JP6757153B2 - Crew protection structure in the event of a side collision of the vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a occupant protection structure in the event of a side collision of a vehicle such as an automobile.

Automobiles are disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-239869 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-335155 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-114792

By the way, in these automobiles, wheel houses are located on both sides of the third row seat in the vehicle width direction. Wheels such as wheels and tires are arranged in the wheel house.
As a result, wheels such as wheels in the wheel house may be pushed inward in the vehicle width direction due to the impact load of another vehicle body. If the wheel house is deformed inward in the width direction by the pushed wheel, it may hit the lower limbs of the occupant seated on the seat.

As described above, in the vehicle body of a vehicle such as an automobile, it is required to improve the occupant protection performance in the event of a side collision.

The occupant protection structure in the event of a side collision of a vehicle according to the present invention includes a vehicle body in which side panels serving as side surfaces of the vehicle body are erected along the edge of the floor panel in the vehicle width direction, and the side surface above the floor panel. A wheel house panel that defines a wheel house recessed inward in the vehicle width direction from the panel, a seat provided on the floor panel inside the wheel house in the vehicle width direction, and the vehicle body rotatable in the wheel house. It has a wheel pivotally supported by the wheel, and a stiffening member provided on the inner surface of the wheel house panel and extending along the vehicle width direction from at least the floor panel to the vicinity of the side panel. The wheels are attached to the tip of an axle that extends along the width direction of the vehicle body and is rotatably supported by the axle, and as the stiffening member, are dispersed in the front and rear of the vehicle body with respect to the axle. have a pair of stiffening members disposed, the outer end of the side panel side of the pair of the stiffening member is aligned with the outer surface of the wheel disposed within the wheel house.

Preferably, the outer ends of the pair of stiffeners on the side panel side are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axle in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body.

Preferably, the outer ends of the pair of the stiffening members on the side panel side are arranged so as to be aligned in height and shifted upward from the axle.

Preferably, the inner end portion of the stiffening member on the floor panel side is provided so as to extend inward in the vehicle width direction along the floor panel and reach the side frame of the vehicle body, and the wheels. Is attached to the tip of the axle supported on the lower side of the side frame.

In the present invention, a stiffening member extending along the vehicle width direction is provided on the vehicle inner surface of the wheel house panel that defines the wheel house so as to extend from at least the floor panel to the vicinity of the side panel. Therefore, the stiffener supports, for example, another vehicle body that collides with the wheel house from the side together with the wheels rotatably supported by the vehicle body in the wheel house, and the impact load of the other vehicle body that rushes into the vehicle body. Can be distributed and received. As a result, it becomes difficult for the wheels to be pushed inward in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the pushed wheels make it difficult for the wheel house panel to be deformed inward in the vehicle width direction. The deformed wheel house panel is less likely to hit the lower limbs of the occupant seated in the seat.

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body of the automobile according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a occupant protection structure at the time of a side collision applied to the automobile of FIG. 1 in a cross section in the vehicle width direction. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the occupant protection structure at the time of a side collision of FIG. 2 as viewed from the outside in the vehicle width direction. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a occupant protection structure at the time of a side collision of an automobile according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body 2 of the automobile 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The automobile 1 is an example of a vehicle.

The vehicle body 2 of the automobile 1 of FIG. 1 has a floor panel 3 that constitutes the floor surface of the passenger compartment. A pair of side panels 4 are erected along the edges of the floor panels 3 on both sides in the vehicle width direction.
A wheel house panel 5 is provided between the floor panel 3 and the side panel 4. The wheel house panel 5 defines a wheel house 6 recessed inward in the vehicle width direction from the side panel 4 above the floor panel 3.
A wheel 7 composed of a wheel and a rubber tire is stored in the wheel house 6. In the pair of wheels 7, the centers of the wheels are connected to each other at both ends of the axle 8. The axle 8 is rotatably supported on the lower side of the side frame 9 by a cross member 10 attached to the lower side of the side frame 9 under the floor panel 3 so as to extend along the vehicle width direction. As a result, the wheels 7 are rotatably supported by the vehicle body 2 in the wheel house 6.
Inside the side panel 4 and the wheel house panel 5, a side trim 11 that covers the inside of the side panel 4 and the wheel house panel 5 is provided.

A third row seat 12 of the automobile 1 is provided between the pair of left and right wheel houses 6 with the side trim 11 interposed therebetween. The third row seat 12 is composed of a plurality of seats 13 divided into left and right. Each seat 13 has a seat portion 14, a back portion 15, and a leg portion 16. The seat portion 14 is mounted on the floor panel 3 by the left and right leg portions 16 and is located inside the wheel house 6 in the vehicle width direction. The back portion 15 is erected behind the seat portion 14. The upper surface of the seat portion 14 is located above the upper surface of the wheel house panel 5. The outer surface of the seat 14 faces the inner surface of the wheel house panel 5.

By the way, in the vehicle body 2 of the automobile 1, the curtain airbag can be deployed from above along the side surface of the vehicle body 2. Further, in the first row seat or the second row seat, the wheel houses 6 are not located on both sides of the seat 13 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the first row seat or the second row seat can be arranged near the side panel 4. In this case, the curtain airbag deployed from above along the side surface of the vehicle body 2 can support the upper body of the occupant in a state of swinging relatively small toward the outside in the vehicle width direction. It is possible to prevent the upper body of the occupant from directly contacting the side surface of the vehicle body 2 and to prevent it from swinging significantly outward in the vehicle width direction.
However, in the third row seat 12 of the automobile 1, the wheel houses 6 are located on both sides in the vehicle width direction. Wheels 7 are arranged in the wheel house 6. Therefore, in the third row seat 12, a space is formed between the seat 13 and the side surface of the vehicle body 2.
As a result, even if another vehicle body collides with the side surface of the vehicle body 2, the upper body of the occupant seated on the third row seat 12 can greatly swing in the vehicle width direction. Then, the upper body of the occupant may hit the side panel 4 in which another vehicle body directly collides with the vehicle body in a lowered state at a high speed due to a large swing and fall toward the outside in the vehicle width direction. The lowered upper body may slip out from the underside of the curtain airbag and hit the side surface of the vehicle body 2.
In this way, the curtain airbag that deploys from above along the side surface of the vehicle body 2 is seated on the third row seat 12 and appropriately protects the upper body of the occupant who falls down greatly in the vehicle width direction. I can not say.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a occupant protection structure at the time of a side collision applied to the automobile 1 of FIG. 1 in a cross section in the vehicle width direction.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the occupant protection structure at the time of a side collision of FIG. 2 as viewed from the outside in the vehicle width direction.
The occupant protection structure of the automobile 1 of FIGS. 2 and 3 has a pair of stiffening members 51 which are dispersed in the front and rear of the vehicle body 2 with respect to the axle 8.

The stiffening member 51 may be, for example, a metal steel plate formed into a substantially inverted U-shaped cross section. The wheel house panel 5 can be stiffened by welding the stiffening member 51 having an inverted U-shaped cross section to the vehicle inner surface of the wheel house panel 5.
The stiffening member 51 formed of one metal steel plate has an upper horizontal portion 52, a vertical portion 53, and a lower horizontal portion 54.
The upper horizontal portion 52 extends along the vehicle width direction on the upper surface of the wheel house panel 5. The outer end of the upper horizontal portion 52 is located near the inside of the side panel 4. By separating from the inner surface of the side panel 4, the stiffening member 51 can be prevented from affecting the design of the vehicle body 2.
The vertical portion 53 extends along the vertical direction of the vehicle on the side surface of the wheel house panel 5. The vertical portion 53 connects between the inner end of the upper horizontal portion 52 and the outer end of the lower horizontal portion 54.
The lower horizontal portion 54 extends along the vehicle width direction on the upper surface of the floor panel 3. The inner end of the lower horizontal portion 54 is located above the side frame 9. As a result, the lower horizontal portion 54 and the side frame 9 are connected from above and below with the floor panel 3 sandwiched between them.
Such a stiffening member 51 extends along the vehicle width direction from the floor panel 3 to the vicinity of the side panel 4.

The outer ends of the pair of stiffeners 51 on the side panel 4 side are aligned with the outer surfaces of the wheels 7 arranged in the wheel house 6. Line up flush.
The outer ends of the pair of stiffeners 51 on the side panel 4 side are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axle 8 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 2. Axle 8 is located on the midline. The pair of stiffening members 51 are arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 2.
The outer ends of the pair of stiffeners 51 on the side panel 4 side are displaced upward from the axle 8 (wheels 7) and arranged at the same height. Together with the axle 8, the arrangement is an inverted isosceles triangle.

Next, the occupant protection operation at the time of a side collision will be described.

First, another vehicle body collides with the side surface of the vehicle body 2 from the vehicle width direction. The other vehicle body collides with the pair of stiffeners 51 and the outer ends of the wheels 7. The pair of stiffeners 51 and the wheels 7 or axles 8 are compressed and deformed by being supported by the side frame 9, and are pushed inward in the vehicle width direction.
Therefore, the load acting on the wheels 7 and the axle 8 is reduced by the amount of the load acting on the pair of stiffeners 51, and the wheels 7 and the axle 8 are less likely to be pushed inward in the vehicle width direction.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the inner surface of the wheel house panel 5 that defines the wheel house 6 extends along the vehicle width direction from at least the floor panel 3 to the vicinity of the side panel 4. An existing stiffening member 51 is provided. Therefore, the stiffening member 51 supports, for example, another vehicle body that collides with the wheel house 6 from the side together with the wheels 7 rotatably supported by the vehicle body 2 in the wheel house 6 and rushes into the wheel house 6. The impact load of the car body can be distributed and received. As a result, the wheels 7 are less likely to be pushed inward in the vehicle width direction. Further, the pushed wheels 7 make it difficult for the wheel house panel 5 to be deformed inward in the vehicle width direction. The deformed wheel house panel 5 is less likely to hit the lower limbs of the occupant seated on the seat 13.

Further, in the present embodiment, the stiffening member 51 has a pair of stiffening members 51 dispersed in the front and rear of the vehicle body 2 with respect to the axle 8. Therefore, the pair of stiffeners 51 and the wheels 7 attached to the tips of the axles 8 that extend along the vehicle width direction and are rotatably supported in the vehicle body 2 are on the side of the wheel house 6. It is possible to form a wide load receiving surface that can receive the load of another vehicle body that collides from one side, for example. With the three rigid members, a wide collision load receiving surface can be formed in the front-rear direction.

Further, in the present embodiment, the outer end of the pair of stiffening members 51 on the side panel 4 side is aligned with the outer surface of the wheel 7 arranged in the wheel house 6. Therefore, a flat load receiving surface can be formed by the outer end of the pair of stiffening members 51 and the outer surface of the wheel 7 at the tip of the axle 8. The plane can receive the load of, for example, another vehicle body that collides with the wheel house 6 from the side. It becomes difficult for the other vehicle body that collided to tilt, and it becomes easier to receive the load of the other vehicle body straight.

Further, in the present embodiment, the outer ends of the pair of stiffeners 51 on the side panel 4 side are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axle 8 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 2. Therefore, for example, another vehicle body that collides with the wheel house 6 from the side is less likely to tilt during or after the collision, and the load of the other vehicle body is easily absorbed by the compressive deformation of the three rigid members.

Further, in the present embodiment, the outer ends of the pair of stiffeners 51 on the side panel 4 side are arranged so as to be aligned in height and shifted upward from the axle 8. Therefore, for example, another vehicle body that collides with the wheel house 6 from the side is less likely to tilt during or after the collision, and the load of the other vehicle body is easily absorbed by the compressive deformation of the three rigid members.

Further, in the present embodiment, the inner end portion of the stiffening member 51 on the floor panel 3 side extends inward in the vehicle width direction along the floor panel 3 and reaches the side frame 9 of the vehicle body 2. Therefore, the stiffening member 51 and the axle 8 pivotally supported on the lower side of the side frame 9 are connected to the side frame 9. By being commonly connected to the high-rigidity side frame 9, the stiffening member 51, the axle 8 and the wheel 7 are similarly easily compressed and deformed in the vehicle width direction. The stiffening member 51, the axle 8 and the wheel 7 are less likely to be deformed inward in the vehicle width direction, and the load of another vehicle body that collides with the wheel house 6 from the side, for example, is preferably applied. Can be absorbed.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of an occupant protection structure at the time of a side collision of the automobile 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
In the second embodiment, the same configuration and operation as those in the first embodiment will be omitted, and the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

The occupant protection structure of the automobile 1 of FIG. 4 has a wide stiffening member 55 formed wide in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 2.
The stiffening member 55, which is wide in the front-rear direction, may have, for example, a cross-sectional shape in which both edges of a metal steel plate are bent in the same direction. The wheel house panel 5 can be stiffened by welding the wide stiffening member 55 to the vehicle inner surface of the wheel house panel 5.
The outer end of the stiffening member 55, which is wide in the front-rear direction, on the side panel 4 side is arranged in an inverted isosceles triangle together with the axle 8.
Therefore, the wide stiffener 55, the axle 8 and the wheels 7 can form a load receiving surface that can receive the load of, for example, another vehicle body that collides with the wheel house 6 from the side. ..

The above embodiments are examples of preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications or modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

1 ... Automobile (vehicle)
2 ... Body 3 ... Floor panel 4 ... Side panel 5 ... Wheel house panel 6 ... Wheel house 7 ... Wheel 8 ... Axle 9 ... Side frame 10 ... Cross member 11 ... Side trim 12 ... Third row seat 13 ... Seat 14 ... Seat Part 15 ... Back 16 ... Leg 51 ... Stiffening member 52 ... Upper horizontal part 53 ... Vertical part 54 ... Lower horizontal part 55 ... Stiffening member

Claims (4)

A vehicle body in which side panels on the side of the vehicle body are erected along the edge of the floor panel in the vehicle width direction,
A wheel house panel that defines a wheel house recessed inward in the vehicle width direction from the side panel on the upper side of the floor panel.
A seat provided on the floor panel inside the wheel house in the vehicle width direction, and
Wheels rotatably supported by the vehicle body in the wheel house,
A stiffening member provided on the inner surface of the wheel house panel and extending along the vehicle width direction from at least the floor panel to the vicinity of the side panel.
Have,
The wheels are attached to the tips of axles that extend and rotatably support the vehicle body along the vehicle width direction.
As the stiffening member, it has a pair of stiffening members which are provided distributed around the vehicle body relative to the axle,
The outer ends of the pair of stiffeners on the side panel side are aligned with the outer surfaces of the wheels arranged in the wheel house.
Crew protection structure in the event of a side collision of the vehicle. The outer ends of the pair of stiffeners on the side panel side are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axle in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body.
The occupant protection structure in the event of a side collision of the vehicle according to claim 1 . The outer ends of the pair of stiffeners on the side panel side are arranged so as to be aligned in height and offset upward from the axle.
The occupant protection structure in the event of a side collision of the vehicle according to claim 1 or 2 . The inner end portion of the stiffening member on the floor panel side is provided so as to extend inward in the vehicle width direction along the floor panel and reach the side frame of the vehicle body.
The wheel is attached to the tip of an axle that is pivotally supported below the side frame.
The occupant protection structure in the event of a side collision of the vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .

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