Connecting structure of front apron and cowl

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9714053-B2
Application number	US-201615078658-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2016
Priority date	Mar 30, 2015
Publication date	Jul 25, 2017
Grant date	Jul 25, 2017

Abstract

A front end portion of a connecting member is fixed to a front apron, and a rear end portion of the connecting member is located vertically higher than the front end portion, and is fixed to a rear portion of a cowl. Therefore, when a rear portion of the front apron is elastically deformed rearward, the front end portion of the connecting member is moved rearward. As a result, upward force is applied obliquely upward, to the front end portion of the connecting member, via the connecting member, and a so-called cancelling moment is applied to the rear portion of the cowl. Thus, rotation of the cowl is curbed, and movement of a suspension tower plate in the vertical direction is curbed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connecting structure comprising:
a front apron on which a front suspension tower that supports a front suspension of a vehicle is formed;
a cowl located on a rear side of the front apron as viewed in a vehicle front-rear direction, the cowl extending along a vehicle width direction and having a front portion as viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction, the front portion being joined to an upper wall portion of the front suspension tower; and
a connecting member having a front end portion and a rear end portion which are at opposite ends of the connecting member as viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction, the front end portion being fixed to the front apron, the rear end portion being located vertically higher, in a vehicle vertical direction, than the front end portion, the rear end portion of the connecting member being fixed to a rear portion of the cowl as viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction.

2. The connecting structure according to claim 1 , wherein:
the cowl is formed in a hat shape in a cross-section taken along the vehicle front-rear direction, such that an upper side of the cowl as viewed in the vehicle vertical direction is open; and
the rear end portion of the connecting member is connected to a portion of the cowl including a ridge line that forms a boundary between a lower wall portion of the cowl and a rear wall portion of the cowl as viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction.

3. The connecting structure according to claim 2 , wherein:
the rear end portion of the connecting member is provided with a fixed piece that is bent upward;
the fixed piece is joined to the rear portion of the cowl so as to contact the ridge line; and
the fixed piece is provided with a bent portion, and the fixed piece includes a first joined portion and a second joined portion, the first joined portion being joined to the lower wall portion of the cowl, the second joined portion being joined to the rear wall portion of the cowl.

4. The connecting structure according to claim 1 , wherein:
the front end portion of the connecting member is fixed to a vertical sidewall portion of the front apron which is formed in an inner portion of the front apron in the vehicle width direction.

5. A connecting structure comprising:
a front apron on which a front suspension tower that supports a front suspension of a vehicle is formed;
a cowl located on a rear side of the front apron as viewed in a vehicle front-rear direction, the cowl extending along a vehicle width direction and having a front portion as viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction, the front portion being joined to an upper wall portion of the front suspension tower; and
a connecting member having a front end portion and a rear end portion as viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction, the front end portion being fixed to a vertical sidewall portion of the front apron which is formed in an inner portion of the front apron in the vehicle width direction, the rear end portion being located vertically higher, in a vehicle vertical direction, than the front end portion, the rear end portion of the connecting member being fixed to a rear portion of the cowl as viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction.

6. The connecting structure according to claim 5 , wherein:
the cowl is formed in a hat shape in a cross-section taken along the vehicle front-rear direction, such that an upper side of the cowl as viewed in the vehicle vertical direction is open; and
the rear end portion of the connecting member is connected to a portion of the cowl including a ridge line that forms a boundary between a lower wall portion of the cowl and a rear wall portion of the cowl as viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction.

7. The connecting structure according to claim 6 , wherein:
the rear end portion of the connecting member is provided with a fixed piece that is bent upward;
the fixed piece is joined to the rear portion of the cowl so as to contact the ridge line; and
the fixed piece is provided with a bent portion, and the fixed piece includes a first joined portion and a second joined portion, the first joined portion being joined to the lower wall portion of the cowl, the second joined portion being joined to the rear wall portion of the cowl.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Fukuoka Takahiro

Classifications

• B62D27/00

  Connections between superstructure {or understructure} sub-units {(B62D33/0207, B62D33/044 take precedence; between sub-units predominently made of synthetic material B62D29/048)} · CPC title

• B62D25/082

  Engine compartments · CPC title

• B62D25/088

  Details of structures as upper supports for springs or dampers · CPC title

• B62D24/00 Primary

  Connections between vehicle body and vehicle frame (B62D23/00, B62D33/077 take precedence) · CPC title

• B62D25/081 Primary

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