JP2002019559A - Vehicle reinforcement - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular reinforcing member having generally uniform bending strength and stiffness throughout the length thereof, and sufficiently showing its original function. SOLUTION: A bending portion 1a having a round ridge cross section is integrally formed throughout the length of a vehicular door guard 1 (a vehicular reinforcing member) integrally molded by presswork. According to this invention, the bending portion 1a having a round ridge cross section is integrally formed throughout the length of the vehicular door guard 1 as the vehicular reinforcing member, so that a part having weaker bending strength and stiffness than the other part does not exist in the door guard 1. Therefore, the door guard 1 has generally uniform bending strength and stiffness throughout the length thereof, which enables the door guard 1 to sufficiently show: its original function.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reinforcing member for a vehicle such as a door guard or a bumper reinforce which is integrally formed by press working.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When an impact load is applied to a vehicle door from the outside during a side collision or the like, the door is greatly deformed inward.
A bar-shaped door guard is provided inside the door as a reinforcing member in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. One example of this door guard is shown in FIGS.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a conventional door guard, and FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 11. The illustrated door guard 101 is integrally formed by press-forming a steel plate. 101a is formed into a round pipe shape as shown in FIG. 12, and both ends are flat bracket portions 101b.
Is composed. Thus, the conventional door guard 101
The central part 101a forms a closed section having a round pipe shape, and the central part 101a constitutes a flat bracket part 101b whose both ends are open.
Between them, a gradually deformed portion 101c is formed, which is formed by turning the plate end and gradually changing the shape.

[0004] Thus, the door guard 1 having the above-described configuration is provided.
Numeral 01 is disposed inside the vehicle door in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and bracket portions 101b at both ends thereof are welded and fixed to the door. The bending strength and rigidity of the vehicle door are increased by the door guard 101, and the door is opened from the outside. Is absorbed by the door guard 101,
The deformation to the inside of the door is suppressed.

[0005]

However, the gradually deformed portion 101c unavoidably formed in the vicinity of both ends of the conventional door guard 101 has a weaker cross-sectional strength than other portions. However, there is a problem that the bending strength and rigidity of the door guard 101 are not uniform over the entire length, and the original function of the door guard 101 cannot be sufficiently exhibited. This type of problem similarly occurs with other vehicle reinforcing members such as bumper reinforces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a reinforcing member for a vehicle in which the bending strength and the rigidity are substantially uniform over the entire length and the original function can be sufficiently exhibited.

[0007] By the way, a vehicle guarding member such as a door guard or a bumper reinforcement receives an initial load when an impact is applied to the door or the bumper from the outside to minimize the amount of deformation of the door or the bumper ( In other words, a function of exhibiting a large maximum load) and a function of delaying the occurrence of buckling and exhibiting a large energy absorbing ability are required.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle reinforcing member capable of exhibiting high energy absorption while maintaining a large maximum load.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a bent portion having an R-shaped cross section is integrally formed on a vehicle reinforcing member integrally formed by press working over the entire length. It is characterized by having been formed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the bending R at the top of the bent portion is replaced with the bending R at the base.
It is characterized in that it is set to be larger than.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a top portion of the bent portion is formed to have a semicircular cross section.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the bent portion having the R-shaped cross section is formed integrally with the vehicle reinforcing member over the entire length, the bending strength and the rigidity of the reinforcing member are higher than those of other portions. There is no weakened portion, and the reinforcing member has substantially uniform bending strength and rigidity over its entire length, and can sufficiently exhibit its original function.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the bending R at the top of the bent portion formed on the reinforcing member for the vehicle is replaced with the bending R at the base.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the top of the bent portion is formed in a semicircular cross section, the reinforcing member can exhibit a high energy absorbing ability while maintaining a large maximum load. . Incidentally, if the bending R of all the corners of the reinforcing member according to the present invention in which the bent portion having the R-shaped cross-section is formed is made small and the cross-sectional shape is angled, a high maximum load can be obtained, It has been experimentally verified that the buckling occurs quickly and the amount of energy absorption decreases.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle door guard according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

The door guard 1 shown in FIG. 1 is integrally formed by press-forming a steel plate, and has a U-shaped cross-section R-shaped bent portion 1a integrally formed over its entire length at the center in the height direction. A flat flange portion 1b which forms a vertical surface is formed above and below the base of the bent portion 1a. At both end portions of the door guard 1, bracket portions 1c formed by partially expanding the flange portion 1b are integrally formed.

Here, FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional shape of the door guard 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the top of the bent portion 1a is formed into a semicircular cross section, and the bending R of the top (radius of curvature r1). Is set to be larger than the bending R (radius of curvature r2) of the base (r1> r2).

Thus, the door guard 1 having the above configuration is provided.
Are disposed inside the vehicle door 2 as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, and both ends thereof are fixed to the door 2. 3 is a side view of the vehicle door, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG.

The vehicle door 2 shown in FIG. 3 is a front hinge and rearward opening side door for an automobile (passenger car). As shown in FIG. 4, this is an outer panel 3 and an inner panel which are press-formed products of a steel plate. 4 is formed in a box shape in cross section by hemming at the periphery thereof. The upper half of the side door 2 is integrally formed with a window sash 2a having a frame structure, and a glass 5 that moves up and down is fitted into the wind sash 2a. A door hinge (not shown) is attached inside the front end of the side door 2, and a door lock and a door regulator (not shown) are housed inside.

In the door guard 1 according to the present invention, the bent portion 1a is directed outward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body (the direction of the arrow F in FIG. 3 is at the front of the vehicle body) substantially at the seat height inside the side door 2. (See FIG. 5), and brackets 1c formed at both ends (front and rear ends) of the bracket are applied to flat steps of the inner panel 4 and welded to the side door 2 as shown in FIG. Fixed.

As described above, by attaching the door guard 1 inside the side door 2, the bending strength and rigidity of the side door 2 are increased by the door guard 1, and an impact load acts on the side door 2 from the outside at the time of a side collision or the like. Then
Since a part of the impact load is received by the door guard 1, the impact load applied to the side door 2 is reduced, and as a result, the inward deformation of the side door 2 is suppressed. When the door guard 1 is deformed by an external load acting thereon, the impact energy is absorbed, and the impact on the occupant is reduced.

Here, in the present embodiment, the door guard 1
Since the bent portion 1a having an R-shaped cross section having a horizontal U-shape is formed integrally over the entire length, the door guard 1 has no portion where the bending strength and rigidity are weaker than other portions, and the door guard 1 is bent. The strength and rigidity are substantially uniform over the entire length, and the original function can be sufficiently exhibited.

By the way, the bending R of all corners of the door guard 1 according to the present invention in which the bent portion 1a having the R-shaped cross section is formed.
It has been experimentally verified that when the cross section is made smaller by reducing the angle, a high maximum load can be obtained, but buckling occurs earlier and the amount of energy absorption becomes smaller.

FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (d) show changes in the cross-sectional shape when loads are applied to door guards having various cross-sectional shapes, and FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the corresponding load and displacement. Show.

The door guard shown in FIG. 6 (a) has both a bent portion R and a bent portion R (radius of curvature r1, r2) substantially equal, and has a small and square cross-sectional shape.
The door guard shown in FIG.
The (radius of curvature r1) is set to be larger than the bending R (radius of curvature r2) of the base, and the door guard shown in FIG. 3C according to the present embodiment (the top of the bent portion is formed into a semicircular cross section) (D), and the door guard shown in FIG. 3 (d) is a round pipe, and the load-displacement characteristics of each door guard are shown by curves a, b, c and d in FIG.

As apparent from FIG. 7, the maximum load that can be handled is substantially the same for all door guards, but the timing at which buckling occurs (buckling points pa, p
b, pc, and pd) become slower in the order of the door guards shown in FIGS.

In the door guard shown in FIG.
While the amount of displacement until the maximum load occurs is kept small, the buckling occurs quickly and the impact energy (the area surrounded by the curve a and the horizontal axis) that can be absorbed by deformation is small, so that a large impact is applied to the occupant. There is a problem of joining.

On the other hand, in the door guard shown in FIG. 6D, impact energy that can be absorbed by deformation due to slow buckling (the area surrounded by the curve d and the horizontal axis)
And the impact on the occupant is reduced, but the amount of displacement until the maximum load is received becomes large, so that there is a problem that the amount of inward deformation of the door cannot be suppressed.

On the other hand, in the door guards shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, the amount of displacement until the maximum load is received is relatively small, and the amount of inward deformation of the door is relatively small. And buckling occurs as shown in FIG.
However, since the shock energy that can be absorbed by the deformation (the area enclosed by the curves b and c and the horizontal axis) is relatively large, the shock to the occupant can be reduced. Therefore, if the bending R at the top of the bent portion formed on the door guard is set to be larger than the bending R at the base, the door guard can exhibit a high energy absorbing capacity while maintaining a large maximum load, and the deformation of the door can be improved. Can be reduced, and the impact on the occupant can be reduced.

Here, according to the door guard according to the present embodiment having the sectional shape shown in FIG. 6C, FIG.
7 can absorb more impact energy by the difference (S1-S2) between the areas S1 and S2 shown in FIG. 7 than the door guard having the cross-sectional shape shown in FIG.

<Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 is a side sectional view of a front bumper portion of the vehicle, FIG. 9 is a plan view of a bumper reinforcement portion, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bumper reinforcement.

The front bumper 10 of the vehicle shown in FIG.
Is provided with a bumper reinforce 11 according to the present invention as a reinforcing member, and the bumper reinforce 11 is covered with a cushion material 12 by a resin skin 13. Here, the bumper reinforce 11
As shown in FIG. 9, the left and right mounting stays 14 are made of metal.
Are supported by a pair of left and right front side members 15 also made of metal. In FIG. 8,
16 is a hood, and 17 is a headlight.

The bumper reinforcement 11 as a reinforcing member is integrally formed by press-forming a steel plate, similarly to the door guard 1 in the first embodiment, and has a horizontal portion at the center in the height direction. A U-shaped bent portion 11a having an R-shaped cross section is formed integrally over the entire length, and flat flange portions 11b forming vertical surfaces are formed above and below a base portion of the bent portion 11a. Then, the back surfaces of the upper and lower flange portions 11b of the bumper reinforce 11 are welded to the left and right mounting stays 14, whereby the bumper reinforce 11 is attached to the mounting stay 1 as described above.
4 and supported by a pair of left and right front side members 15.

The cross-sectional shape of the bumper reinforce 11 is the same as that of the door guard 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, the top of the bent portion 11a is formed in a semicircular cross section. , The bending R of the top (radius of curvature r
1) is set to be larger than the bending R (radius of curvature r2) of the base (r1> r2).

Therefore, also in the present embodiment, the bumper reinforce 11 is formed integrally with the bent portion 11a having an R-shaped cross section having a horizontal U-shape over the entire length. There are no portions where the rigidity is weaker than the other portions, and the bumper reinforce 11 has a substantially uniform bending strength and rigidity over its entire length, and can sufficiently exhibit its original function.

In the above description, the present invention is applied to a door guard and a bumper reinforce.
Of course, the present invention can be similarly applied to any other vehicle reinforcing member.

[0037]

As is apparent from the above description, claim 1
According to the described invention, since the bent portion having the R-shaped cross section is formed integrally with the vehicle reinforcing member over the entire length, the reinforcing member has no portion where the bending strength and the rigidity are weaker than other portions. The reinforcing member has an effect that the bending strength and the rigidity are substantially uniform over the entire length and the original function can be sufficiently exhibited.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the bending R at the top of the bent portion formed in the vehicle reinforcing member is set to be larger than the bending R at the base. Since the top of the bent portion is formed in a semicircular cross section, the reinforcing member can exert an effect of exhibiting a high energy absorbing ability while maintaining a large maximum load.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle door guard according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the vehicle door.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a change in cross-sectional shape when a load is applied to door guards having various cross-sectional shapes.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a relationship between a load and a displacement when a load is applied to door guards having various cross-sectional shapes.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of a front bumper portion of an automobile including a bumper reinforcement according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a bumper reinforce portion according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a bumper reinforcement according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a conventional vehicle door guard.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 11;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 vehicle door guard (vehicle reinforcing member) 1a bent portion 1b flange portion 1c bracket portion 2 side door (vehicle door) 3 outer panel 4 inner panel 11 bumper reinforcement (vehicle reinforcing member) 11a bent portion

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A reinforcing member for a vehicle, wherein the reinforcing member is integrally formed by press working, and is formed by integrally forming a bent portion having an R-shaped cross section over the entire length. 2. The reinforcing member for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the bending R at the top of the bent portion is set to be larger than the bending R at the base. 3. The vehicle reinforcing member according to claim 1, wherein a top portion of the bent portion is formed in a semicircular cross section.