An upper end portion 16 </ b> A of the center pillar 16 is coupled to an intermediate portion of the roof side rail portion 22 in the vehicle front-rear direction. The roof side rail portion 22 is a skeletal member that is disposed on both sides of the vehicle roof with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle substantially in the longitudinal direction. The lower end 16B of the center pillar 16 is coupled to an intermediate portion of the rocker 24 (also referred to as “side sill”) in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the lower end 16B side of the center pillar 16 and the rocker 24 form a trident ( It is a three-way intersection. The rocker 24 is a skeleton member that is disposed on both sides of the lower part of the vehicle body with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle as a longitudinal direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rocker 24 includes a rocker inner panel 26. The rocker inner panel 26 constitutes a portion of the rocker 24 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, is arranged with the vehicle front-rear direction as the longitudinal direction at the lower end portion of the vehicle body side portion 12, and has a cross-sectional hat opened outward in the vehicle width direction It is made into a shape. An upper flange portion 26A is formed at the outer end in the vehicle width direction at the upper end side of the rocker inner panel 26, and a lower flange portion 26B is formed at the outer end in the vehicle width direction at the lower end side of the rocker inner panel 26. 26 A of upper flange parts and the lower flange part 26B are arrange | positioned by using the surface where the general surface includes a vehicle up-down direction and a vehicle front-back direction as a surface direction.

  The center pillar 16 provided continuously to the rocker 24 is provided with a pillar inner panel 32 arranged in the vehicle body side portion 12 with the vehicle vertical direction being substantially the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the pillar inner panel 32 constitutes a portion of the center pillar 16 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. The pillar inner lower portion 34 constituting the lower portion of the pillar inner panel 32 in the vehicle vertical direction has upper and lower joint portions 34A and 34B overlapped on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the upper flange portion 26A and the lower flange portion 26B of the rocker inner panel 26. Combined and joined by spot welding.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the pillar inner panel 32 has a substantially hat shape in which a horizontal cross-sectional shape is opened outward in the vehicle width direction at a portion above the rocker 24 on the vehicle upper side. A front flange portion 32A is formed on the front end side of the pillar inner panel 32 in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a rear flange portion 32B is formed on the rear end side of the pillar inner panel 32 in the vehicle front-rear direction. It is for use.

  On the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the pillar inner panel 32 and the rocker inner panel 26, an outer panel 40 (cymen outer panel reinforcement) is disposed so as to oppose them. Note that a outer outer 52 (see FIG. 1) is disposed on the outer side of the outer panel 40 in the vehicle width direction.

  The outer panel 40 is a strength member in which a portion disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the pillar inner panel 32 and a portion disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the rocker inner panel 26 are integrally formed as one member. Has been. That is, the outer panel 40 is disposed so as to face the pillar inner lower portion 34 and the pillar outer lower portion 42 that constitutes a portion that is opposed to the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and on the vehicle upper side of the pillar outer lower portion 42. The pillar outer longitudinal portion 44 and the rocker outer longitudinal portion 46 disposed on the vehicle width direction outer side of the rocker inner panel 26 on the vehicle front side and the rear side of the pillar outer lower portion 42 are integrally formed. It has a cross-sectional hat shape opened inward.

  The rocker outer longitudinal portion 46 is disposed with the vehicle longitudinal direction as the longitudinal direction, and has a cross-sectional hat shape opened inward in the vehicle width direction. An upper flange portion 46A is formed at the inner end in the vehicle width direction at the upper end side of the rocker outer longitudinal portion 46, and a lower flange portion 46B is formed at the inner end in the vehicle width direction at the lower end side of the rocker outer longitudinal portion 46. Yes. 46 A of upper flange parts and the lower flange part 46B are arrange | positioned by making the general surface into a surface direction including the vehicle up-down direction and the vehicle front-back direction. The upper flange portion 46A is superimposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the upper flange portion 26A of the rocker inner panel 26 and joined by spot welding, and the lower flange portion 46B is a vehicle of the lower flange portion 26B of the rocker inner panel 26. They are superimposed on the outside in the width direction and joined by spot welding.

  Further, the pillar outer longitudinal portion 44 of the outer panel 40 is arranged with the substantially vertical direction of the vehicle as the longitudinal direction, and has a substantially hat shape with a horizontal cross-sectional shape opened inward in the vehicle width direction. A front flange portion 44A is formed at the inner end in the vehicle width direction on the front end side in the vehicle front-rear direction of the pillar outer longitudinal portion 44, and an inner end in the vehicle width direction on the rear end side in the vehicle front-rear direction of the pillar outer longitudinal portion 44. A rear flange portion 44B is formed. The front flange portion 44A of the pillar outer longitudinal portion 44 is overlapped on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the front flange portion 32A of the pillar inner panel 32 and joined by spot welding, and the rear flange portion 44B of the pillar outer longitudinal portion 44 is joined to the pillar inner panel. 32 are overlapped on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the rear flange portion 32B and joined by spot welding.

  The pillar outer lower portion 42 provided between the rocker outer longitudinal portion 46 and the pillar outer longitudinal portion 44 has both a function as a rocker outer and a function as a pillar outer. At the inner end in the vehicle width direction of the pillar outer lower portion 42, a front flange portion 42A as a flange connecting the front flange portion 44A of the pillar outer longitudinal portion 44 and the upper flange portion 46A of the rocker outer longitudinal portion 46, and the pillar outer longitudinal portion 44 A rear flange portion 42B as a flange connecting between the rear flange portion 44B and the upper flange portion 46A of the rocker outer longitudinal portion 46, and a lower flange portion 42C as a flange continuously integral with the lower flange portion 46B of the rocker outer longitudinal portion 46 , Is formed.

  The front flange portion 42A and the rear flange portion 42B of the pillar outer lower portion 42 are overlapped on the vehicle width direction outer side of the upper joint portion 34A of the pillar inner lower portion 34, and the joint portion 34A of the pillar inner lower portion 34 and the upper flange portion of the rocker inner panel 26. It is joined by spot welding in a state where it is overlapped with 26A. Further, the lower flange portion 42C of the pillar outer lower portion 42 is overlapped on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the lower joint portion 34B of the pillar inner lower portion 34, and the joint portion 34B of the pillar inner lower portion 34 and the lower flange portion 26B of the rocker inner panel 26 They are joined by spot welding in a three-layered state.

  In addition, the pillar outer lower portion 42 is formed with a deep-drawing reinforcing portion 50 that is recessed toward the opposite pillar inner lower portion 34 (opposing counterpart side) and coupled to the pillar inner lower portion 34 side. The reinforcing portion 50 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape that opens to the outside in the vehicle width direction and has the inside in the vehicle width direction as the bottom wall portion 50A. The bottom wall part 50A facing the pillar inner lower part 34 side in the reinforcing part 50 is aligned with the front flange part 42A and the rear flange part 42B of the pillar outer lower part 42 in the vehicle width direction, and as shown in FIG. The pillar inner lower portion 34 and the upper flange portion 26A of the rocker inner panel 26 are joined by spot welding in a three-layered state. Thus, a closed cross section 36 is formed by the pillar inner lower portion 34 and the pillar outer lower portion 42 at the lower portion of the center pillar 16 integrated with the rocker 24 (B pillar lower rocker coupling structure).

(Action / Effect)
Next, the operation and effect of the above embodiment will be described.

  In the center pillar lower structure 30 having the above-described configuration, the outer panel 40 includes a portion disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the pillar inner panel 32 and a portion disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the rocker inner panel 26. Since they are formed integrally with each other, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembly process can be reduced.

  Here, a supplementary explanation will be given in comparison with the comparison structure. In order to increase the strength against the collision load, for example, in the center pillar lower structure 100 according to the comparison structure (comparative example with the embodiment of the present invention) shown in FIG. In addition, a pillar outer reinforcement 102 is provided, and a rocker outer reinforcement 104 having a hat-shaped cross section that is opened inward in the vehicle width direction is provided separately, and a closed cross section 106 is formed by the rocker outer reinforcement 104 and the pillar inner panel 32. Therefore, the strength member disposed on the outer side becomes the two members of the pillar outer reinforcement 102 and the rocker outer reinforcement 104.

  On the other hand, in the center pillar lower structure 30 shown in FIG. 1, since the outer panel 40 is provided in place of the two members in the comparison structure and the parts are integrated, the number of parts is reduced compared to the comparison structure. And the assembly process can be reduced.

  Further, in the center pillar lower structure 30, the pillar outer lower portion 42 is formed with a reinforcing portion 50 that is recessed toward the opposite pillar inner lower portion 34 side and coupled to the pillar inner lower portion 34 side, so that the center integrated with the rocker 24 is formed. A closed section 36 is formed by a pillar inner lower part 34 and a pillar outer lower part 42 at the lower part of the pillar 16, and the strength of the lower part of the center pillar 16 (part integrated with the rocker 24) against the collision load F is increased.

  For example, at the time of a side collision with the automobile 10, a collision load F (compression load) inward in the vehicle width direction is input to an outer portion in the vehicle width direction at the lower portion of the center pillar 16, but the lower part of the center pillar according to the present embodiment. Since the structure 30 has a structure in which the closed cross-section 36 is formed in this portion, the structure 30 is difficult to be deformed (cross-sectional collapse) inward in the vehicle width direction. That is, in the center pillar lower structure 30, the reinforcing portion 50 of the outer panel 40 functions as a load support portion in the same manner as the upper side of the rocker outer reinforcement 104 (see FIG. 9) in the comparison structure, so that the center pillar is reduced while reducing the number of parts. The lower part of 16 is efficiently reinforced. Further, in the center pillar lower structure 30, the collision load F input to the pillar outer lower part 42 from the beginning of the collision is transmitted to the pillar inner lower part 34, so that even if the parts are integrated, the reaction force (load level) can be prevented from lowering ( Improved collision performance).

  This will be supplementarily explained in comparison with other contrast structures. In order to reduce the number of parts, for example, in the center pillar lower structure 110 according to the contrast structure (comparative example with the embodiment of the present invention) shown in FIG. The pillar outer portion and the rocker outer portion are integrated by the outer panel 112, but the outer panel 112 does not have a portion corresponding to the upper side of the rocker outer reinforcement 104 (see FIG. 9) shown in the previous comparison structure, and is provided in the vehicle vertical direction. It is extended. In the contrast structure shown in FIG. 10, since the pillar lower part integrated with the rocker has an open section (open section) shape opened in the vehicle vertical direction, the center pillar lower part (integrated with the rocker) with respect to the collision load F is formed. The strength of the portion) is lower than that of the closed cross-sectional shape. Therefore, in this contrast structure, the cross-section is liable to collapse early at the time of a side collision compared to the case of a closed cross-sectional shape. As a result, the rocker fully performs the functions at the time of collision (energy absorption function, load transmission function, etc.). There is a possibility that it will not be possible.

  On the other hand, in the center pillar lower structure 30 shown in FIG. 1, the lower portion of the center pillar 16 has a closed cross section, and therefore the lower portion of the center pillar 16 with respect to the collision load F (a portion integrated with the rocker 24). Is stronger than the contrast structure (see FIG. 10), and the reaction force (load level) at the time of collision can be increased.

  As described above, according to the center pillar lower structure 30 according to the present embodiment, the strength of the lower portion of the center pillar 16 with respect to the collision load F (strength against crushing of the cross section) and rigidity can be increased while suppressing the number of parts. .

  Further, since the rigidity of the lower portion of the center pillar 16 is increased, the resonance frequency of this portion is changed and vibration during vehicle travel is suppressed, so that the operability is improved.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a pillar lower structure of a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view (a view corresponding to FIG. 1 in the first embodiment) of the center pillar lower structure 60 as the pillar lower structure of the vehicle according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Is shown.

  As shown in this figure, the center pillar lower structure 60 is different from the center pillar lower structure 30 (see FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment in that a reinforcing portion 62 is also provided in the pillar inner lower portion 34. Is different. Other configurations are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, components that are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the pillar outer lower portion 42, a reinforcing portion 54 is formed by deep drawing so as to be recessed toward the opposite pillar inner lower portion 34 side (opposing counterpart side) and coupled to the pillar inner lower portion 34 side. The depth of the recess of the reinforcing portion 54 is set to be shallower than the depth of the recess of the reinforcing portion 50 (see FIG. 1) in the first embodiment. It is the same as the reinforcing portion 50 (see FIG. 1) in the form.

  Further, the pillar inner lower portion 34 is formed with a deep-drawing reinforcing portion 62 that is recessed toward the opposite pillar outer lower portion 42 side (opposing counterpart side) and coupled to the pillar outer lower portion 42 side. The reinforcing portion 62 is generally shaped like the reinforcing portion 54 is inverted in the vehicle width direction. In the present embodiment, the upper joint portion 34A is provided on the lower plate portion 62B that is the lower side in the vehicle vertical direction of the reinforcing portion 62, and the upper flange portion 26A of the rocker inner panel 26 is joined to the joint portion 34A. ing.

  The bottom wall portion 54A of the reinforcing portion 54 in the pillar outer lower portion 42 and the bottom wall portion 62A of the reinforcing portion 62 in the pillar inner lower portion 34 are overlapped and coupled to each other by spot welding. As a result, a closed section 64 is formed by the pillar inner lower portion 34 and the pillar outer lower portion 42 at the lower portion of the center pillar 16 integrated with the rocker 24.

  According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained, and the depth of the recesses (drawing depth) of the reinforcing portions 54 and 62 can be suppressed. The formability of the pillar inner panel 32 by deep drawing can be improved.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a pillar lower structure of a vehicle according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that components that are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 5 shows a front pillar lower structure 70 as a pillar lower structure of a vehicle according to a third embodiment of the present invention in a longitudinal sectional view in front view of the vehicle. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a part of the vehicle body side portion 12 to which the front pillar lower structure 70 is applied as viewed from the vehicle interior side with the rocker inner panel 26 removed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the front pillar 14 shown in these drawings is disposed at the front edge of the front door opening 20A, and is a vehicle body skeleton member whose longitudinal direction is substantially the vehicle vertical direction. . An upper end portion 14 </ b> A of the front pillar 14 is coupled to a front end of the roof side rail portion 22 in the vehicle front-rear direction. Further, the lower end portion 14B of the front pillar 14 is coupled to the front end of the rocker 24 in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the front pillar 14 and the rocker 24 are substantially L-shaped.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the front pillar 14 includes a pillar inner panel 72 that is disposed on the vehicle body side portion 12 with the vehicle vertical direction as a longitudinal direction. The pillar inner panel 72 constitutes a portion of the front pillar 14 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. The pillar inner lower portion 74 constituting the lower portion of the pillar inner panel 72 in the vehicle vertical direction has upper and lower joint portions 74A, 74B on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the upper flange portion 26A and the lower flange portion 26B of the rocker inner panel 26. They are overlapped and joined by spot welding.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the pillar inner panel 72 has a substantially hat shape in which the horizontal sectional shape on the upper side is opened outward in the vehicle width direction. A front flange portion 72A is formed on the front end side of the pillar inner panel 72 in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a rear flange portion 72B is formed on the rear end side of the pillar inner panel 72 in the vehicle front-rear direction. It is for use.

  A part of the outer panel 40 is disposed outside the pillar inner panel 72 in the vehicle width direction. 5 and 6, the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction of the outer panel 40 illustrated in the first embodiment is illustrated. In the outer panel 40, a portion disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the pillar inner panel 72 and a portion disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the rocker inner panel 26 are integrally formed as one member.

  That is, the outer panel 40 shown in FIG. 6 includes a pillar outer lower portion 48 that constitutes a portion disposed opposite to the pillar inner lower portion 74 in the vehicle width direction, and a vehicle width of the pillar inner panel 72 on the vehicle upper side of the pillar outer lower portion 48. A pillar outer longitudinal portion 49 opposed to the outer side in the direction and a rocker outer longitudinal portion 46 (see FIG. 2) disposed on the vehicle rear side of the rocker inner panel 26 on the vehicle rear side of the pillar outer lower portion 48. It is formed and has a cross-sectional hat shape opened inward in the vehicle width direction.

  Further, the pillar outer longitudinal portion 49 of the outer panel 40 is disposed substantially with the vehicle vertical direction as the longitudinal direction, and has a substantially hat shape with a horizontal sectional shape opened inward in the vehicle width direction. A front flange portion 49A is formed at the inner end in the vehicle width direction on the front end side in the vehicle front-rear direction of the pillar outer longitudinal portion 49, and a rear end side in the vehicle width direction on the rear end side in the vehicle front-rear direction of the pillar outer longitudinal portion 49 at the rear end in the vehicle width direction. A flange portion 49B is formed. The front flange portion 49A of the pillar outer longitudinal portion 49 is joined to the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the front flange portion 72A of the pillar inner panel 72, and the rear flange portion 49B of the pillar outer longitudinal portion 49 is connected to the rear flange portion 72B of the pillar inner panel 72. It is joined to the outside in the vehicle width direction.

  The pillar outer lower portion 48 has both a function as a rocker outer and a function as a pillar outer. A first flange portion 48A as a flange is formed at the inner end in the vehicle width direction from the front end side to the lower end side of the pillar outer lower portion 48, and at the rear end side and the upper end side in the vehicle width direction at the upper end side of the pillar outer lower portion 48, A second flange portion 48B as a flange is formed. The first flange portion 48A and the second flange portion 48B of the pillar outer lower portion 48 are overlapped on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the pillar inner lower portion 74 and the rocker inner panel 26 and joined by spot welding in a three-layered state.

  As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the pillar inner lower portion 74 is formed with a reinforcing portion 76 that is recessed toward the opposite pillar outer lower portion 48 side (opposed counterpart side) and coupled to the pillar outer lower portion 48 side. As shown in FIG. 5, the reinforcing portion 76 is substantially U-shaped in a side sectional view, and the bottom wall portion 76 </ b> A facing the pillar inner lower portion 74 side of the reinforcing portion 76 is overlapped with the pillar outer lower portion 48 and spotted. They are joined by welding. Thus, a closed cross section 78 is formed by the pillar inner lower portion 74 and the pillar outer lower portion 48 at the lower portion of the front pillar 14 integrated with the rocker 24 (A pillar lower rocker coupling structure).

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a tongue-like tongue piece portion 80 </ b> A having a tongue-like shape from the vehicle vertical direction center portion from the front and rear ends in the vehicle front-rear direction of the bottom wall portion 76 </ b> A of the reinforcement portion 76, 80B is extended and bent inward in the vehicle width direction. The front tongue piece 80A is superimposed on a front wall 48C provided on the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction of the pillar outer lower portion 48 and joined by spot welding. Further, the rear tongue piece 80B is superimposed on a rear wall portion 48D provided on the rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction of the pillar outer lower portion 48 and joined by spot welding.

(Action / Effect)
Next, the operation and effect of the above embodiment will be described.

  In the front pillar lower structure 70 having the above-described configuration, the outer panel 40 includes a portion disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the pillar inner panel 72 and a portion disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the rocker inner panel 26. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembly process can be reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, in the front pillar lower structure 70, the pillar inner lower portion 74 is formed with a reinforcing portion 76 that is recessed toward the opposite pillar outer lower portion 48 side and coupled to the pillar outer lower portion 48 side. A closed section 78 is formed by a pillar inner lower part 74 and a pillar outer lower part 48 at the lower part of the front pillar 14 integrated with the rocker 24, and the strength of the lower part of the front pillar 14 against a collision load is increased.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7, at the time of a frontal collision, a collision load f directed toward the rear of the vehicle is input to the front end side portion of the lower portion of the front pillar 14 via the tire 82. Since it has a structure in which (see FIG. 5) is formed, it is difficult to deform. In other words, due to the collision load f in the direction in which the rocker 24 is axially compressed, a load that is deformed in a convex shape in the out-of-plane direction (outside in the vehicle width direction) acts on the lower outer side of the front pillar 14. 5 is coupled to the pillar outer lower portion 48 side to form a closed cross section 78, whereby the lower portion of the front pillar 14 is efficiently reinforced, so that the lower portion of the front pillar 14 is unlikely to collapse. That is, the structure in which the reinforcing portion 76 is provided and the pillar inner lower portion 74 and the pillar outer lower portion 48 form the closed section 78 plays a role of a bulkhead at the time of collision. For this reason, compared with the contrast structure in which the reinforcement part 76 (closed cross section 78) is not formed, the fall of reaction force (load level) is suppressed (improvement of collision performance).

  Here, the operation of the front pillar lower structure 70 will be described with reference to the graph (FS diagram) of FIG. FIG. 8 shows an FS diagram when the automobile is brought into frontal collision with the barrier, that is, a graph showing the relationship between the load F and the stroke S.

  In FIG. 8, the dotted line diagram shows the FS diagram of the contrast structure in which the closed cross section (78) is not formed, and the two-dot chain line diagram is inward in the vehicle width direction separately from the pillar outer reinforcement. FIG. 2 shows an FS diagram of a comparative structure in which a rocker outer reinforcement having a hat-shaped cross section opened in is provided and a closed cross section is formed by the rocker outer reinforcement and the pillar inner panel. On the other hand, the solid line diagram shows an FS diagram of the front pillar lower structure 70 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, in the front pillar lower structure 70 according to the present embodiment, the reaction force (load level) is improved.

  As described above, according to the front pillar lower structure 70 according to the present embodiment, the strength of the lower portion of the front pillar 14 (the strength against crushing of the cross section) and the rigidity against the collision load f can be increased while suppressing the number of parts. .

[Supplementary explanation of the embodiment]
In the first embodiment, in the center pillar lower structure 30 shown in FIG. 1 or the like, the pillar outer lower portion 42 is formed with a reinforcing portion 50 that is recessed toward the pillar inner lower portion 34, and the reinforcing portion 50 is formed on the pillar inner lower portion 34 side. As a modification of the first embodiment, the pillar inner lower part (34) is formed with a reinforcing part that is recessed toward the pillar outer lower part (42), and the reinforcing part is joined to the pillar outer lower part (42) side. Also good.

  In the first embodiment, the bottom wall portion 50A of the reinforcing portion 50 is joined to the joining portion 34A of the pillar inner lower portion 34 and the upper flange portion 26A of the rocker inner panel 26 in a three-layered state. For example, the reinforcing portion may be joined in a two-layered state in which the bottom wall portion is overlapped only on the lower part of the pillar inner.

  Further, in the second embodiment, in the center pillar lower structure 60 shown in FIG. 4, the reinforcing portion 54 is formed in the pillar outer lower portion 42 and the reinforcing portion 62 is formed in the pillar inner lower portion 34, and these reinforcing portions 54 are formed. 62 are connected to each other. For example, a structure in which a reinforcing portion is formed in both the lower portion of the pillar outer and the lower portion of the pillar inner and these reinforcing portions are connected to each other may be applied to the front pillar lower structure.

  Furthermore, in the third embodiment, in the front pillar lower structure 70 shown in FIG. 5, a reinforcing portion 76 is formed in the pillar inner lower portion 74 so as to be recessed toward the pillar outer lower portion 48 side and coupled to the pillar outer lower portion 48 side. However, as a modification of the third embodiment, a reinforcing portion that is recessed toward the pillar inner lower portion (74) may be formed in the pillar outer lower portion (48), and the reinforcing portion may be coupled to the pillar inner lower portion (74) side.

12 Car body side 26 Rocker inner panel 30 Center pillar lower structure (pillar lower structure)
32 Pillar inner panel 34 Pillar inner lower part 40 Outer panel 42 Pillar outer lower part 42A Front flange part (flange)
42B Rear flange (flange)
42C Lower flange (flange)
48 Pillar outer lower part 48A First flange part (flange)
48B Second flange (flange)
50 Reinforcement part 54 Reinforcement part 60 Center pillar lower structure (pillar lower structure)
62 Reinforcement part 70 Front pillar lower structure (pillar lower structure)
72 Pillar inner panel 74 Lower pillar inner 76 Reinforcement

Claims (2)

A rocker inner panel vehicle in which a lower part in the vehicle vertical direction of the pillar inner panel arranged substantially in the vertical direction of the vehicle is formed on the side of the vehicle body and the vehicle longitudinal direction is arranged in the longitudinal direction at the lower end of the side of the vehicle body. A lower pillar inner part joined to the outside in the width direction;
The part disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the pillar inner panel and the part disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the rocker inner panel are integrally formed as one member and opened inward in the vehicle width direction. In the outer panel having a cross-sectional hat shape, a pillar outer portion is configured to be opposed to the pillar inner lower portion on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and a flange at an inner end in the vehicle width direction is joined to the pillar inner lower portion and the rocker inner panel The bottom,
A reinforcing part formed on at least one of the lower part of the pillar outer and the lower part of the pillar inner which are opposed to each other, and which is recessed to the opposing side and coupled to the opposing side;
A pillar substructure of a vehicle having   The pillar lower structure of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing portion is formed on both the pillar outer lower portion and the pillar inner lower portion and coupled to each other.

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