Structure for front section of vehicle body

A structure for the front section of a vehicle body, allowing a collision load to be efficiently transmitted from upper members to front pillars. A structure (20) for the front section of a vehicle body has L-shaped cross-sectioned frames (32) which bridge upper members (26) and front pillars (23). The L-shaped frames (32) are each connected to a front pillar (23) and an upper member (26) in such a manner that the upper surface of the L-shaped frame (32), the upper surface (26a) of the upper member (26), and the upper surface (23a) of the front pillar (23) from a continuous flat surface and that the outer side surface of the L-shaped frame (32), the outer side surface (26b) of the upper member (26), and the outer side surface (23b) of the front pillar (23) form a continuous flat surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vehicle having a curved windshield and a hood having a leading end located at a lower level, and in particularly to a vehicle body front structure including a dashboard upper member and its surroundings.

BACKGROUND ART

A known vehicle body front structure includes a dashboard lower member and a dashboard upper member which separate a passenger compartment and an engine compartment. This type of vehicle body front structure is designed taking account of characteristics of a vehicle body design to provide satisfactory rigidity. Such a structure has a dashboard upper side member extending over a dashboard upper member (see, e.g., Patent Literature 1 below).

In a vehicle body front structure disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a passenger compartment is separated from an engine compartment by a dashboard upper member. Disposed on a side of the dashboard upper member is a front pillar. Upper members extend from the front pillars and define drainage channels. A dashboard upper side member extends over the drainage channels of the upper member.

When the upper member is subjected to a load from the front side of the vehicle body, the dashboard upper side member cannot sufficiently transmit such a load to the front pillar because the dashboard upper side member does not interconnect the upper member and the front pillar.

In general, a dashboard upper member has opposing end portions providing a complicated structure because a hood hinge, a wiper and components increasing rigidity of a vehicle body are disposed on the end portions of the dashboard upper member. For example, a hinge base to which is attached the hood hinge is provided separately from a side member increasing strength of the vehicle body. In this case, no component other than the side member is connected to the front pillar. In other words, since the hinge base is separate from the side member, a collision load transmitted from a front face of a vehicle to the upper member can be transmitted to the front pillar through the side member alone. As a result, the collision load cannot efficiently be transmitted from the upper members to the front pillars.

PRIOR ART LITERATURE

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Publication of Japanese Patent No. 4272173

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle body front structure capable of efficiently transmitting a collision load from upper members to front pillars and capable of transmitting a load from a front side frame to the front pillars.

Means to Solve the Problems

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle body front structure comprising: a dashboard lower member and a dashboard upper member separating an engine compartment and a passenger compartment; front pillars disposed at left and right ends of the dashboard lower member and the dashboard upper member; upper members extending from the front pillars toward a front side of a vehicle body; and a windshield support disposed on an upper portion of the dashboard upper member, wherein L-shaped cross-sectional frames extend from the upper members to the front pillars, and the L-shaped cross-sectional frames interconnect the front pillars and the upper members, wherein the L-shaped cross-sectional frames include upper surfaces and outer surfaces, the upper members include upper surfaces and outer surfaces, and the front pillars include upper surfaces and outer surfaces, and wherein the upper surfaces of the L-shaped cross-sectional frames, the upper surfaces of the upper members and the upper surfaces of the front pillars define continuous flat surfaces, and the outer surfaces of the L-shaped cross-sectional frames, the outer surfaces of the upper members and the outer surfaces of the front pillars define continuous flat surfaces.

Preferably, the dashboard upper member and the windshield support have respective rear end flanges coupled together with an air passage defined forward of the rear end flanges of the dashboard upper member and the windshield support, the dashboard lower member includes an upper end flange having a center coupled to the rear end flanges of the dashboard upper member and the windshield support and left and right side portions coupled to a bottom surface of the dashboard upper member, and the dashboard lower member is flat between left and right sides thereof.

Preferably, the L-shaped cross-sectional frames are coupled to damper bases having upper portions supported by the dashboard upper member.

Preferably, the dashboard upper member has opposing ends defining drainage channels for draining rainwater.

Preferably, the windshield support supports a windshield separating the passenger compartment and the outside of a vehicle, and the windshield has curved left and right side portions extending rearward from a front side of the dashboard lower member.

Advantageous Results

The present invention provides the following effects.

According to the present invention, since the L-shaped cross-sectional frames extend from the upper members to the front pillars and the L-shaped cross-sectional frames joint the upper surfaces of the upper members and the upper surfaces of the front pillars with the continuous flat surfaces and joint the outer surfaces of the upper members and the outer surfaces of the front pillars with the continuous flat surfaces, a collision load in case of head-on collision of the vehicle can efficiently be transmitted from the upper members to the front pillars. As a result, the vehicle body rigidity can be improved.

Preferably, according to the present invention, since the dashboard upper member and the windshield support have the respective rear end flanges coupled to define an air passage on the front side, and the dashboard lower member has the upper end flange coupled at the center to both of the rear end flanges and coupled on the left and right side portions to the bottom surface of the dashboard upper member, and is flat between the left and right sides, the vehicle rigidity can sufficiently be ensured and, for example, when the significantly curved windshield is employed, the windshield can be disposed without narrowing a passenger compartment space.

According to the present invention, the L-shaped cross-sectional frames are coupled to the damper bases supported at the upper portions by the dashboard upper member and, therefore, for example, a load from a front side frame supporting the damper bases can also be transmitted to the front pillars. As a result, the vehicle body rigidity can further be improved.

According to the present invention, the drainage channels flowing rainwater are formed at the both ends of the dashboard upper member and, therefore, for example, rainwater running off the windshield can be drained off.

According to the present invention, the left and right side portions of the windshield are curved and extend from the front side to the rear side of the dashboard lower member and, therefore, a wider passenger compartment space can be implemented.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment

As depicted inFIG. 1, a vehicle10includes a vehicle body11, an engine compartment14housing an engine (not depicted) and auxiliary machines, a passenger compartment12accommodating passenger's seats (not depicted) etc., left and right front fenders15,15covering the sides of the engine compartment14, a hood16covering the upper side of the engine compartment14, and a windshield17separating the passenger compartment12and the outside of the vehicle.

As depicted inFIGS. 2 to 6, a vehicle body front structure20includes a dashboard lower member21and a dashboard upper member22separating the engine compartment14and the passenger compartment12. Front pillars23,23are disposed at left and right ends of the dashboard lower member21and the dashboard upper member22. Upper members26,26(only one shown) extend forward from the front pillars23,23. Damper bases27,27are disposed between the upper members26,26and a front side frame (not shown). The windshield17is supported by a windshield support31disposed on an upper portion of the dashboard upper member22. L-shaped cross-sectional frames32,32(only one shown) extend from the upper members26,26to the front pillars23,23.

The windshield17has a convex center portion projecting forward, and curved left and right side portions of the windshield17extending rearward from a front side of the dashboard lower member21. The damper base27has an upper portion supported by the upper member26.

The dashboard lower member21includes a substantially flat body portion41defined between left and right sides thereof. Formed on an upper end of the body portion41is an upper end flange42. The dashboard lower member21further includes a bracket attaching portion43to which is attached a front portion of a brake pedal bracket44.

The upper end flange42has a center coupled to a coupling portion62defined by the dashboard upper member22and the windshield support31, and left and right side portions coupled to a bottom surface52of the dashboard upper member22.

Specifically, the upper end flange42is spot-welded at the center to the coupling portion62and spot-welded on the left and right side portions to the bottom surface52of the dashboard upper member22. In other words, the center of the upper end flange42is coupled to both a rear end flange51of the dashboard upper member22and a rear end flange61of the windshield support31. The left and right side portions of the upper end flange42are coupled to the bottom surface52of the dashboard upper member22.

The rear end flange51of the dashboard upper member22is coupled (spot-welded) to the windshield support31and to the center of the upper end flange42of the dashboard lower member21. Coupled (spot-welded) to the bottom surface52of the dashboard upper member22is the left and right side portions of the upper end flange42of the dashboard lower member21. The dashboard upper member22has opposing ends defining drainage channels53,53(only one shown) for draining rainwater. The opposing ends of the dashboard upper member22has front portions defining damper base coupling portions54,54coupled to the damper bases27.

The windshield support31includes the rear end flange61coupled (spot-welded) to the rear end flange51of the dashboard upper member22. The windshield support31has an upper surface31a. Disposed forward of the upper surface31ais a raised portion67supporting the windshield17. The raised portion67is positioned at a higher level than the upper surface31a. Extending rearward from the raised portion67are plural beads68ato68g. The plural beads68ato68gare located on left and right sides of the windshield support31.

In the vehicle body front structure20, the coupling portion62is defined by the rear end flange61of the windshield support31and the rear end flange51of the dashboard upper member22spot-welded to the rear end flange61. The coupling portion62has left and right sides defining projecting portions63projecting rearward of the dashboard lower member21. Defined forward of the coupling portion62is an open-fronted air passage64continuously extending laterally of the vehicle. The projecting portions63have lower surfaces63aone of which is equipped with a stay member65to which is secured the brake pedal bracket44.

The lower surfaces63aof the projecting portions63occupy the same location as the bottom surface52of the dashboard upper member22.

On the left and right sides of the vehicle body front structure20, dust seal (sealer)69is applied to the coupling portion62defined by the rear end flange61of the windshield support31and the rear end flange51of the dashboard upper member22spot-welded to the rear end flange61. At the center of the vehicle body front structure20, the coupling portion62is spot-welded to the upper end flange42of the dashboard lower member21and the dust seal69is applied to the coupling portion62and the upper end flange42. The dust seal69is continuously applied to the edges of the rear end flanges51,61and the upper end flange42.

The brake pedal bracket44is a member supporting a brake pedal45for treading. The brake pedal bracket44has a front portion attached to the bracket attaching portion43of the dashboard lower member21. The brake pedal bracket44has a rear portion attached to the stay member65.

The coupling portion62is a part where the rear end flange51of the dashboard upper member22and the rear end flange61of the windshield support31are spot-welded together. The air passage (air introduction space)64is defined by the dashboard upper member22and the windshield support31. In other words, the dashboard upper member22and the windshield support31have the respective rear end flanges51,61coupled together with the air passage64defined forward of the coupling portion.

The L-shaped cross-sectional frame32provides a hinge base function of supporting the hood16(FIG. 1) in such manner as to allow the hood16to move between an open position and a closed position as well as a dashboard upper side member function of reinforcing the front pillar23and the upper member26.

The L-shaped cross-sectional frame32includes an upper surface connecting portion71interconnecting an upper surface26aof the upper member26and an upper surface23aof the front pillar23, and an outer surface connecting portion72interconnecting an outer surface26bof the upper member26and an outer surface23bof the front pillar23. The upper surface connecting portion71, the upper surface26a, and the upper surface23adefine a continuous flat surface. The outer surface connecting portion72, the outer surface26b, and the outer surface23bdefine a continuous flat surface. On the side of the damper base27, the upper surface connecting portion71is also coupled via the dashboard upper member22to the damper base27. On the side of the front pillar23, the outer surface connecting portion72is also coupled to the dashboard upper member22.

Therefore, as depicted inFIG. 6, a load can be transmitted, as indicated by an arrow a1, from the upper surface26aof the upper member26to the upper surface23aof the front pillar23. A load can be transmitted, as indicated by an arrow a2, from the outer surface26bof the upper member26to the outer surface23bof the front pillar23. Therefore, the vehicle body rigidity can be improved.

The drainage channel53for draining rainwater is defined by the dashboard upper member22and, therefore, rainwater which has flowed down the windshield17can be drained through the drainage channel53to the outside of the vehicle, as indicated by an arrow a3.

The vehicle body front structure20includes the dashboard lower member21and the dashboard upper member22which separate the engine compartment14and the passenger compartment12, the front pillars23,23disposed at both the left and right ends of the dashboard lower member21and the dashboard upper member22, the upper members26,26extending from the front pillars23,23toward the front side of a vehicle body, and the windshield support31disposed on the upper portion of the dashboard upper member22.

The L-shaped cross-sectional frames32extend from the upper members26to the front pillars23. The L-shaped cross-sectional frames32provide flat surfaces contiguous with the upper surfaces26aof the upper members26and with the upper surfaces23aof the front pillars23. The L-shaped cross-sectional frames32provide flat surfaces contiguous with the outer surfaces26bof the upper members26and the outer surfaces23bof the front pillars23. This arrangement of the L-shaped cross-sectional frames32allows efficient transmission of a collision load from the upper members26to the front pillars23,23. As a result, the vehicle body rigidity can be improved.

In the vehicle body front structure20, the dashboard upper member22and the windshield support31have the respective rear end flanges51,61coupled together with the air passage64defined forward of the rear end flanges51,61coupled together. The dashboard lower member21includes the upper end flange42having the center coupled to both of the rear end flanges51,61and the left and right side portions coupled to the bottom surface52of the dashboard upper member22. The dashboard lower member21is flat between the left and right sides. With this arrangement of the vehicle body front structure20, the vehicle rigidity can sufficiently be ensured. For example, when the significantly curved windshield17is employed, the windshield can be disposed without narrowing a passenger compartment space.

The L-shaped cross-sectional frames32are coupled to the damper bases27having the upper portions supported by the dashboard upper member22and, therefore, for example, a load from front side frames (not depicted) supporting the damper bases27can also be transmitted to the front pillars23,23. As a result, the vehicle body rigidity can further be improved.

In the vehicle body front structure20, the drainage channels53,53for draining rainwater are defined by the opposing ends of the dashboard upper member22and, therefore, for example, rainwater which has flowed down the windshield17can be drained off.

In the vehicle body front structure20, the windshield17has the curved left and right side portions extending from the front side to the rear side of the dashboard lower member21and, therefore, a wider passenger compartment space can be implemented.

Although the L-shaped cross-sectional frame32has the upper surface connecting portion71coupled, on the side of the damper base27, via the dashboard upper member22to the damper base27as depicted inFIG. 6, the L-shaped cross-sectional frame32may be connected directly to the damper base27.

Although the projecting portions63have the beads68ato68gextending backward from the raised portion67in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, as depicted inFIG. 4, the beads may extend laterally of the vehicle body. Any number of beads may be formed.

Industrial Applicability

The vehicle body front structure according to the present invention is preferably employed for a vehicle with a windshield significantly curved and a leading end of a hood located at a lower level.

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