Patent Application
20240300586
The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-034924 filed on Mar. 7, 2023, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The disclosure relates to a vehicle body front structure including a suspension tower that supports a suspension device and the vicinity of the suspension tower.
In the engine room in a front portion of a vehicle body, a pair of left and right front side frames extending from the bottom of a toeboard toward the front of the vehicle body have conventionally been provided. Upper side frames extending from a cowl top toward the front of the vehicle body along both sides of the engine room are provided outside the front side frames in the vehicle width direction.
Suspension towers that support the upper portions of damper mechanisms of the suspension devices are provided between the front side frames and the upper side frames.
The suspension towers are fixed to the front side frames and the upper side frames.
Conventionally, various techniques regarding the structure for fixing the suspension towers to the front side frames have been proposed. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2015-85801 discloses a vehicle body front structure that fixes the suspension towers to the front side members (front side frames) by integral molding of front side member components and the suspension towers.
An aspect of the disclosure provides a vehicle body front structure for a vehicle. The vehicle-body front structure includes front side frames in a pair and suspension towers in a pair. The side frames are arranged in a vehicle width direction of the vehicle and extend in a vehicle body longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The suspension towers support upper portions of suspension devices and are disposed outside the front side frames in the vehicle width direction. Joint flanges are provided respectively in the front side frames and are inclined while extending to an upper outer side in the vehicle width direction respectively toward the suspension towers. Positioning flanges are provided in a lower end portion of the suspension towers respectively. Each of the positioning flanges is selectively fixed to a fixation position of two or more different fixation positions set in a corresponding one of the joint flanges.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate an embodiment and, together with the specification, serve to describe the principles of the disclosure.
When integral molding of suspension towers and parts of front side frames is performed as in the structure disclosed in JP-A-2015-85801, the positions of the suspension towers with respect to the front side frames are fixed at predetermined positions. In the structure as described above, the front side frames and the suspension towers are not shared among various vehicle models in which, for example, the mounting position of the suspension device of the vehicle is not the same. Accordingly, in the technique in JP-A-2015-85801, dedicated front side frames and dedicated suspension towers are necessary at least for each vehicle model in which the positional relationship between the mounting portions of the suspension devices and the front side frames is the same.
It is desirable to provide a vehicle body front structure in which the front side frames and the suspension towers can be shared among multiple types of vehicles in which the mounting position of the suspension device is not the same.
In the following, an embodiment of the disclosure is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following description is directed to an illustrative example of the disclosure and not to be construed as limiting to the disclosure. Factors including, without limitation, numerical values, shapes, materials, components, positions of the components, and how the components are coupled to each other are illustrative only and not to be construed as limiting to the disclosure. Further, elements in the following example embodiment which are not recited in a most-generic independent claim of the disclosure are optional and may be provided on an as-needed basis. The drawings are schematic and are not intended to be drawn to scale. Throughout the present specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted with the same numerals to avoid any redundant description.
The vehicle body front structure of a front engine vehicle will be described as an example of the vehicle body front structure according to the embodiment. It is noted that the word “joint” in the following description indicates a joint method represented by, for example, fusion joint or mechanical joint.
As illustrated in
The engine room 3 includes a toeboard 4, a pair of front side frames 5, a pair of upper side frames 6, and a pair of suspension towers 7.
The toeboard 4 extends in the vehicle width direction as a separating wall that separates a cabin 8 from the engine room 3. Both end portions of the toeboard 4 in the vehicle width direction are joined to a pair of left and right front pillars 9 that constitute the vehicle body 2. In addition, the upper end portion of the toeboard 4 is joined to a bulkhead 10 extending in the vehicle width direction along the toeboard 4.
The pair of front side frames 5 extend toward the front of the vehicle body 2 from the lower side of the toeboard 4 outside a middle portion in the vehicle width direction of the toeboard 4.
Each of the front side frames 5 is formed by coupling multiple frame members.
In detail, the front side frame 5 includes, for example, a front side frame body 15 and an extension frame 16.
It is noted that the basic structures of the portions outside the front side frames 5 in the vehicle width direction are symmetric with each other. Accordingly, in the following, the right side portion of the vehicle body will be described as an example.
As illustrated in
The pair of side wall portions 15a and 15b face each other with a predetermined interval therebetween in the vehicle width direction.
The upper wall portion 15c and the bottom wall portion 15d face each other with a predetermined interval therebetween in the vertical direction. The upper wall portion 15c and the bottom wall portion 15d couple the upper end portions of the side wall portion 15a and the side wall portion 15b to each other and the lower end portions of the side wall portion 15a and the side wall portion 15b to each other, respectively.
As a result, the pair of side wall portions 15a and 15b, the upper wall portion 15c, and the bottom wall portion 15d form a rectangular closed cross-section.
The joint flange 15e extends to the upper outer side in the vehicle width direction so as to be inclined from, for example, the coupling portion between the upper wall portion 15c and the side wall portion 15b.
As illustrated in
Here, in the present embodiment, integral molding of the front side frame body 15 and the torque box 17 is performed by aluminum die casting. The torque box 17 has, for example, a rectangular closed cross-section. The rear end portion of the front side frame body 15 is joined to the front end portion of a side sill 18 and the front end portion of a floor side frame 19 via the torque box 17. It is noted that the front side frame body 15 and the torque box 17 may be, for example, molded separately and coupled to each other instead of being molded as in this example.
The extension frame 16 has, for example, a rectangular closed cross-section. The extension frame 16 is formed by, for example, aluminum extrusion molding. The extension frame 16 extends from the front side frame body 15 to the front portion of the vehicle body 2 when the extension frame 16 is joined to the front end portion of the front side frame body 15. In addition, the front end portion of the extension frame 16 is joined to a bumper beam 20 that extends while being bent toward the front along the vehicle width direction as illustrated in
Here, the length of the extension frame 16 depends on, for example, the vehicle model. The extension frame 16 can be selectively joined to the front side frame body 15 depending on the vehicle model.
Due to these structures, the front side frame 5, which extends in the vehicle body longitudinal direction, serves as an energy absorbent member that absorbs collision energy during collision of the front portion of the vehicle and distributes the energy to the side sill 18 and floor side frame 19 via the torque box 17.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The top plate portion 6a is disposed at a position facing an engine hood (not illustrated) that blocks the opening of the engine room 3.
The side wall portion 6b extends downward from an end portion of the top plate portion 6a on the inner side in the vehicle width direction.
Integral molding of the pair of suspension towers 7 is performed by aluminum die casting. The suspension tower 7 is provided between the front side frame 5 and the upper side frame 6.
As illustrated in
The top plate portion 7a is provided at a position facing the engine hood. The top plate portion 7a has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view.
A suspension mounting hole 7g is formed approximately in the center of the top plate portion 7a. In more detail, the suspension mounting hole 7g is formed of a substantially circular standing portion 7h that stands upward from the top plate portion 7a.
As illustrated in
The vertical wall portions 7b, 7c, and 7d extend downward from the front and rear edge portions of the top plate portion 7a in the vehicle body longitudinal direction and the inner edge portion of the top plate portion 7a in the vehicle width direction.
The positioning flange 7e is provided in the outer edge portion of the top plate portion 7a in the vehicle width direction.
The positioning flange 7f extends, for example, from the lower end portion of the vertical wall portion 7d so as to be inclined to the lower inner side in the vehicle width direction. The positioning flange 7f can make contact with the joint flange 15e of the front side frame body 15 from above. In this state, the positioning flange 7f can be joined to the joint flange 15e.
Here, the area of the contact surface between the joint flange 15e and the positioning flange 7f is set larger than the joint area necessary to join the joint flange 15e and the positioning flange 7f to each other at a predetermined joint strength.
In detail, as illustrated in
In addition, as illustrated in
As a result, the positioning flange 7f of the suspension tower 7 is configured such that the fixation position where the positioning flange 7f is fixed to the joint flange 15e is adjustable in the three axial directions of the vehicle body 2. In one example, the three axial directions of the vehicle body 2 include a vehicle body longitudinal direction, a vehicle width direction, and a vehicle body vertical direction.
The suspension tower 7 configured as described above can be shared among multiple types of vehicles 1 in which, for example, the mounting position of the suspension device 25 is not the same.
When the suspension tower 7 is joined, the positioning flange 7f of the suspension tower 7 is in contact with the joint flange 15e of the front side frame body 15. The positioning flange 7f at this time is fixed to the joint flange 15e at a fixation position that depends on the vehicle model. Fixation positions depending on vehicle models may be different from each other.
That is, the positioning flange 7f of the suspension tower 7 can be fixed to a fixation position that is selected according to the vehicle model from two or more different fixation positions set in the joint flange 15e.
As a result, the positioning flange 7e of the suspension tower 7 is in contact with the side wall portion 6b of the upper side frame 6. In addition, the positioning flange 7e is joined to the side wall portion 6b (see
In addition, the extension frame 16 having a specification that depends on the vehicle model is selectively joined to the front end portion of the front side frame body 15. Accordingly, the front side frame body 15 and the suspension tower 7 can be shared among multiple types of vehicles 1 in which the mounting position of the suspension device 25 is not the same.
According to the embodiment as described above, a vehicle body front structure includes a pair of front side frames 5 and a pair of suspension towers 7. The pair of front side frames 5 are arranged in a vehicle width direction and extend in a vehicle body longitudinal direction. The pair of suspension towers 7 support upper portions of suspension devices 25 and are disposed outside the pair of front side frames 5 in the vehicle width direction. A joint flange 15e is provided in each of the front side frames 5 and is inclined while extending to an upper outer side in the vehicle width direction toward each of the suspension towers 7. A positioning flange 7f is provided in a lower end portion of each of the suspension towers 7. Each positioning flange 7f is configured to be selectively fixed to a fixation position of two or more different fixation positions set in a respective one of the joint flanges 15e. Due to these structures, in the vehicle body front structure, the front side frame and the suspension tower can be shared among multiple types of vehicles 1 in which the mounting position of the suspension device 25 is not the same.
That is, the vehicle body front structure has the joint flange 15e inclined to the upper outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the front side frame 5. In addition, the vehicle body front structure has the positioning flange 7f in the lower end portion of the suspension tower 7. In addition, the positioning flange 7f can be selectively fixed to a fixation position of the two or more different fixation positions set in the joint flange 15e.
Due to the operations of the positioning flange 7f and the joint flange 15e, the vehicle body front structure according to the present embodiment can adjust the fixation position of the suspension tower 7 with respect to the front side frame 5 in three axial directions. As a result, the suspension tower 7 can be selectively fixed to the front side frame 5 of multiple types of vehicles 1 in which the mounting position of the suspension device 25 is not the same.
In addition, the front side frame 5 includes the front side frame body 15 and the extension frame 16. The extension frame 16 having a length that depends on the vehicle model is joined to the front end portion of the front side frame body 15. As a result, even when the front side frame body 15 is shared, the length of the front side frame 5 that depends on the vehicle model can be obtained.
Due to these structures, the front side frame body 15 of the front side frame 5 can be shared among multiple types of vehicles 1 in which the mounting position of the suspension device 25 is not the same.
Furthermore, the front side frame body 15 and the suspension tower 7 are molded by aluminum die casting. Accordingly, in the vehicle body front structure, the weight of the vehicle 1 can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
In addition, the displaceable area of the suspension tower 7 with respect to the front side frame 5 can be adjusted by changing the extension lengths, the extension directions, the length in the vehicle body longitudinal direction of the positioning flange 7f and the joint flange 15e, and the like. This can further share the front side frame and the suspension tower among multiple types of vehicles 1 in which the mounting position of the suspension device 25 is not the same.
It is noted that an example in which the joint flange 15e extends from the coupling portion between the upper wall portion 15c and the side wall portion 15b has been described, but the joint flange 15e may extend from the coupling portion between the upper wall portion 15c and the side wall portion 15a.
As illustrated in
The upper wall portion 30a and the bottom wall portion 30b face each other with a predetermined interval therebetween in the vertical direction.
The vertical wall portion 30c extends downward from a midstream point on the upper wall portion 30a in the vehicle width direction. The lower end portion of the extending vertical wall portion 30c is coupled to a midstream point on the bottom wall portion 30b in the vehicle width direction.
As a result, the upper wall portion 30a, the bottom wall portion 30b, and the vertical wall portion 30c form an open cross-section with an H-shape.
The joint flange 30d extends diagonally to, for example, an upper outer side in the vehicle width direction from a midstream point on the vertical wall portion 30c in the vehicle body vertical direction. The end portion of the extending joint flange 30d is coupled to the end portion of the upper wall portion 30a on the outer side in the vehicle width direction.
Due to the structure as described above, the joint flange 30d of the front side frame body 30 can extend longer while ensuring the strength.
This front side frame body 30 is formed by, for example, aluminum extrusion molding. It is noted that the torque box 17 molded by, for example, aluminum die casting can be joined to the rear of the front side frame body 30 via a bracket or the like. Furthermore, the extension frame 16 formed by, for example, aluminum extrusion molding or the like can be joined to the front end portion of the front side frame body 30 via a bracket or the like.
Here, the area of the contact surface between the joint flange 30d and the positioning flange 7f is set larger than the joint area necessary to join the joint flange 30d and the positioning flange 7f to each other at a predetermined joint strength.
In detail, for example, the length of the joint flange 30d in the longitudinal direction is set longer than the length of the positioning flange 7f in the longitudinal direction. As a result, the joint flange 30d can be joined to the positioning flange 7f without reduction in the joint strength even when the suspension tower 7 is displaced in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.
In addition, as illustrated in
As a result, the positioning flange 7f of the suspension tower 7 is configured such that the fixation position where the positioning flange 7f is fixed to the joint flange 30d is adjustable in the three axial directions of the vehicle body 2.
When the front side frame body 30 configured as described above is applied, the positioning flange 7f can displace the suspension tower 7 in the vertical direction and the vehicle width direction without cutting the extension end portion 7i. In addition, the positioning flange 7f can be joined to the joint flange 30d without reduction in the joint strength.
It is noted that an open cross-section with an H-shape has been formed by the upper wall portion 30a, the bottom wall portion 30b, and the vertical wall portion 30c in the front side frame body 30, but the end portions of the upper wall portion 30a and the bottom wall portion 30b on the inner side in the vehicle width direction may be coupled to each other form a substantially rectangular closed cross-section.
In addition, for example, the upper wall portion 30a constituting the closed cross-section having the substantially rectangular shape may be inclined to the lower inner side in the vehicle width direction to form a closed cross-section. In this case, the inclined upper wall portion 30a may be used as the joint flange instead of the joint flange 30d of the front side frame body 30.
The disclosure described in the embodiments described above is not limited to these embodiments and various modifications can be made without departing from the concept thereof at the implementation stage. Furthermore, the embodiments described above include disclosures at various stages, and various disclosures can be derived by appropriately combining multiple disclosed features.
In addition, even when some of the features are removed from all the features illustrated in the embodiments described above, if the described problems can be solved and the described effects can be obtained, the structure from which these features have been removed can be derived as the disclosure.
According to the vehicle body front structure of the disclosure, the front side frame and the suspension tower can be shared among multiple types of vehicles in which the mounting position of the suspension device is not the same.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-034924 | Mar 2023 | JP | national |
