Front vehicle body structure

An embodiment front vehicle body structure of a vehicle body is provided. The vehicle body includes an under body and an upper body coupled to the under body, and the front vehicle body structure includes side sills respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the upper body based on a vehicle width direction and wheel arch members respectively connected directly to front ends of the side sills in a forward/rearward direction of the vehicle body and coupled to a front part of the under body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0188456, filed on Dec. 27, 2021, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vehicle body of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Recently, new mobility visions with new concepts for implementing human-oriented dynamic future cities have been introduced to vehicle industries. One of the future mobility solutions is a purpose-built vehicle (PBV) as a purpose-based mobility vehicle.

For example, the PBV is an environmental-friendly movement solution for providing various types of customized services to an occupant while moving to the destination on the ground. The PBV may set an optimum route for each situation and perform platooning by using electric vehicle (EV)-based artificial intelligence.

Further, the PBV is manufactured in a box shape having a wide indoor space. In addition, to provide the wide indoor space in the PBV, a wind shield glass and a cowl are disposed at a foremost side of the vehicle body.

A vehicle body of the PBV includes an under body (also called a rolling chassis or a skateboard in the art), and an upper body assembled to the under body.

It is important to ensure connection durability of members constituting a front part of the upper body of the vehicle body of the PBV. In addition, the vehicle body of the PBV needs to have characteristics capable of effectively dispersing a load applied to a front side of the vehicle body while ensuring increases in durability and strength of a mounting part of the front part of the upper body and a mounting part of the front part of the under body.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a vehicle body of a vehicle. Particular embodiments relate to a front vehicle body structure of a purpose built vehicle (PBV).

Embodiments of the present invention can provide a front vehicle body structure capable of ensuring connection durability of members constituting a front part of an upper body and dispersing a load applied to the front part of the upper body in a forward/rearward direction of the vehicle body, a vehicle width direction, and an upward/downward direction.

Embodiments of the present invention also can provide a front vehicle body structure capable of improving durability and strength of a mounting part of a front part of an upper body and a mounting part of a front part of an under body.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a front vehicle body structure of a vehicle, which includes an under body and an upper body coupled to the under body, the front vehicle body structure including: i) side sills respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the upper body based on a vehicle width direction; and ii) wheel arch members respectively connected directly to front ends of the side sills in a forward/rearward direction of the vehicle body and coupled to a front part of the under body.

In addition, in the front vehicle body structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the wheel arch members may be disposed above front tire wheels respectively coupled to two opposite sides of the front part of the under body based on the vehicle width direction.

In addition, in the front vehicle body structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the wheel arch members may each have a closed cross-section formed by joining a wheel arch outer member and a wheel arch inner member.

In addition, in the front vehicle body structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, bulkheads may be respectively coupled to front ends of the wheel arch members.

In addition, the front vehicle body structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may further include radiator support side members respectively coupled to front ends of the wheel arch members and disposed in an upward/downward direction.

In addition, in the front vehicle body structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the radiator support side members may be respectively coupled to the front ends of the wheel arch members through lower ends thereof and each have a shape curved in a streamlined shape in the upward/downward direction.

In addition, in the front vehicle body structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the radiator support side members may each have a closed cross-section formed by joining a radiator support side outer member and a radiator support side inner member.

In addition, in the front vehicle body structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the radiator support side members may be respectively coupled, through upper ends thereof, to front ends of front cowl support side members respectively disposed in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle body at two opposite sides of a front part of the upper body based on the vehicle width direction.

In addition, in the front vehicle body structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a front cowl may be coupled in the vehicle width direction to the front ends of the front cowl support side members.

In addition, the front vehicle body structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may further include a radiator support lower member coupled to the lower ends of the radiator support side members and disposed in the vehicle width direction.

In addition, in the front vehicle body structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the radiator support lower member may have a closed cross-section formed by joining an upper support member and a lower support member.

In addition, the front vehicle body structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may further include body mounting brackets respectively coupled to the front ends of the wheel arch members, the lower ends of the radiator support side members, and two opposite ends of the radiator support lower member.

In addition, in the front vehicle body structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the body mounting brackets may be respectively fastened, by mounting bolts, to body mounting parts respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the front part of the under body based on the vehicle width direction.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to ensure connection durability of the members constituting the front part of the upper body in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle body, the vehicle width direction, and the upward/downward direction.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to improve durability and rigidity/strength of the mounting part of the front part of the upper body and the mounting part of the front part of the under body.

Other effects, which may be obtained or expected by the embodiments of the present invention, will be directly or implicitly disclosed in the detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention. That is, various effects expected according to the embodiments of the present invention will be disclosed in the detailed description to be described below.

It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily to scale, but provide a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features that exemplify the basic principles of embodiments of the present invention. For example, specific design features of embodiments of the present invention, including particular dimensions, directions, positions, and shapes, will be partially determined by the particularly intended application and use environment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains may easily carry out the embodiments. However, the present invention may be implemented in various different ways and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

The terms used herein are merely for the purpose of describing a specific embodiment, and not intended to limit the present disclosure. The singular expressions used herein are intended to include the plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise

It is to be understood that the term “comprise (include)” and/or “comprising (including)” used in the present specification means that the features, the integers, the steps, the operations, the constituent elements, and/or component are present, but the presence or addition of one or more of other features, integers, steps, operations, constituent elements, components, and/or groups thereof is not excluded. The term “and/or” used herein includes any one or all the combinations of one or more listed related items. In the present specification, the term ‘coupled’ means a physical relationship between two components which are connected directly to each other or connected indirectly through one or more intermediate components by welding, a self-piercing rivet (SPR), a flow drill screw (FDS), a bonding agent for a structure, or the like.

The terms ‘vehicle’, ‘for a vehicle’, and ‘automobile’ or the similar terms used in the present specification generally include vehicles (passenger automobiles) including passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, and various commercially available vehicles and include hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, purpose built vehicles (PBVs) based on electric vehicles, hydrogen power vehicles, and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuel induced from other resources than petroleum).

FIG.1is a view illustrating an example of a vehicle body of a PBV to which a front vehicle body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Referring toFIG.1, as an example, a front vehicle body structure100according to an embodiment of the present invention may be applied to a vehicle body1of a purpose-built vehicle (hereinafter, referred to as a ‘PBV’) as a purpose-based mobility vehicle.

The PBV may be an environmental-friendly movable vehicle based on an electric vehicle for providing necessary customized services to an occupant while moving to a destination on the ground. As an example, the PBV may be a box-shaped design vehicle (e.g., a rototaxi vehicle or a hailing vehicle) having a wide indoor space so that the PBV may move to the occupant's destination in an unmanned autonomous driving manner.

The vehicle body1of the PBV includes an under body3(typically also called a ‘rolling chassis’ in the art) of a skateboard type, and an upper body5assembled to the under body3.

The under body3may be configured as a chassis frame on which a battery assembly (not illustrated) may be mounted. Further, the upper body5is a body in white (BIW) body coupled to the under body3and may constitute a cabin.

As an example, in the present specification, reference directions for explaining the following components are set as a forward/rearward direction of the vehicle body (e.g., a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body), a vehicle width direction, and an upward/downward direction.

In addition, in the present specification, the terms ‘upper end portion,’ ‘upper portion’, ‘upper end’ or ‘upper surface’ of a component means an end portion, a portion, an end, or a surface of the component which is disposed at a relative upper side in the drawings, and the terms ‘lower end portion,’ ‘lower portion’, ‘lower end’, or ‘lower surface’ of a component means an end portion, a portion, an end, or a surface of the component which is disposed at a relatively lower side in the drawings.

In addition, in the present specification, an end (e.g., one end or the other end) of a component means an end of the component in any one direction, and an end portion (e.g., one end portion or the other end portion) of a component means a predetermined portion of the component that includes the end of the component.

The front vehicle body structure100according to the embodiments of the present invention has a structure capable of ensuring connection durability of members constituting a front part5aof the upper body5.

In addition, the embodiments of the present invention provide the front vehicle body structure100capable of improving durability and rigidity/strength of a mounting part of a front part3aof an under body3and a mounting part of the front part5aof the upper body5.

Furthermore, the embodiments of the present invention provide the front vehicle body structure100capable of effectively dispersing a load applied to a front side of the vehicle body1.

FIGS.2to5are perspective views illustrating the front vehicle body structure according to the embodiments of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS.1to5, the front vehicle body structure100according to embodiments of the present invention basically includes side sills10, wheel arch members30, radiator support side members50, a radiator support lower member70, and body mounting brackets90.

In embodiments of the present invention, the side sills10are respectively provided at two opposite sides of the upper body5based on the vehicle width direction. The side sills10are each disposed in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle body.

As an example, as illustrated inFIG.6, the side sills10each have a closed cross-section15formed by joining a sill outer member11and a sill inner member13.

In embodiments of the present invention, the wheel arch member30is configured to connect the front part3aof the under body3and the front part5aof the upper body5in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle body.

In addition, the wheel arch member30ensures connection durability of the front part5aof the upper body5in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle body. Further, the wheel arch member30disperses a load applied to the front part5aof the upper body5in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle body.

In the front part5aof the upper body5, the wheel arch member30is connected directly to a front end of the side sill10in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle body. The wheel arch members30may be substantially coupled to the front part3aof the under body3.

The wheel arch members30are each provided in the form of a member curved in a rounded (e.g., arcuate) shape in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle body. In this case, the wheel arch members30are disposed above front tire wheels7respectively coupled to two opposite sides of the front part3aof the under body3based on the vehicle width direction. The front wheel arch members30are provided to avoid rotation trajectories of the front tire wheels7.

As illustrated inFIG.7, the wheel arch members30may each have a closed cross-section35formed by joining a wheel arch outer member31and a wheel arch inner member33. The closed cross-sections35of the wheel arch members30may be respectively connected to the closed cross-sections15of the side sills10.

Furthermore, bulkheads37may be respectively coupled to front ends of the wheel arch members30. The bulkhead37serves to seal the front end of the wheel arch member30and reinforce torsional rigidity of the wheel arch member30.

The bulkhead37may be disposed at the front end of the wheel arch member30and joined to an inner surface of the wheel arch outer member31and an inner surface of the wheel arch inner member33.

In embodiments of the present invention, the radiator support side members50serve to support two opposite sides of a radiator (not illustrated) mounted on the front part5aof the upper body5.

In addition, the radiator support side members50connect the front part3aof the under body3and the front part5aof the upper body5in the upward/downward direction.

Further, the radiator support side members50ensure connection durability of the front part5aof the upper body5in the upward/downward direction. Furthermore, the radiator support side members50disperse a load applied to the front part5aof the upper body5in the upward/downward direction.

The radiator support side members50are respectively coupled to the front ends of the wheel arch members30and disposed in the upward/downward direction.

The radiator support side members50are respectively coupled to the front ends of the wheel arch members30through lower ends thereof. As an example, the radiator support side members50each have a shape curved in a streamlined shape in the upward/downward direction.

As illustrated inFIG.8, the radiator support side members50may each have a closed cross-section55formed by joining a radiator support side outer member51and a radiator support side inner member53.

Further, the radiator support side members50may be respectively coupled to front cowl support side members57provided in the front part5aof the upper body5. The front cowl support side members57are provided at the two opposite sides of the front part5aof the upper body5based on the vehicle width direction.

The front cowl support side members57are disposed in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle body. Rear ends of the front cowl support side members57are respectively coupled to center pillars9provided in the upper body5. Front ends of the front cowl support side members57are respectively coupled to the upper ends of the radiator support side members50.

In this case, a front cowl59is coupled, in the vehicle width direction, to the front ends of the front cowl support side members57. The front cowl59is disposed at the foremost side of the upper body5by the front cowl support side members57.

In embodiments of the present invention, the radiator support lower member70serves to support a lower portion of the radiator (not illustrated) mounted on the front part5aof the upper body5.

In addition, the radiator support lower member70serves to connect the front part3aof the under body3and the front part5aof the upper body5in the vehicle width direction.

Further, the radiator support lower member70ensures connection durability of the front part5aof the upper body5in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, the radiator support lower member70disperses a load applied to the front part5aof the upper body5in the vehicle width direction.

The radiator support lower member70is coupled to the lower ends of the radiator support side members50and disposed in the vehicle width direction.

As illustrated inFIG.9, the radiator support lower member70may have a closed cross-section75formed by joining an upper support member71and a lower support member73.

In embodiments of the present invention, the body mounting brackets90serve to fasten the wheel arch members30, the radiator support side members50, and the radiator support lower member70, which are coupled to one another, to the front part3aof the under body3.

The body mounting brackets90may be respectively coupled to the front ends of the wheel arch members30, the lower ends of the radiator support side members50, and the two opposite ends of the radiator support lower member70.

The body mounting bracket90may be fastened, by mounting bolts93, to body mounting parts91respectively disposed at the two opposite sides of the front part3aof the under body3based on the vehicle width direction.

The body mounting brackets90may be respectively joined to the wheel arch inner members33at the front ends of the wheel arch members30. Further, upper ends of the body mounting brackets90may be respectively joined to the lower ends of the radiator support side members50.

In this case, the two opposite ends of the radiator support lower member70may be respectively joined to the radiator support side inner members53at the lower ends of the radiator support side members50.

As an example, the body mounting bracket90may define a closed space having a quadrangular cross-sectional shape by being joined to the wheel arch inner member33.

The body mounting brackets90may be fastened to the body mounting parts91by the mounting bolts93fixed by penetrating the lower ends of the body mounting brackets90in the upward/downward direction.

Hereinafter, an operation of the front vehicle body structure100according to the embodiments of the present invention configured as described above will be described in detail with reference toFIGS.10to12.

FIGS.10to12are views for explaining an operation of the front vehicle body structure according to embodiments of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS.10to12, according to the front vehicle body structure100according to the embodiments of the present invention, the wheel arch members30, the radiator support side members50, and the radiator support lower member70may be directly connected by means of the body mounting brackets90in the front part5aof the upper body5.

In addition, in the front vehicle body structure100according to the embodiments of the present invention, the wheel arch members30may be connected directly to the side sills10in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle body. Therefore, the front vehicle body structure100according to the embodiments of the present invention may ensure connection durability of the front part5aof the upper body5in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle body. Further, the front vehicle body structure100according to the embodiments of the present invention may define a first load path LP1through which a load applied to the front part5aof the upper body5is transmitted in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle body through the wheel arch members30. Therefore, the front vehicle body structure100according to the embodiments of the present invention may easily disperse a load applied to the front part5aof the upper body5to the rear side in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle body through the first load path LP1.

Further, the front vehicle body structure100according to the embodiments of the present invention may ensure connection durability of the front part5aof the upper body5in the upward/downward direction by the radiator support side member50. Further, the front vehicle body structure100according to the embodiments of the present invention may define a second load path LP2through which a load applied to the front part5aof the upper body5is transmitted in the upward/downward direction through the radiator support side member50. Therefore, the front vehicle body structure100according to the embodiments of the present invention may easily disperse a load applied to the front part5aof the upper body5in the upward/downward direction through the second load path LP2.

In addition, the front vehicle body structure100according to the embodiments of the present invention may ensure connection durability of the front part5aof the upper body5in the vehicle width direction by the radiator support lower member70. Further, the front vehicle body structure100according to the embodiments of the present invention may define a third load path LP3through which a load applied to the front part5aof the upper body5is transmitted in the vehicle width direction through the radiator support lower member70. Therefore, the front vehicle body structure100according to the embodiments of the present invention may easily disperse a load applied to the front part5aof the upper body5in the vehicle width direction through the third load path LP3.

Therefore, the front vehicle body structure100according to the embodiments of the present invention may improve frontal collision performance of the PBV by easily dispersing a load applied to the front part5aof the upper body5in the forward/rearward direction of the vehicle body, the vehicle width direction, and the upward/downward direction.

Furthermore, according to the front vehicle body structure100according to the embodiments of the present invention, the body mounting brackets90to which the wheel arch members30, the radiator support side members50, and the radiator support lower member70are directly connected may be fastened to the body mounting parts91of the front part3aof the under body3. Therefore, the front vehicle body structure100according to the embodiments of the present invention may improve durability and rigidity/strength of the mounting part of the front part3aof the under body3and the mounting part of the front part5aof the upper body5.