JP3473578B2 - Car fender structure - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle fender structure, and more particularly to a vehicle fender structure in which a fender is attached to an upper member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an example of a vehicle fender structure in which a fender is attached to an upper member is disclosed in JP-A-7-291147.

As shown in FIG. 9, in this automobile fender structure, an apron member 10 as an upper member is provided on an inner surface of an upper portion of a front apron side panel 100.
2 is fixed to form a fender apron 106 having an upper portion 104 with a closed cross section, and an apron member 102 in the upper portion 104 of the fender apron 106 is formed.
The upper surface of the mounting flange 10 formed on the rising portion (vertical wall portion) 108A of the fender panel 108.
8B is configured as a first fender mounting surface 110 for joining and fixing, and the upper edge of the apron member 102 is raised above the first fender mounting surface 110 and bent to the outside of the vehicle to be higher than the first fender mounting surface 110. Is the second fender mounting surface 112 located outside the vehicle. As a result, in the fender structure of this automobile, it is possible to share parts even between vehicle types having different widths and relatively large differences in height of the hood panel 114 as shown by the solid line and the two-dot chain line in FIG. It has become.

[0004]

However, in the fender structure of this automobile, the fender panel 1 is used.
For example, when the fender panel 108 and the hood panel 114 are attached in a solid line state with respect to the load (arrow F in FIG. 9) acting on the 08 from above, this load is applied to the attachment flange 108B of the fender panel 108. And the bending rigidity of the second fender mounting surface 112. For this reason, the support rigidity of the fender panel 108 becomes high, and the energy absorption effect against the load acting on the fender panel 108 from above becomes low.

In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a vehicle fender structure capable of improving the energy absorption effect against the load acting on the fender panel from above.

[0006]

The present invention according to claim 1 is a vehicle fender structure in which a fender is attached to an upper member, and the fender and the upper member are provided.
The fender is a separate member, and the fender is
Between the fender and the upper member on the member
A gap is formed in the
And a mounting bracket that is deformable with respect to the mounting bracket.
In the racket, the fixing part with the fender and the assembly
Longitudinal direction that extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle body by connecting the fixed part with the member
It is characterized by having a wall.

Therefore, since the fender is mounted on the upper member via the mounting bracket, the fender can be reliably supported and the fender and the upper member can be supported.
Due to the gap between the members, the fender has a relatively low load
Improves energy absorption effect by deforming downward with
be able to. Also, place the mounting bracket from above.
Deformation of the fender because it is deformable under constant load
Extends stroke and further improves energy absorption effect
You can

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the automobile fender structure according to the first aspect, the mounting bracket includes a front end portion and a rear end portion of the fender in a vehicle longitudinal direction.
Installed at two locations on the side and at the two locations
In the middle part of the fender sandwiched between the brackets
The gap between the fender and the upper member.
It you are characterized that between is provided.

Therefore, in addition to the contents described in claim 1,
Two locations on the front and rear ends of the fender in the vehicle front-rear direction
Fen sandwiched between mounting brackets spaced apart
In the middle part of the fender, the fender and the upper member
Since there is a gap between the fender and
Deforms downward with a low load, which improves the energy absorption effect.
Can be improved.

[0010] According to a third aspect of the invention, in the vehicle fender structure according to claim 2, said fender
The gap between the upper member and the fender is
It is hard to interfere with the upper member, and the deformation strobe of the fender is
The feature is that it is set large so that the length of the ark becomes long .

Therefore, in addition to the contents described in claim 2 ,
The gap between the fender and the upper member is
Deformation stroke of the fender that does not easily interfere with the upper member
Is set so that the
-The absorption effect can be further improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a vehicle fender structure in which a fender is attached to an upper member, the fender and the upper member are separate members.
And the fender on the upper member,
Form a gap between the fender and the upper member
It can be attached and deformed against a predetermined load from above.
And certain mounting flange, wherein the mounting flange
A fixing part with the fender and a fixing part with the upper member
It is characterized by having a vertical wall portion extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle body and connecting.

Therefore, since the fender is attached to the upper member via the attachment flange, the fender can be reliably supported and the fender and the upper member can be supported.
Due to the gap between the fender and the
Since it deforms downward, the energy absorption effect can be improved.
You can Also, the mounting flange is
Because it can be deformed against heavy weight,
It is possible to lengthen the lok and further improve the energy absorption effect.
You can

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the automobile fender structure according to the fourth aspect , a step portion is provided on the vertical wall portion.
It is characterized by the provision of .

Therefore, in addition to the contents described in claim 4 ,
The load is concentrated on the step because the step is provided on the vertical wall.
Thus, the energy absorption effect can be further improved.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the automobile fender structure according to the fifth aspect, the stepped portion is provided below the step portion.
The feature is that a thick portion is provided .

Therefore, in addition to the contents of claim 5 ,
Since the thick part is provided under the step, the fender can be secured.
Can support.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment of an automobile fender structure of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the figure, an arrow FR indicates a vehicle front direction, an arrow UP indicates a vehicle upward direction, and an arrow IN indicates a vehicle width inner direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the boundaries 16 between the hood panel 12 and the fender panel 14 of the vehicle body 10 extend along the vehicle front-rear direction at both vehicle width direction ends of the front bonnet 18. ing.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hood insulator 2 is provided on the lower surface side of the hood panel 12 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction.
0 is arranged along the vehicle front-rear direction. The cross-sectional shape of the hood insulator 20 when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction is a hat shape with the opening facing upward, and the inner flange 20A formed to project inward in the vehicle width direction of the opening has a lower surface 12A of the hood panel 12. Is welded to. In addition, the hood panel 12 is provided on the outer flange 20 </ b> B formed so as to project outward in the vehicle width direction of the opening of the hood insulator 20.
The outer edge portion 12B in the vehicle width direction is fixed by hemming.

Hood panel 12 and fender panel 14
An apron member 24 as an upper member is disposed below the boundary 16 between the apron member 24 and the vehicle longitudinal direction.
The apron member 24 is composed of an apron member upper 26 and an apron member 24 which constitute an upper part of the apron member 24.
And an apron member lower 28 that constitutes the lower part of the.

The apron member upper 26 has a substantially U-shaped cross section with the opening facing downward, and the flange 2 is formed at the lower end of the outer wall portion 26A in the vehicle width direction toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction.
6B is formed. Meanwhile, Apron Member Roar 28
Has an L-shaped cross section, and a flange 28B is formed at the upper end of the vertical wall portion 28A toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Also, the flange 26 of the apron member upper 26
B and the flange 28B of the apron member lower 28 are welded.

The lower wall portion 28C of the apron member lower 28 is provided on the inner wall portion in the vehicle width direction with a flange 28 extending downward from the vehicle.
D is formed, and this flange 28D is welded to the lower end edge portion 26D of the vehicle width direction inner side wall portion 26C of the apron member upper 26.

Therefore, in the apron member 24, the apron member upper 26 and the apron member lower 28 form a closed cross section 30 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction.

A chamfered portion 48 is formed at an outer corner portion of the upper wall portion 26E of the apron member upper 26 in the vehicle width direction, and a lower end portion of the chamfered portion 48 has a vertical wall of the fender panel 14. It is spaced a predetermined distance M downward from the portion 14B.

As shown in FIG. 4, the fender panel 1
Mounting brackets 50 are provided at both ends of the four vertical wall portions 14B in the vehicle front-rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the mounting bracket 50
Has an L-shaped cross section, and the upper end of the vertical wall 50A is welded to the lower end of the vertical wall 14B of the fender panel 14. A vehicle width direction inner side portion 50C of the lower wall portion 50B of the mounting bracket 50 is fixed to the upper wall portion 26E of the apron member upper 26 by fixing means 52 such as bolts and nuts. In addition, the lower wall portion 50B of the mounting bracket 50
The vehicle width direction outer side portion 50D of the apron member upper 26
The upper wall portion 26E projects outward in the vehicle width direction.

Therefore, the lower wall portion 50 of the mounting bracket 50
A vehicle width direction outer side portion 50D of B and the apron member upper 2
A gap 54 is formed between the chamfered portion 48 and the chamfered portion 48.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, in a normal state, the vertical wall portion 14B of the fender panel 14 is attached to the apron through the mounting brackets 50 attached to both longitudinal ends of the vertical wall portion 14B of the fender panel 14. Member upper 2
Since it is fixed on the upper wall portion 26E of 6, the fender panel 14 can be reliably supported.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, when a load acts on the boundary 16 between the hood panel 12 and the fender panel 14 from substantially above to substantially below (direction of arrow A in FIG. 1), the hood panel A portion of the fender panel 14 near the boundary 16 and a portion of the fender panel 14 near the boundary 16 are deformed downward, as indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 1.

At this time, in the automobile fender structure of the present embodiment, the vertical wall portion 14B of the fender panel 14 and the chamfered portion 48 of the apron member upper 26 are vertically separated by a predetermined distance M. As a result, as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 1, the fender panel 14 deforms downward with a relatively low load, and this deformation can effectively absorb energy. In addition, the vertical wall portion 1 of the fender panel 14
When the 4B is deformed downward, the apron member upper 26
Since it does not easily interfere with the chamfered portion 48 and the deformation stroke of the fender panel 14 becomes long, the energy absorption effect can be further improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the fixing brackets of the mounting bracket 50 are fixed to the apron member upper 26 provided at both ends of the vertical wall portion 14B of the fender panel 14 in the vehicle front-rear direction. Since a gap 54 is formed between the vehicle width direction outer side portion 50D of the lower wall portion 50B and the chamfered portion 48 of the apron member upper 26,
As shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 3, when the vehicle width direction outer side portion 50D of the lower wall portion 50B of the mounting bracket 50 is deformed downward, the vehicle width direction outer side portion 50D of the lower wall portion 50B and the apron member upper 26. It is difficult for the chamfered part 48 to interfere.

As a result, in the automobile fender structure of this embodiment, energy can be absorbed also in the fixing portion of the fender panel 14 to the apron member upper 26.

Next, a second embodiment of the automobile fender structure of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The same members as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, a mounting flange 56 made of a resin material such as ABS is fixed to the vertical wall portion 14B of the fender panel 14 by a rivet 58. The vertical wall portion 56A of the mounting flange 56 is fixed to the vertical wall portion 14B of the fender panel 14,
The lower wall portion 56B is the upper wall portion 26 of the apron member upper 26.
It is fixed by fixing means 62 such as bolts and nuts on a mounting seat portion 60 formed to project at E.

As shown in FIG. 7, a step portion 64 is provided at the connecting portion between the vertical wall portion 56A and the lower wall portion 56B of the mounting flange 56.
The stepped portion 64 includes a lateral wall portion 64A extending substantially horizontally from the lower end portion of the vertical wall portion 56A toward the vehicle width inner side, and a substantially vertical upward direction from the vehicle width outer end portion of the lower wall portion 56B. The vertical wall portion 64B extends.

At the mounting portion of the mounting flange 56 by the rivet 58 and the fixing means 62, a thick portion 66 filled with resin is formed below the step 64, and the flange 26B of the apron member upper 26 is It is spaced a predetermined distance M downward from the thick portion 66.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, in a normal state, the vertical wall portion 14B of the fender panel 14 is positioned above the apron member upper 26 via the mounting flange 56 attached to the vertical wall portion 14B of the fender panel 14. Since it is fixed on the wall portion 26E, and the thick portion 66 of resin is formed below the step portion 64 at the mounting portion of the mounting flange 56,
The fender panel 14 can be reliably supported.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, when a load acts on the boundary 16 between the hood panel 12 and the fender panel 14 from substantially above to substantially below (direction of arrow A in FIG. 6), the hood panel The part near the boundary 16 of 12 and the part near the boundary 16 of the fender panel 14 are deformed downward.

At this time, in the automobile fender structure of this embodiment, the mounting flange 56 is made of a resin material, and the step portion 64 is formed at the connecting portion between the vertical wall portion 56A and the lower wall portion 56B of the mounting flange 56. Are formed. Therefore, the lateral wall portion 64A of the step portion 64 on which the load is concentrated breaks relatively easily, and energy can be effectively absorbed in the process of this break.

Further, since the thick portion 66 of the mounting flange 56 and the flange 26B of the apron member upper 26 are separated by a predetermined distance M in the vertical direction, the thick portion 66 of the mounting flange 56 and the flange of the apron member upper 26. 26B
Are less likely to interfere with each other and the deformation stroke of the fender panel 14 becomes longer, so that the energy absorption effect can be further improved.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the relationship between the deformation stroke S and the load F in the automobile fender structure of this embodiment is that the lateral wall portion 64A of the stepped portion 64 is as shown by the solid line in FIG. From the stroke S1 at which the fracture starts, the load F sharply decreases, and after the stroke S2 at which the fracture is completed, the deformation load F of only the general part of the fender 14
It becomes almost constant at 0. As a result, as shown by the broken line in FIG.
When the deformation stroke exceeds S1, the deformation load can be reduced as compared with the distribution of the conventional structure in which the deformation load is not sufficiently reduced.

In the above, the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments within the scope of the present invention. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that

[0048]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a vehicle fender structure in which a fender is attached to an upper member , the fender and the upper member are separate members, and
One, the fender as the upper member, the fender and the upper
Form a gap between the member and mount it, and from above
Mounting bracket that can be deformed under a specified load
And the fixing part of the mounting bracket to the fender
Extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle by connecting the fixed part with the upper member
Since it has a vertical wall, the effect of absorbing energy against the load acting on the fender panel from above can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the automobile fender structure according to the first aspect, the mounting brackets are provided on the front and rear ends of the fender in the vehicle front-rear direction.
Separated from each other, and installed at two locations.
In the middle part of the fender sandwiched between the
Since the gap is provided between the upper member and the upper member, in addition to the effect described in claim 1, it has an excellent effect that the energy absorption effect can be further improved.

[0050] According to a third aspect of the invention, in the vehicle fender structure according to claim 2, fenders and up
The fender interferes with the upper member in the gap with the upper member.
It is difficult to do, so that the deformation stroke of the fender becomes longer
Since it is set large, it has an excellent effect that the energy absorption effect can be further improved in addition to the effect described in claim 2 .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a vehicle fender structure in which a fender is attached to an upper member , the fender and the upper member are separate members, and
One, the fender as the upper member, the fender and the upper
Form a gap between the member and mount it, and from above
A mounting flange that is deformable under a predetermined load of
Fixing part with fender and upper part in mounting flange
Vertical wall that connects the member and the fixed part and extends in the vehicle body vertical direction
Since it has a section, it has an excellent effect that the energy absorption effect can be improved against a load acting on the fender panel from above.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the automobile fender structure according to the fourth aspect , a step portion is provided on the vertical wall portion.
In addition to the effect according to claim 4 , energy
It has an excellent effect that the absorption effect can be further improved .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the automobile fender structure according to the fifth aspect , the thick wall is provided below the step portion.
Because having a part, in addition to the effects of claim 5, Fe
It has the excellent effect of being able to reliably support the child.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1-1 of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a vehicle to which a fender structure for an automobile according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is applied.

3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fender structure for an automobile according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention as seen from the diagonally inner front side of the vehicle.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the operation in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a fender structure for an automobile according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which is a partial cross-section as seen from the vehicle diagonally inner front side.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing a relationship between a deformation load and a stroke in the fender structure for an automobile according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a vehicle fender structure according to a conventional embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 Hood panel 14 Fender panel 14B Fender panel vertical wall 16 Border between hood panel and fender panel 20 hood insulator 24 Apron members (upper members) 26 Apron Member Upper 28 Apron Member Roar 48 Chamfer 50 mounting bracket 54 Gap 56 mounting flange 64 steps 66 Thick part

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Yasuhiko Katsumata 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Toyota Motor Corporation (72) Inventor Nobuko Iwasa 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Toyota Motor Corporation (( 72) Inventor Yuzo Konishi 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Motor Corporation (72) Inventor Yujiro Kaji 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Motor Corporation (56) Reference JP 7 -285461 (JP, A) JP-A-4-297384 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B62D 25/16 B60R 21/02 B62D 25/08 B62D 25/10

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fender structure for an automobile, in which a fender is attached to an upper member, wherein the fender and the upper member are separate members,
Moreover, the fender is attached to the upper member and the
Mounting with a gap between the lower member and the upper member
It can be deformed with a load from above
Mounting bracket and fixing part of the mounting bracket to the fender
And the fixing part of the upper member are connected to each other in the vertical direction of the vehicle body.
A fender structure for an automobile , which has a vertical wall extending to the . 2. The mounting bracket includes the fender.
-Separate into two parts on the front and rear ends of the vehicle in the front-rear direction.
Provided and sandwiched between the two mounting brackets
In the middle part of the fender,
The fender structure for an automobile according to claim 1 , wherein a gap is provided between the dider and the upper member . 3. The fender and the upper member
The gap makes it difficult for the fender to interfere with the upper member.
To increase the deformation stroke of the fender.
The fender structure for an automobile according to claim 2, wherein the fender structure is set large . 4. A fender structure for an automobile, in which a fender is attached to an upper member, the fender and the
The fender is a member separate from the upper member, and
To the upper member, the fender and the upper member.
Mount it with a gap between it and
A mounting flange that is deformable with respect to a predetermined load, and a fixing portion of the mounting flange that is fixed to the fender.
By connecting the fixing part with the upper member,
A fender structure for an automobile , which has an extending vertical wall portion . 5. A step portion is provided on the vertical wall portion,
The fender structure for an automobile according to claim 4 . 6. A thick wall portion is provided below the step portion.
The automobile fender structure according to claim 5, wherein the fender structure is an automobile.