Vehicle parting portion structure and manufacturing method thereof

• US 9,487,238 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2013
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Iwano, Yoshihiro, Komatsu, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): ROMAIN, PINEL E
• Application Number:
  US14/434,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20150266512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 296/191, 295/15
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/02 Side panels B62D33/046 takes precedence; sideboards for open load compartments B62D33/023
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/025 Side sills thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/04 Door pillars ; windshield pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/12 Parts or details thereof locks E05B, E05B83/16; devices for holding open E05C17/00, e.g. while carrying oversize objects E05C17/042; hinges E05D; counterbalancing means E05F; checks, stops, buffers E05F5/00; springs, e.g. pneumatic springs F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/16 Mud-guards or wings; Wheel cover panels equipped with means for freeing wheels or tyres from foreign matter B60S
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/18 Parts or details thereof, e.g. mudguard flaps
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/024 Positioning of sub-units or components with respect to body shell or other sub-units or components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49925 Inward deformation of aperture or hollow body wall

Abstract

In a side member outer panel, a second panel portion is formed contiguously to a first panel portion with first ridge line interposed therebetween, and third panel portion is formed contiguously to second panel portion with second ridge line intersecting first ridge line at an acute angle interposed therebetween. A bead with a V shaped cross-section, formed by part of first panel portion and part of third panel portion, extends from an intersection point of the first and second ridge lines. A hood outer panel is disposed along the first ridge line, with a first parting portion formed between the hood outer panel and the second panel portion. A fender panel is disposed along the second ridge line, with a second parting portion formed between the fender panel and the second panel portion and with a third parting portion formed between the fender panel and a hood.

Claims

1. A vehicle parting portion structure comprising:

a first panel that includes;

a first panel portion,

a second panel portion formed contiguously to the first panel portion with a first ridge line interposed therebetween,

a third panel portion formed contiguously to the second panel portion with a second ridge line intersecting the first ridge line at an acute angle interposed therebetween, and

a bead having a V shaped cross-section, configured by part of the first panel portion and part of the third panel portion, and including an apex ridge line extending from an intersection point of the first ridge line and the second ridge line, wherein the height of the bead gradually decreases as the apex ridge line progresses away from the intersection point;

a second panel that is disposed along the first ridge line with a first parting portion formed between the second panel and the second panel portion; and

a third panel that is disposed along the second ridge line with a second parting portion formed between the third panel and the second panel portion, and with a third parting portion formed between the third panel and the second panel, wherein the V shaped cross-section of the bead is disposed at a corner portion that is formed by the second panel and the third panel at a location where the first parting portion and the second parting portion meet.

2. The vehicle parting portion structure of claim 1, wherein the bead extends along an extension direction of the first ridge line or the second ridge line.

3. The vehicle parting portion structure of claim 1, wherein:

the first panel forms a side member outer panel configuring a vehicle body side section, the second panel forms a hood panel covering a vehicle front portion from the upper side, and the third panel forms a fender panel disposed at a side face of a vehicle body front section.

5. The vehicle parting portion structure of claim 2, wherein:

the first panel forms a side member outer panel configuring a vehicle body side section, the second panel forms a hood panel covering a vehicle front portion from the upper side, and the third panel forms a fender panel disposed at a side face of a vehicle body front section.

4. A method of manufacturing a vehicle parting portion structure, the method comprising:

a first process of folding a first vehicle outer panel member to form a first outer panel configuration portion and a second outer panel configuration portion with a first fold line interposed therebetween;

a second process of folding the second outer panel configuration portion along a line intersecting the first fold line at an acute angle to form a third outer panel configuration portion by part of the second outer panel configuration portion between a second fold line along the line and the first fold line, and to form a fourth outer panel configuration portion by another part of the second outer panel configuration portion such that the fourth outer panel configuration portion is contiguous to the third outer panel configuration portion with the second fold line interposed therebetween, a V shaped bead being formed by a portion of the first outer panel configuration portion and a portion of the fourth outer panel configuration portion such that the bead has a ridge line extending from a point at which the first folding line and the second folding line meet;

a third process of disposing a second vehicle outer panel along one of the first fold line or the second fold line and at a position forming a first parting portion between the second vehicle outer panel and the third outer panel configuration portion; and

a fourth process of disposing a third vehicle outer panel along the other of the first fold line or the second fold line and at a position forming a second parting portion between the third vehicle outer panel and the third outer panel configuration portion, and at a position further forming a third parting portion between the third vehicle outer panel and the second vehicle outer panel, an acute angle corner portion being formed at a location at which the first parting portion and the second parting portion meet, and the bead being disposed at the acute ankle corner portion.