Title of Invention

'AUTOMOBILE FRONT BODY CONSTRUCTION"

Abstract

An automobile front body construction is provided, which can ensure the transmission of an input that enters the side members when the vehicle is involved in a collision from the side members to the apron members so as to suppress the upward deformation of the sidemembers, and which can suppress the pitching resulting from the collision. A rigid member 20 extends between and is connected to a front end portion 8c of the apron member 8 and the side member 2, and a front portion of the rigid member 20 is inclined obliquely downward in a rectilinear fashion from the apron member 8 towards the side member 2 when viewed from the side of the vehicle, whereby an input that enters the side member 2 when a vehicle is involved in a collision is transmitted via the rigid member 20 to an apron member 8 while being dispersed, and an upward deformation of the side member 2 resulting from the collision is suppressed by the rigid member 20. (Fig. 2)

Full Text

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an automobile front body construction in which apron members are disposed above a pair of left and right side members extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle in such a manner that front ends of the apron members are situated back of front ends of the side members. BACKGROUND ART In recent automobiles, from the viewpoint of realizing an improvement in external appearance, for example, a construction is adopted from time to time in which headlights are each disposed in such a manner as to extend from a front to a side of a vehicle body by turning around a front end corner thereof. In adopting the construction like this, in order to secure spaces where the headlights are disposed, left and right apron members connected to front pillars are often disposed so that front ends of the apron members are situated back of front ends of left and right side members, and then, the apron members and the side members are connected by fender aprons (refer to, for example, JP-A-2002-46648). When the conventional construction is adopted in which the apron members are disposed back of the front ends of the side members, however, an input that enters the side members when the vehicle is involved in a collision is not transmitted effectively from, the side members to the apron members, and depending on cases, there exists a concern that the side members bend and deform upward, whereby the axial buckling deformation of the side members cannot be attained. In addition, in the conventional construction, there exists a risk that a pitching phenomenon occurs at the time of collision in which the rear of the body of the vehicle is caused to float, leading to a problem that an impact resulting from the collision cannot be absorbed effectively. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The invention was made in view of the problems in the conventional construction, and an object thereof is to provide an automobile front body construction which can ensure the transmission of an input that enters the side members when the vehicle is involved in a collision from the side members to the apron members so as to suppress the upward deformation of the side members and which can suppress the pitching resulting from the collision. According to the invention, there is provided an automobile front body construction including: a pair of left and right side members extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle; a pair of left and right apron members respectively extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle above the pair of left and right, side members, and having front ends situated back of front ends of the side members; and a pair of front pillars, to which rear ends of the apron members are respectively connected. The automobile front body is characterized by further including: a rigid member extending between and being connected to a front end portion of the apron member and the side member, and having a front portion which is inclined obliquely downward in a substantially rectilinear fashion from the apron member towards the side member when viewed from the side of the vehicle, whereby an input that enters the side member when the vehicle is involved in a collision is transmitted via the rigid member to the apron member while being dispersed, and an upward deformation of the side member resulting from the collision is suppressed by the rigid member. According to the automobile front body construction of the invention, since the rigid member extends between and is connected to the front end portion of the apron member and the side member, and the front portion of the rigid member is inclined obliquely downward in the substantially rectilinear fashion from the apron member towards the side member. Therefore, an input that enters the side member when the vehicle is involved in a collision can be transmitted from the side member to the apron member via the rigid member while being dispersed, thereby making it possible to suppress the upward bending deformation of the side member by the rigid member. As a result, the axial buckling deformation of the side member can be induced so as to absorb the resulting impact effectively. Further, a force that holds the side member downward acts on the side member due to the rigid member stretching to its full length between the apron member and the side member, whereby the pitching phenomenon in which the rear of the vehicle body is caused to float can be suppressed. In the automobile front body construction of the invention, the rigid member preferably has a front wall portion which forms a plane when viewed from the front of the vehicle. By this construction, the resulting impact can be borne by the wide area on the front wall portion of the rigid member, thereby making it possible to increase further the impact absorbing efficiency. In the automobile front body construction of the invention, the rigid member preferably has a substantially trapezoidal shape when viewed from the side of the vehicle. By this construction, since the trapezoidal rigid member is connected via a longer, lower side portion thereof to the side member, the connection area between the rigid member and the side member can be made larger. Therefore, the input to the side member can be securely transmitted to the rigid member. That is, the input when the vehicle is involved in a collision can be securely dispersed from the side member via the rigid member to the apron member. In the aut omoblle front body construction of the invention,it is preferable that a suspension tower is provided, which has an upper end portion connected to the apron member and a lower end portion connected to the side member, and that an upper side portion of the rigid member is connected to the upper end portion of the suspension tower, and a rear side portion of the rigid member is connected to a front wall portion of the suspension tower. By this construction, the mounting rigidity of the rigid member to the vehicle body can be enhanced. Consequently, the rigid member can be maintained at such a position that the input when the vehicle is involved in a collision can be dispersed from the side member to the apron member. In the automatic front body construction of the invention, the apron member, when viewed from the side of the vehicle, has such a substantially triangular shape that a vertical dimension thereof decreases as it extends towards a front end of the vehicle. By this construction, the connection area between the apron member and the front pillar can be increased, to thereby effectively disperse the input from the apron member to the front pillar. Statement of Invention An automobile front body construction (1) comprising: a pair of left and right side members (2) extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle; a pair of left and right apron members (8) respectively extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle above the pair of left and right side members (2), and having front ends situated back of front ends of the side members; and a pair of front pillars (25), to which rear ends (8b) of the apron members (8) are respectively connected, characterized in. that a rigid member (20) extending between and being connected to a front end portion (8a) of the apron member (8) and the side member (2), and having a front portion (2a) which is inclined obliquely downward in a substantially rectilinear fashion from the apron member (8) towards the side member (2) when viewed from the side of the vehicle, whereby an input that enters the side member when the vehicle is involved in a collision is transmitted via the rigid member (20) to the apron member(8) while being dispersed, and an upward deformation of the side member resulting from the collision is suppressed by the rigid member, said rigid member has a trapezoidal shape when viewed from the side of the vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a plan view of a front body frame which describes an automobile front body construction according to an embodiment of the invention Fig: 2 is a side view of the front body frame. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the front body frame. Fig. 4 is a front view of a rigid member provided on the front body frame. Fig. 5 is a cross section (taken along the line V-V in Fig. 3) of the rigid member. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings. Figs. 1 to 5 are drawings which describe an automobile front body construction according to an embodiment of the invention, in which Figs. 1 and 2 are a plan view and a side view of a front body frame, respectively, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the front body frame and Figs. 4 and 5 are a front view and a sectional view (a vertical sectional view taken along the line V-V in Fig. 3) of a rigid member, respectively. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a front body frame of an automobile, which mainly includes: left and right front side members 2, 2 extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; left and right rocker rails 3, 3 disposed transversely outward of the left and right front side members 2, 2, and extending substantially in parallel with the front side members 2; left and right tunnel members 4, 4 disposed transversely inward of the front side members 2 and extending substantially in parallel with the front: side members 2; a cross member 5 extending transversely and joined to rear end portions of the left and right front side members 2. The rocker rails 3 and the tunnel members 4 are connected to the cross member 5. In Fig. 1, C denotes a center line of the vehicle body, and the front body frame 1 is made substantially transversely symmetrical. As shown in Fig. 2, the front side member 2 has a front portion 2a which extends substantially rectilinearly, a kick portion 2b which extends from a rear end of the front portion 2a in such a manner as to incline obliquely downward, and a rear portion 2c which extends substantially rectilinearly from a lower end of the kick portion 2b rearward to the vehicle. A front end portion of the rocker rail 3 is connected to a lower end portion of the kick portion 2b of the front side member 2 via an outer torque box 6 (see Fig. 1), and a front end portion of the tunnel member 4 is also connected thereto via an inner torque box 7 (see Fig. 1), whereby an input that enters the front side member 2 when the vehicle is involved in a collision is transmitted to the rear of the vehicle body while being dispersed from the front portion 2a of the front side member 2 to the rocker rail 3 and the tunnel, member 4. Suspension members 15 are provided, respectively, below the kick portions 2b of the left and right front side members 2 in such a manner as to substantially face the left and right tunnel members 4, respectively, and the suspension members 15 are fixed to the front side members 2, 2, respectively. Left and right suspension arms (not shown) which support front wheels 17 are supported, respectively, on left and right sides of the suspension arms 15 swingably. Apron members 8, 8 are respectively disposed above and transversely outward of the front portions 2a of the front side members 2, and extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Each of the apron members 8 is formed substantially into a triangular shape in which a vertical dimension thereof decreases as it extends towards a front end of the vehicle . Rear end portions 8b of the apron members 8 are respectively connected to front pillars 25, 25. The lower ends of the front pillars 25 are connected via the outer torque boxes 6 to intermediate portions of the front side members 2, respectively. A suspension tower 9 is disposed between the apron member 8 and the front portion 2a, and extends vertically. A support hole 9a is formed in an upper wall portion 9b of the suspension tower 9 so that a shock absorber (not shown) is passed therethrough and supported thereon. As shown in Fig. 3, the suspension tower 9 is connected to the apron member 8 at an upper end portion 9d thereof and is connected to the side member 2 at a lower end portion 9e thereof . As shown in Fig . 2, a dash panel 11 is connected to rear walls of the left and right suspension towers 9, and a front edge portion of a floor panel 12 is connected to a lower edge portion of the dash panel 11. A front end 8a of the apron member 8 is situated at a more rearward position on the vehicle than a front end 2d of the front side member 2, and a headlight, not shown, is provided in a space so formed in front of the apron member 8. A rigid member 20 is disposed between a front end portion 8c of the apron member 8 and the front portion 2a of the side member 2 in such a manner as to extend therebetween. As shown in Fig. 5, the rigid member 20 is constructed so as to form a closed cross section extending vertically by welding together outer circumferential flanges of an outer member 21 and an inner member 22 which each have a top-hat cross section. As shown in Fig. 3, an upper side portion 20a of the rigid member 20 is connected to the front end portion 8c of the apron member 8 and the upper wall portion 9b of the suspension tower 9, and a rear side portion 20b thereof is connected to a front wall portion 9c of the suspension tower 9. As shown in Fig. 2, a lower side portion 20c of the rigid member 20 is connected to an upper wall 2e of the side member 2. As shown in Fig. 2, when viewed from the side of the vehicle, the rigid member 20 is formed substantially into such a trapezoidal shape that the upper side portion 20a of the rigid member 20 extends along the front end portion 8c of the apron member 8 and that a front portion 20e of the rigid member 20 extends substantially rectilinearly from the front end portion 8c of the apron member 8 towards the side member 2 and inclines obliquely downward. The front portion 20e of the rigid member 20 is formed by edges of the flange portions 21a, 22a of the outer member 21 and the inner member 22. As shown in Fig. 4, when viewed from the front, of the vehicle, the rigid member 20 is formed substantially into a fallen V-like shape, and has a front wall portion 20d which forms a plane. The front wall portion 20d is formed by front wall surfaces 21b, 22b of the outer member 21 and the inner member 22. According to the embodiment, the rigid member 20 extends between and is connected to the front end portion 8c of the apron member 8 and the side member 2, and further the front portion 20e of the rigid member 20 is inclined obliquely downward in the substantially rectilinear fashion from the front end portion 8c of the apron member 8 towards the side member 2, when viewed from the side of the vehicle. Therefore, an input that enters the side member 2 when the vehicle is involved in a collision can be transmitted from the side member 2 to the apron member 8 via the rigid member 20 while being dispersed, thereby making it possible to suppress the upward bending deformation of the side member 2. As a result, the axial buckling deformation of the front portion 2a of the side member 2 can be induced so as to absorb the resulting impact effectively. Further, a force that holds the side member 2 downward acts on the side member 2 due to the rigid member 20 stretching to its full length between the apron member 8 and the side member 2, whereby such pitching phenomenon that the rear of the vehicle body is caused to float can be suppressed. This also allows the resulting impact to be absorbed efficiently. Furthermore, in the embodiment, since the front wall portion 20d, which forms a plane when viewed from the front of the vehicle, is formed on the rigid member 20, the resulting impact can be borne by the wide area on the front wall portion 20d of the rigid member 20, thereby making it possible to increase further the impact absorbing efficiency. In the embodiment/ since the rigid member 20 is made such that the closed cross section extending in the vertical direction is formed by joining together the outer member 21 and the inner member 22 which each have the top-had cross section, the joining force between the apron member 8 and the side member 2 can be increased, thereby making it possible to ensure the transmission of the impact from the side member 2 to the apron member 8. In the embodiment, the rigid member 20, when viewed from the side of the vehicle, has a substantially trapezoidal shape. By this construction, since the trapezoidal rigid member 20 is connected via the longer, lower side portion 20 thereof to the side member 2, the connection area between the rigid member 20 and the side member 2 can be made larger. Therefore, the input to the side member 2 can be securely transmitted to the rigid member 20. That is, the input when the vehicle is involved in a collision can be securely dispersed from the side member 2 via the rigid member 20 to the apron member 8. In the embodiment,, the suspension tower 9 is provided, which has the upper end portion 9d connected to the apron member 8 and the lower end portion 9e connected to the side member 2, and the upper side portion 20a of the rigid member 20 is connected to the upper end portion 9d of the suspension tower 9, whereas the rear side portion 20b of the rigid member 20 is connected to the front wall portion 9c of the suspension tower 9. By this construction, the mounting rigidity of the rigid member 20 to the vehicle body can be enhanced. Consequently, the rigid member 20 can be maintained at such a position that the input when the vehicle is involved in a collision can be dispersed from the side member 2 to the apron member 8. In the embodiment, the apron member 8, when viewed from the side of the vehicle, has such a substantially triangular shape that a vertical dimension thereof decreases as it extends towards a front end of the vehicle. By this construction, the connection area between the apron member 8 and the front pillar 25 can be increased, to thereby effectively disperse the input from the apron member 8 to the front pillar 25. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is widely applicable to an automobile front body construction having apron members disposed above a pair of left and right side members extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle in such a manner that front ends of the apron members are situated back of front ends of the side members, for the purposes of securely transmitting an input at a collision from the side members to the apron members, and suppressing the pitching at the collision. We claim, 1. An automobile front body construction (1) comprising: a pair of left and right side members (2) extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle; a pair of left and right apron members (8) respectively extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle above the pair of left and right side members (2), and having front ends situated back of front ends of the side members; and a pair of front pillars (25), to which rear ends (8b) of the apron members (8) are respectively connected, characterized in that a rigid member (20) extending between and being connected to a front end portion (8a) of the apron member (8) and the side member (2), and having a front portion (2a) which is inclined obliquely downward in a substantially rectilinear fashion from the apron member (8) towards the side member (2) when viewed from the side of the vehicle, whereby an input that enters the side member when the vehicle is involved in a collision is transmitted via the rigid member (20) to the apron member(8) while being dispersed, and an upward deformation of the side member resulting from the collision is suppressed by the rigid member, said rigid member has a trapezoidal shape when viewed from the side of the vehicle. 2. The automobile front body construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rigid member has a front wall portion which forms a plane when viewed from the front of the vehicle. 3. The automobile front body construction as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein a suspension tower having an upper end portion connected to the apron member and a lower end portion connected to the side member, wherein an upper side portion of the rigid member is connected to the upper end portion of the suspension tower, and a rear side portion of the rigid member is connected to a front wall portion of the suspension tower. 4. The automobile front body construction to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the apron member, when viewed from the side of the vehicle, has such a substantially triangular shape that a vertical dimension thereof decreases as it extends towards a front end of the vehicle. 5. An automobile front body construction substantially as herein described with reference to accompanying drawings.

Documents:

6614-delnp-2006-abstract.pdf

6614-delnp-2006-claims.pdf

6614-delnp-2006-Correspondence-Others (11-11-2009).pdf

6614-delnp-2006-correspondence-others-1.pdf

6614-delnp-2006-correspondence-others.pdf

6614-delnp-2006-description (complete).pdf

6614-delnp-2006-Drawings (11-11-2009).pdf

6614-delnp-2006-drawings.pdf

6614-delnp-2006-form-1.pdf

6614-delnp-2006-form-18.pdf

6614-delnp-2006-form-2.pdf

6614-delnp-2006-form-26.pdf

6614-delnp-2006-Form-3 (11-11-2009).pdf

6614-delnp-2006-form-3.pdf

6614-delnp-2006-form-5.pdf

6614-delnp-2006-pct-304.pdf

6614-delnp-2006-pct-308.pdf

6614-delnp-2006-pct-search report.pdf

6614-delnp-2009-Abstract (11-11-2009).pdf

6614-delnp-2009-Claims (11-11-2009).pdf

6614-delnp-2009-Description (Complete) (11-11-2009).pdf

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