Vehicle body reinforcing structure for coping with front collision

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9540047-B2
Application number	US-201514856204-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2015
Priority date	Sep 30, 2014
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle body reinforcing structure for coping with a front collision may include a cowl panel extended in a width direction of a vehicle, cowl side upper members coupled to front end portions of both sides of the cowl panel in the width direction of the vehicle and extended in a length direction of the vehicle, fender apron upper members extended in the length direction of the vehicle and coupled to front end portions of a front of the cowl side upper members in the length direction of the vehicle, and side outer panels extended in a height direction of the vehicle and connected to the front end portions of both sides of the cowl panel in the width direction of the vehicle and the cowl side upper members.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle body reinforcing structure for coping with a front collision, comprising:
a cowl panel extended in a width direction of a vehicle;
cowl side upper members coupled to front end portions of both sides of the cowl panel in the width direction of the vehicle and extended in a length direction of the vehicle;
fender apron upper members extended in the length direction of the vehicle and coupled to front end portions of a front of the cowl side upper members in the length direction of the vehicle; and
side outer panels extended in a height direction of the vehicle and connected to the front end portions of both sides of the cowl panel in the width direction of the vehicle and the cowl side upper members,
wherein each cowl side upper member is connected to the cowl panel so as to transfer a load to the each cowl side upper member through a first load transfer path and is connected to each side outer panel so as to transfer a load to the each side outer panel through a second load transfer path,
wherein the each side outer panel has a front surface directed toward a front in the length direction of the vehicle and a side surface directed toward a side of the vehicle;
wherein the second load transfer path includes:
a 2-1-th load transfer path formed by connecting the each cowl side upper member to the front surface of the side outer panel; and
a 2-2-th load transfer path formed by connecting the each cowl side upper member to the side surface of the side outer panel, and

wherein the each cowl side upper member further includes a reinforcing member connected to each fender apron upper member and the front surface of the side outer panel to form the 2-1-th load transfer path.

2. The vehicle body reinforcing structure for coping with the front collision of claim 1 , wherein the first and second load transfer paths simultaneously receive the load transferred from the fender apron upper member and disperse the load.

3. The vehicle body reinforcing structure for coping with the front collision of claim 2 , wherein the first and second load transfer paths disperse the load transferred from the fender apron upper member to two parts to substantially form a “Y” shape.

4. The vehicle body reinforcing structure for coping with the front collision of claim 1 , wherein the each cowl side upper member is formed in a box shape, and includes a front portion and a rear portion positioned at a front and a rear, respectively, in the length direction of the vehicle, so that a width thereof is expanded from the front portion toward the rear portion.

5. The vehicle body reinforcing structure for coping with front collision of claim 1 , wherein the each cowl side upper member includes a cowl side upper inner member connected to each of the fender apron upper member and the cowl panel to form the first load transfer path.

6. The vehicle body reinforcing structure for coping with the front collision of claim 5 , wherein the each cowl side upper inner member includes:
a member body having a first surface extended in the height direction and the length direction of the vehicle and having a plate shape and a second surface bent and extended from one side edge of the first surface in the width direction of the vehicle and having a plate shape and substantially formed in an “L” shape; and
a plurality of flanges formed integrally with the member body so as to be bent from the member body and attached to the cowl panel by welding.

7. The vehicle body reinforcing structure for coping with the front collision of claim 6 , wherein the second surface has a hole for a welding gun formed therein so as to penetrate therethrough.

8. The vehicle body reinforcing structure for coping with the front collision of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member includes:
a member body having a first surface extended in the height direction and the length direction of the vehicle and having a plate shape and a second surface bent and extended from one side edge of the first surface in the width direction of the vehicle and having a plate shape and substantially formed in an “L” shape; and
a plurality of flanges formed integrally with the member body so as to be bent from the member body and attached to the front surface of respective side outer panel by welding.

9. The vehicle body reinforcing structure for coping with the front collision of claim 8 , wherein the first surface is provided with a plurality of beads extended in the length direction of the vehicle in order to reinforce rigidity, the plurality of beads being disposed so as to be spaced from each other by predetermined spaces in the height direction of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle body reinforcing structure for coping with the front collision of claim 1 , wherein the each cowl side upper member further includes a cowl side upper outer member connected to respective fender apron upper member and the side surface of the side outer panel to form the 2-2-th load transfer path.

11. The vehicle body reinforcing structure for coping with the front collision of claim 10 , wherein the each cowl side upper outer member includes:
a member body extended in the height direction and the length direction of the vehicle and having a trapezoidal plate shape;
first to third flanges bent and extended from edges of the member body; and
a fourth flange formed integrally with the member body so as to be extended from an edge of the member body,
the member body being formed so that a width thereof is expanded from a front portion thereof in the length direction of the vehicle toward a rear portion thereof.

12. The vehicle body reinforcing structure for coping with the front collision of claim 11 , wherein the member body is provided with a first bead protruding inwardly in the width direction of the vehicle and extended in the length direction of the vehicle, and is provided with a second bead protruding outwardly in the width direction of the vehicle and extended from the fourth flange in the length direction of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle body reinforcing structure for coping with the front collision of claim 1 , wherein the each side outer panel is connected to a front pillar disposed at a front in the length direction of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle body reinforcing structure for coping with the front collision of claim 1 , wherein the each cowl side upper member further includes a cowl side upper lower member connected to each of the respective fender apron upper member, the cowl panel, and the respective side outer panel to form a fourth load transfer path.

15. The vehicle body reinforcing structure for coping with the front collision of claim 14 , wherein the each cowl side upper lower member includes:
a member body having a first surface extended in the height direction and the length direction of the vehicle and having a plate shape and a second surface bent and extended from one side edge of the first surface in the height direction of the vehicle and having a plate shape and substantially formed in an “L” shape; and
a plurality of flanges formed integrally with the member body so as to be extended from the member body,
wherein the plurality of flanges includes:
a first flange extended from the first surface to the second surface and bonded to the respective fender apron upper member, a second flange extended from the second surface and bonded to a first surface of the reinforcing member, a third flange bent and extended from one side edge of the second surface and attached to the cowl panel, a fourth flange bent and extended from an upper end portion of the second surface and a

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Min Huen Sick
• Kim Dae Won
• Lee Dong Oh
• Kwon Kang Hyuck

Classifications

• B62D25/08 Primary

  Front or rear portions {(sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions B62D21/11)} · CPC title

• B62D25/081 Primary

  Cowls (ventilating openings situated directly in front of the vehicle front window B60H1/28) · CPC title

• B62D25/04

  Door pillars {; windshield pillars} · CPC title

• B62D25/14

  Dashboards as superstructure sub-units (other dashboard aspects B60K) · CPC title