Structure of a front body of a motor vehicle and a method of assembling a vehicle body

• US 5,082,078 A
• Filed: 12/21/1990
• Issued: 01/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Murakami, Kousuke, Sakurai, Ushio, Kanemitsu, Norihiro, Takahara, Kuniaki, Umeda, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US07/632,769
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 180/90, 180/89.1, 280/779, 296/192, 296/70, 296/72, 296/196, 296/197
• US Class Current: 180/90
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/081 Cowls ventilating openings situated directly in front of the vehicle front window B60H1/28
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/14 Dashboards as superstructure sub-units other dashboard aspects B60K
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/14 the sub-units or components being passenger compartment fittings, e.g. seats, linings, trim, instrument panels

Abstract

A vehicle body side member of a closed sectional construction extending in the widthwise direction of a vehicle body is provided between right and left roof pillars of a vehicle body and a first unit which comprises at least a cowl member and a windshield wiper system provided in the cowl member and a second unit which comprises at least an instrument panel and a steering system are mounted in the front of the vehicle body side member and in the rear of the vehicle body side member respectively. By this arrangement, the assembling operation of members and systems attached around a dash panel can be easier and accordingly, the simpler and faster operation can be planned. Also, the endurance efficiency for collision shock can be improved by restricting both units moving to the rear on a head-on collision by the above vehicle body side member.

Claims

1. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment with a door opening and an engine compartment separated from said passenger compartment, the structure comprising:

a vehicle body side member of a closed sectional construction extending in the widthwise direction of said vehicle body between right and left front pillars thereof, said body side member being attached to said body to interconnect said front pillars and thereby increase body rigidity around a lower edge of a front windshield of said vehicle;

a first unit provided in the front part of said vehicle body side member, said first unit having at least a cowl member and a windshield wiper system attached to said cowl member, an end part of said first unit being fixed to said vehicle body, said first unit being shaped to be inserted into said body through said engine compartment from above toward said side member;

and a second unit provided in the rear part of said vehicle body side member, said second unit having at least an instrument panel and a steering system, an end part of said second unit being fixed to said vehicle body, said second unit being shaped to be inserted into said body from the rear through said door opening toward said side member.

2. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle body side member is a vehicle body side cowl member, which contacts with said cowl member of said first unit so as to compose a cowl box.

3. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first unit further comprises a brake pedal bracket, a brake pedal, and a brake multiplier system, and said second unit further compreises an air conditioning system.

4. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first unit comprises a dash member fixed on the underside of said cowl member to constitute a part of a dash panel of said vehicle body, to said dash member said brake pedal, said brake pedal bracket, and said brake multiplier system are attached.

5. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said dash member is fixed to a position which corresponds to an opening on said dash panel on the underside of said cowl member and closes said opening of said dash panel to compose a part of said dash panel with being attached to the periphery of said opening by a bonding material under such a condition that said first unit is attached to said vehicle body.

6. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein a projecting part which projects to a passenger compartment is formed on the periphery of said dash member and step part on which a bonding material is applied between said dash member, and said dash panel is formed on the periphery of said opening of said dash panel corresponding to said projecting part.

7. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein said dash member and said dash panel overlaps with each other until the upper position over said projecting part of said dash member and insulators are provided in each passenger compartment side of both said dash member and said dash panel.

8. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second unit comprises an instrument panel member extending in the widthwise direction in the front of said instrument panel and supporting said steering system, both ends of said instrument panel member are placed fixedly to said vehicle body.

9. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 8, wherein a steering shaft of said steering system is supported by said instrument panel member through a supporting member, and a lower part of said steering shaft is placed fixedly to said dash panel through a bracket.

10. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a positioning portion which determines a position in the longitudinal direction by connecting with the side part of said cowl member is formed divergently and facing upwardly in said vehicle body, and the side part of said cowl member is fixed to said positioning portion through a bonding material.

11. A method of assembling a vehicle body comprising the steps of:

inserting a first unit comprising at least a cowl member and a windshield wiper system provided in said cowl member into the front of a vehicle body side member of a closed sectional construction extending in the widthwise direction of said vehicle body with connecting right and left front pillars;

mounting both side ends of said first unit to said vehicle body;

inserting a second unit comprising at least an instrument panel and a steering system from an opening of a vehicle door into a passenger compartment to be disposed in the rear of said vehicle side member of a closed sectional construction; and

mounting both side ends of said second unit to said vehicle body.

12. A method of assembling a vehicle body as claimed in claim 11, wherein a first unit is mounted to said vehicle body, said positioning portion which determines a position in the longitudinal direction by connecting the side part of said cowl member is formed divergently and facing upward in said vehicle body, side portion of said cowl member is inserted from top of said positioning portion after a bonding material is applied on said positioning portion, said side portion is positioned and fixed by said positioning portion through said bonding material at finishing inserting said side parts.

13. A method of assembling a vehicle body as claimed in claim 11, wherein said step of mounting both side ends of said first unit to a vehicle body comprises the steps of:

attaching one of two brackets composing a brake pedal bracket to said cowl member of said first unit;

connecting one end of another bracket of said two brackets to said vehicle body side member of a closed sectional construction extending in the widthwise direction of said vehicle body between right and left front pillars of said vehicle body;

inserting said first unit to the front of said vehicle body side member from the top; and

connecting said two brackets together.

14. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body side member of a closed sectional construction extending in the widthwise direction of a vehicle body between right and left front pillars of said vehicle body;

a first unit provided in the front part of said vehicle body side member, said first unit having at least a cowl member and a windshield wiper system attached to said cowl member, an end part of said first unit being fixed to said vehicle body; and

a second unit provided in the rear part of said vehicle body side member, said second unit having at least an instrument panel and a steering system, an end part of said second unit being fixed to said vehicle body; and

a brake pedal bracket and a brake pedal supported by said brake pedal bracket, said brake pedal bracket including a first bracket fixed to a lower part of said cowl member and a second bracket of which one end is connected to said first bracket and the other end is connected to said vehicle body side member.

15. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein said first bracket comprises a pair of right and left side wall parts facing each other with a specified distance, a supporting shaft of said brake pedal is supported therebetween, said second bracket comprises a pair of right and left stretching out parts extending downwardly and frontwardly below said cowl member, side wall parts of said first bracket are placed fixedly between right and left stretching out parts, said front body of motor vehicle is attached fixedly between said side wall parts of said first bracket and said stretching out parts of said second bracket.

16. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first unit comprises a dash member composing a part of said dash panel by being fixed into the lower part of said cowl member, said first bracket comprises an upper wall part facing to the underside of said cowl member, a pair of right and left side wall parts extending downward from both right and left side ends of said upper wall part, and a front wall part which extends downwardly from the front end of said upper wall part and butt-connected with said side wall parts, said front wall part is supported by said dash member through a spacer member.

17. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 16, wherein said supporting shaft is composed of a tube, a bolt for tightening both said brackets pierces to the inside of said supporting shaft which is supported revolvably in said bracket around said bolts.

18. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first unit comprises a dash member composing a part of said dash panel by being fixed to the lower part of said cowl member, said first bracket comprises an upper wall part facing to the underside of said cowl member, a pair of right and left side wall parts extending downwardly from both right and left side ends of said upper wall part, and a front wall part which extends downwardly from the front end of said upper wall part and butt-connected with said side wall parts, said front wall part is supported by said dash member through a spacer member, said upper wall part is supported fixedly by an attaching plate fixed to the underside of said cowl member.

19. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first unit comprises a dash member composing a part of said dash panel by being fixed to the lower part of said cowl member, said first bracket comprises an upper wall part facing to the underside of said cowl member, a pair of right and left side wall parts each extending downwardly from right and left side ends of said upper wall part, a front wall part extending downwardly from the front end of said upper wall part and butt-connected with said each side wall part, and a pair of projecting parts which project to both right and left side ends of said upper wall part from each side wall part, said front wall part is supported by said dash member through a spacer member, said projecting parts are supported by an attaching plate fixed on the underside of said cowl member, said second bracket comprises a pair of right and left flange parts extending horizontally and outwardly in the widthwise direction of said vehicle body from the upper end of said stretching out parts, each flange part is fixed to said attaching plate together with said each projecting part so as to connect said first bracket and said second bracket.

20. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body side cowl member of a closed sectional construction extending in the widthwise direction of a vehicle body between right and left front pillars of said vehicle body, wherein said vehicle body side cowl member includes a closed sectional construction formed by an upper panel and a lower panel, said upper panel including a vertical wall part extending substantially in a vertical direction, a supporting part which extends to the rear and upward obliquely from the upper end of said vertical wall part and supports around the lower end part of a windshield, and an upper wall part extending rearwardly from the rear end of said supporting part, and said lower panel comprises a bottom wall part which extends in the longitudinal direction and is connected to the lower end of said upper panel, a vertical wall part which stands up and extends upward form the rear end of said bottom wall part, and a flange part which extends rearwardly from the upper end of said vertical wall part and is connected to said upper wall part of said upper panel;

a first unit provided in the front part of said vehicle body side member, said first unit having at least a cowl member and a windshield wiper system attached to said cowl member, an end part of said first unit being fixed to said vehicle body, said vehicle body side cowl member contacting said cowl member to form a cowl box; and

a second unit provided in the rear part of said vehicle body side member, said second unit having at least an instrument panel and a steering system, an end part of said second unit being fixed to said vehicle body.

21. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body side member of a closed sectional construction extending in the widthwise direction of a vehicle body between right and left front pillars of said vehicle body;

a first unit provided in the front part of said vehicle body side member, said first unit having at least a cowl member and a windshield wiper system attached to said cowl member, an end part of said first unit being fixed to said vehicle body, said vehicle body side cowl member contacting said cowl member to form a cowl box, said cowl member of said first unit having a front wall part extending in the vertical direction at approximately the same position as a dash panel of said vehicle body, a bottom wall part extending rearwardly from the lower end of said front wall part, and a rear wall part which extends upward from the rear end of said bottom wall part and contact a front part of said upper panel; and

a second unit provided in the rear part of said vehicle body side member, sand second unit having at least an instrument panel and a steering system, an end part of said second unit being fixed to said vehicle body.

22. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 21, wherein both right and left ends of said unit side cowl member are fixed to said vehicle body together with a bonnet hinge which supports bonnet openably and closably.

23. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body side member of a closed sectional construction extending in the widthwise direction of a vehicle body between right and left front pillars of said vehicle body;

a first unit provided in the front part of said vehicle body side member, said first unit having a cowl member, a brake pedal bracket, a brake pedal, a brake multiplier system and a windshield wiper system attached to said cowl member, a dash member fixed on the underside of said cowl member to constitute a part of a dash panel of said vehicle body, to which said dash member said brake pedal, said brake pedal bracket, and said brake multiplier system are attached, said dash member including a projecting part which projects forwardly, said brake multiplier system being provided in an engine compartment side of said projecting part and said brake pedal being supported in a passenger compartment side of said projecting part through said brake pedal bracket which faces said projecting part of said dash member with a predetermined distance by a spacer member and which is fixed by screwing a studbolt into a nut with said studbolt piercing into said passenger compartment through said spacer member from said brake multiplier system, an end part of said first unit being placed fixedly to said vehicle body; and

a second unit provided in the rear part of said vehicle body side member, said second unit having at least an instrument panel, an air conditioning system and a steering system, an end part of said second unit being placed fixedly to said vehicle body.

24. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 23, wherein said brake pedal bracket is placed fixedly to the underside of said cowl member through said space member.

25. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body side member of a closed sectional construction extending in the widthwise direction of a vehicle body between right and left front pillars of said vehicle body;

a first unit provided in the front part of said vehicle body side member, said first unit having at least a cowl member and a windshield wiper system attached to said cowl member, an end part of said first unit being placed fixedly to said vehicle body; and

a second unit provided in the rear part of said vehicle body side member, said second unit having at least an instrument panel and a steering system, an end part of said second unit being fixed to said vehicle body; and

a positioning portion which determines a position in the longitudinal direction of said vehicle which receives a side part of said cowl member and is formed to diverge and face upwardly in said vehicle body, the side part of said cowl member being fixed to said positioning portion through a bonding material, said positioning portion including front and rear channels which extend in the vertical direction and open facing to each other having wider distance in the upper part, flange parts which engage both of said channels respectively being formed in the side part of said cowl member.

26. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 25, wherein a trapezoid shaped step part which has a shorter bottom line than a top line is formed in a cowl side inner of said vehicle body, the rear end of a reinforcement connected to the front end of said cowl side inner extends to the front end of said step part and forms said front channel between said step part, the side end of said upper panel connected to the rear end of said cowl side inner extends to the rear end of said step part and forms said rear channel between said step part.

27. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 25, wherein a channel part extending in the longitudinal direction over lower end of said both channels is formed in said vehicle body, a flange part formed in the side part of said cowl member is fixed to said channel part by a bonding material.

28. A structure of a front body of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 25, wherein said cowl member is composed of a front wall part, a bottom wall part, and a rear wall part, a side part of said cowl member is formed such that said front wall part and said rear wall part open upwardly corresponding to a configulaion of said positioning portion, a cowl unit side to close an opening is provided in the side end thereon.