Front frame reinforcement structure of vehicle

Abstract: Disclosed is a front frame reinforcement structure of a vehicle including a front column (20) including an inner panel (21) and an outer panel (22) coupled to each other to form a closed structure, a side frame (30) welded at one end thereof to one end of the front column (20), a reinforcement panel (40) welded at one end thereof to the one end of the front column (20), the reinforcement panel (40) being welded at the other end thereof to the other end of the side frame so that it defines a closed structure enclosing the front column (20), together with the side frame (30) and a dash panel (10) welded at one end thereof to the other end of the reinforcement panel (40). This front frame reinforcement structure provides an enhancement in the bending and torsion rigidity of a vehicle body, thereby being capable of suppressing an injure of occupants when impact is applied to the front part of the vehicle due to a collision accident.

Description: The present invention relates to a front frame reinforcement structure according to the precharacterizing part of the claim. A front column is installed at the front portion of a vehicle. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, such a front column, which is denoted by the reference numeral 20, includes an inner panel 21 and an outer panel 22 coupled to each other in such a fashion that they form a closed cross-sectional structure. A side frame 30 is coupled to an outer surface of the outer panel 22 included in the front column 20. The side frame 20 is welded to one end of a dash panel 10 at one end thereof. In such a construction in which the side frame 30 coupled at its one surface to the outer surface of the outer panel 22 included in the front column 20 forming the front part of a vehicle is welded only to an end of the dash panel 10 at one end thereof, however, the coupling portion of the side frame 30 may be easily damaged when impact of a certain level or more is applied to the front part of the vehicle due to a collision accident generated during a running of the vehicle. Furthermore, the side frame 30, dash panel 10, and front column 20 damaged due to the impact may be penetrated into the interior of the vehicle, thereby causing the occupants to be injured. US-A-5 042 872 discloses a front frame reinforcement structure of a vehicle comprising a front column consisting of an inner panel and an outer panel coupled to each other to form a closed structure, and a side frame, a first end of which is welded to a rear side of the front column such that said side frame partially encloses said column. Therefore, an object of the invention is to solve the above mentioned problems, and to provide a front frame reinforcement structure of a vehicle which is capable of absorbing impact energy applied to a side panel in a sequential fashion when impact is applied to the front part of the vehicle due to a collision accident, thereby suppressing a penetration of the side panel to achieve an improvement in the safety of occupants. According to the invention, this is achieved by the features according to the characterizing part of the claim. The above objects, and other features. and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the front part of a vehicle including a conventional front frame; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A - A of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the front part of a vehicle including a front frame reinforcement structure according to the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A - A of Fig. 3. Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail, with reference to the annexed drawings. Referring to Fig. 4, a front frame reinforcement structure of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In Fig. 4, respective elements corresponding to those in Fig. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in Fig. 4, the front frame reinforcement structure includes a front column 20 consisting of an inner panel 21 and an outer panel 22 coupled to each other in such a fashion that they form a closed cross-sectional structure. Around the front column 20, a side frame 30 and a reinforcement panel 40 are welded to each other at their facing ends to form a closed cross-sectional structure enclosing the front column 20. The side frame 30 and reinforcement panel 40 are welded at respective one-side ends thereof to a corresponding end of the front column 20. A dash panel 10 is welded at one end thereof to the other-side ends of the side frame 30 and reinforcement panel 40. In this front frame reinforcement structure according to the present invention, when impact is applied to an engine hood (not shown) of the vehicle due to a front collision accident generated during a running of the vehicle, its impact energy is primarily absorbed by the dash panel 10, and then secondarily absorbed by the closed structure defined by the side frame 30 and reinforcement panel 40, and then thirdly absorbed by the closed structure of the front column 20 consisting of the inner and outer panels 21 and 22 welded together. Thus, the impact energy is completely and widely distributed. As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a front frame reinforcement structure of a vehicle which provides an enhancement in the bending and torsion rigidity of a vehicle body, thereby being capable of suppressing an injure of occupants when impact is applied to the front part of the vehicle due to a collision accident.

Claims: A front frame reinforcement structure of a vehicle comprising: a front column (20) consisting of an inner panel (21) and an outer panel (22) coupled to each other to form a closed structure, said column (20) thereby having a front side and a rear side; a side frame (30), a first end of which is welded to said rear side of the front column (20) such that said side frame (30) partially encloses said column (20); said front frame reinforcement,structure being characterized in that it further comprises: a reinforcement panel (40), a first end of which is welded to the rear side of the front column (20), a second end of the reinforcement panel (40) being welded to a second end of the side frame (30) so that it defines a closed structure enclosing the front column (20), together with the side frame (30); and a dash panel (10), a first end of which being welded to the second end of the reinforcement panel (40).

Inventors: YANG CHUL-HO, YANG, CHUL-HO
Applicants: KIA MOTORS CORP, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B62D25
IPC codes: B62D25