Abstract:
The connecting structure of a center filler and a quarter member of a vehicle may include a lateral junction portion formed at a front end of the quarter member, the lateral junction portion coupling with one side surface of the center filler in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The connection structure may further include a longitudinal coupling portion formed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle coupled with an outer quarter member of the quarter member, a trim coupling portion substantially the same length as the longitudinal coupling portion coupled with trim, and a connection portion connecting the longitudinal coupling portion and the trim coupling portion to each other, wherein the lateral junction portion extends at a front end of the longitudinal coupling portion, and the lateral junction portion is bent substantially perpendicular to contact to the center filler.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority of Korean Patent Application Number 10-2011-0080519 filed Aug. 12, 2011, the entire contents of which application is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a connecting structure for a center pillar and a quarter member in a vehicle without a rear door like a 2-door or 3-door vehicle, and more particularly, to a connecting structure for a center pillar and a quarter member in a vehicle without a rear door that improves a path to transfer a load applied from a rear side to a front side of the vehicle in a rear-side collision. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In general, since a 2-door vehicle such as a hatch back-type vehicle or a coupe-type vehicle or a 3-door vehicle having a left and right asymmetric structure which has begun to be launched in recent years has no rear door or a rear door at only one side, there is no passage through which collision energy applied from the rear side of the vehicle can be transferred to a front side of the vehicle in a rear-side collision. 
     For example, in the case of a 4-door vehicle  200  shown in  FIG. 1 , a rear door  220  provided in a center pillar  210  serves as a passage through which energy transferred from the rear side of the vehicle is transferred to the front side of the vehicle, i.e., a load pass. 
     However, since the 2-door vehicle or 3-door vehicle has no rear door, a component that serves as the load pass to transfer the energy transferred from the rear side of the vehicle to the front side is required. 
     One of the example is described in Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-2004-0029793. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a quarter member  120  connecting a rear pillar of the vehicle with a center pillar  110  of a 2-door vehicle  100  without the rear door is provided to transfer the energy from the rear side of the vehicle to the front side. 
     More specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an outer quarter member  122  and an inner quarter member  121  are coupled to an outer center pillar and an inner center pillar  111  constituting center pillar  110  by welding and outer center pillar  112  and outer quarter member  122  that are coupled with each other are coupled with inner center pillar  111  and inner quarter member  121  to connect center pillar  110  and quarter member  120  to each other. 
     However, according to the connecting structure of center pillar  110  and quarter member  120  in the related art, when the load is applied as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , outer quarter member  122  and inner quarter member  121  have a structure in which a transferred load cannot be transferred to outer center pillar  112  and inner center pillar  111  with only a shear load of a side coupling surface, respectively. That is, since center pillar  110  and quarter member  120  are coupled with each other through a side coupling surface indicated by S in  FIG. 5 , the load is transferred through parts indicated by A and A′ as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     As described above, according to the connecting structure of the center pillar and the quarter member in the related art, when the load is transferred from quarter member  120  to center pillar  110 , the load is transferred with only a shear load of a connection portion between center pillar  110  and quarter member  120 , such that the load cannot be efficiently transferred, and as a result, quarter member  120  is broken or a vehicle body is broken by a load applied from a rear side of a rear-seat space to injure a passenger in the vehicle. 
     The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Various aspects of the present invention are directed to provide a connecting structure of a center pillar and a quarter member of a vehicle in which the quarter member transfers a load from a rear side of the vehicle in a perpendicular direction to the load as well as a side coupling portion with the center pillar parallel to a transferring direction of the load to stably transfer the load applied from the rear side of the vehicle to a front side of the vehicle in a vehicle without the rear door such as a 2-door or 3-door vehicle. 
     Exemplary connecting structures of a center pillar and a quarter member of a vehicle according to the present invention may include a lateral junction portion formed at a front end of the quarter member, the lateral junction portion coupling with one side surface of the center pillar in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. 
     The center pillar may be constituted of an inner center pillar and an outer center pillar formed inside and outside a vehicle body respectively, and the quarter member may be constituted of an inner quarter member and an outer quarter member formed inside and outside the vehicle body respectively. 
     The inner quarter member and the outer quarter member may be preassembled to form the quarter member, and then the preassembled quarter member may be coupled to the center pillar. 
     Exemplary connecting structures of a center pillar and a quarter member of a vehicle according to the present invention may further include a longitudinal coupling portion formed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and coupled with an outer quarter member of the quarter member, a trim coupling portion formed in substantially the same length as the longitudinal coupling portion and coupled with a trim exposed to a room of the vehicle, and a connection portion connecting the longitudinal coupling portion and the trim coupling portion to each other, wherein the lateral junction portion extending in a front direction of the vehicle at a front end of the longitudinal coupling portion, the lateral junction portion bent substantially perpendicular to contact to the center pillar. 
     The inner quarter member may include the longitudinal coupling portion, the lateral junction portion, the trim coupling portion and the connection portion. 
     The inner quarter member may be formed by sequentially bending a cut plate. In the inner quarter member, the trim coupling portion may be positioned in the room side rather than the side as of the longitudinal coupling portion. 
     The inner quarter member may be coupled with the center pillar and the outer quarter member by spot welding. 
     The longitudinal coupling portion may be formed in each of upper and lower parts of the inner quarter member, and the trim coupling portion may be formed approximately at a center of the inner quarter member and the connection portion may be formed between the longitudinal coupling portion and the trim coupling portion. 
     According to exemplary constructing structures of a center pillar and a quarter member of a vehicle according to the present invention, a load transferred from a rear side of the vehicle is transferred in a substantially perpendicular direction to the load as well as a side coupling portion of the center pillar to improve structural strength at a coupling portion between the quarter member and the center pillar. 
     As described above, the structure in which the load is transferred at the coupling portion between the quarter member and the center pillar is improved, such that even though the load is applied from the rear side of the vehicle due to a rear-side collision, the applied load is transferred to the front side of the vehicle to secure a room space for a passenger, thereby reducing loss of life. 
     The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing a load transferring structure in a rear-side collision of a 4-door vehicle in the related art. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing a load transferring structure in a rear-side collision of a 2-door vehicle. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a connecting structure of a center pillar and a quarter member in the related art. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged diagram of a primary part of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view showing a load transferring structure in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing an exemplary connecting structure of a center pillar and a quarter member of a vehicle without a rear door according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged diagram of a primary part of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view showing a load transferring structure in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 11  is  FIGS. 11A and 11B  are perspective views showing a manufacturing process for an exemplary inner quarter member. 
     
    
    
     It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. 
     In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     Hereinafter, referring to the accompanying drawings, exemplary connecting structures of a center pillar and a quarter member of a vehicle without a rear door according to the present invention will be described in detail. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 to 10 , in exemplary connecting structures of a center pillar and a quarter member of a vehicle without a rear door according to the present invention, a lateral junction portion  21   b  contacting center pillar  10  in a lateral direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle is formed at one end of quarter member  20 , such that lateral junction portion  21   b  is coupled to center pillar  10 , thereby transferring a load from a rear side of the vehicle to center pillar  10  through lateral junction portion  21   b.    
     Center pillar  10  is formed by coupling an inner center pillar  11  positioned inside the vehicle and an outer center pillar  12  positioned outside the vehicle with each other. Center pillar  10  serves to separate a front seat and a rear seat from each other, support a roof of the vehicle, and support and disperse a load transferred through quarter member  20 . 
     Quarter member  20  is placed substantially perpendicular to center pillar  10  approximately in the middle of center pillar  10 , such that a front end of the quarter member facing the front side of the vehicle is coupled to the middle of center pillar  10  and a rear end is coupled to a rear pillar and a trunk side. Therefore, quarter member  20  receives the load applied from the rear side of the vehicle more preferentially than center pillar  10  and transfers the load to center pillar  10 . 
     The front end of quarter member  20  is coupled to center pillar  10  through lateral junction portion  21   b , which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, to more stably transfer the load applied form the rear side of the vehicle to center pillar  10  as compared to the related art. 
     The configuration of quarter member  20  will be described below in detail. Quarter member  20  is constituted of an outer quarter member  22  positioned outside the vehicle and an inner quarter member  21  positioned in a room side of the vehicle with respect to outer quarter member  22 . 
     Herein, inner quarter member  21  will be described below in more detail. Inner quarter member  21  is constituted of a longitudinal coupling portion  21   a , a lateral junction portion  21   b , a trim coupling portion  21   c , and a connection portion  21   d.    
     Longitudinal coupling portion  21   a  is formed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and placed parallel to outer quarter member  22 . Outer quarter member  22  is coupled to longitudinal coupling portion  21   a.    
     Lateral junction portion  21   b  is formed to be substantially perpendicular to longitudinal coupling portion  21   a  at a front end of longitudinal coupling portion  21   a , i.e., a cross section of longitudinal coupling portion  21   a  facing the front side of the vehicle. Lateral junction portion  21   b  protrudes on the front end of longitudinal coupling portion  21   a  and is bent substantially perpendicular to longitudinal coupling portion  21   a . Lateral junction portion  21   b  contacts one side of center pillar  10  to transfer the load inputted into quarter member  20  to center pillar  10  through lateral junction portion  21   b  when inner quarter member  21  is coupled to center pillar  10 . 
     Unlike longitudinal coupling portion  21   a , trim coupling portion  21   c  is positioned in the room side, and a plurality of locking holes are formed at trim coupling portion  21   c  and an internal trim is locked by using the locking holes. 
     Connection portion  21   d  connects longitudinal coupling portion  21   a  and trim coupling portion  21   c  with each other. Since longitudinal coupling portion  21   a  and trim coupling portion  21   c  are provided on different planes when inner quarter member  21  is processed, the connection portion is formed to be inclined to serve to connect longitudinal coupling portion  21   a  and trim coupling portion  21   c  to each other. 
     Longitudinal coupling portion  21   a  is formed in each of upper and lower parts of inner quarter member  21  and trim coupling portion  21   c  is formed approximately at the center of inner quarter member  21  and connection portion  21   d  is formed between longitudinal coupling portion  21   a  and trim coupling portion  21   c.    
     One will appreciate that formation of longitudinal coupling portion  21   a  is not limited to the upper and lower parts of inner quarter member. It can be in other positions and can involve multiple parts of the inner quarter member. One will also appreciate that positions and numbers for coupling portion  21   c , connection portion  21   d  and etc. can be varied as well. 
     Inner quarter member  21  may be manufactured by bending a cut plate in a form shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B . Other similar or suitable manufacturing processes can be used as well. 
     The reason for manufacturing inner quarter member  21  through bending is that lateral junction portion  21   b  is formed at the longitudinal coupling portion substantially perpendicular or at an acute angle to longitudinal coupling portion  21   a , such that when inner quarter member  21  is processed by using a press, lateral junction portion  21   b  is held on the press not to be ejected while inner quarter member  21  is processed and thereafter, ejected. Therefore, inner quarter member  21  is manufactured by sequentially bending the cut plate. 
     For example, the cut plate is fixed and thereafter, bent so that the connection portion is formed around trim coupling portion  21   c  and bent so that longitudinal coupling portion  21   a  is formed outside connection portion  21   d  and thereafter, bent so that lateral junction portion  21   b  is formed at the front end of longitudinal coupling portion  21   a  to manufacture inner quarter member  21 . 
     When inner quarter member  21  is manufactured through the bending as described above, inner quarter member  21  is first coupled with outer quarter member  22  to be preassembled as quarter member  20  and preassembled quarter member  20  is coupled to center pillar  10 . Inner quarter member  21  and outer quarter member  22  and quarter member  20  and center pillar  10  are coupled with each other by spot welding as shown by W in  FIG. 9 . 
     An operation of the connecting structure of the center pillar and the quarter member of the vehicle without the rear door according to various embodiments of the present invention will be described. 
     Compared with the related art in which the center pillar and the quarter member are placed in parallel to each other forming in general a tangential contact, various embodiments of the present invention can transfer the load from the rear side to the front side more stably. This is because the center pillar and the quarter member of the present invention contact substantially perpendicular to each other. 
     That is, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the load transferred to quarter member  20  is mostly transferred to center pillar  10  through parts indicated by B and B′. In the part indicated by B, the load is transferred to outer center pillar  12  through outer quarter member  22  in the form of shearing force. 
     However, in the part indicated by B′, the load is transferred to center pillar  10  substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the load is applied through inner quarter member  21 , particularly, lateral junction portion  21   b  to improve the rigidity of a coupling portion between center pillar  10  and quarter member  20 . That is, since the entire area of lateral junction portion  21   b  contacts center pillar  10 , the transferred load is evenly transferred to center pillar  10  through lateral junction portion  21   b  which is substantially perpendicular to the working direction of the load, and as a result, the rigidity of the junction portion is improved. 
     The rigidity is improved to prevent quarter member  20  from being broken due to the load transferred from the rear side, thereby improving stability by securing a room space. 
     For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms front or rear, inside or outside, and etc. are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.