Front frame reinforcement structure of vehicle

Details Front frame reinforcement structure of vehicle Front frame reinforcement structure of vehicle

2000-11-13

2001-11-27

Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)

Land vehicles: bodies and tops

Bodies

Structural detail

C296S203030, C296S203010, C296S182100, C296S190050

Reexamination Certificate

active

06322134

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a front frame reinforcement structure of a vehicle, and more particularly to a front frame reinforcement structure of a vehicle, which includes a front column, a side frame, and a dash panel having an enhanced coupling rigidity, thereby being capable of providing an improved safety for occupants even when impact is applied to the front portion of the vehicle during a running of the vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
A front column is installed at the front portion of a vehicle. As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, such a front column, which is denoted by the reference numeral
20
, includes an inner panel
21
and an outer panel
22
coupled to each other in such a fashion that they form a closed cross-sectional structure. A side frame
30
is coupled to an outer surface of the outer panel
22
included in the front column
20
. The side frame
20
is welded to one end of a dash panel
10
at one end thereof.
In such a construction in which the side frame
30
coupled at its one surface to the outer surface of the outer panel
22
included in the front column
20
forming the front part of a vehicle is welded only to an end of the dash panel
10
at one end thereof, however, the coupling portion of the side frame
30
may be easily damaged when impact of a certain level or more is applied to the front part of the vehicle due to a collision accident generated during a running of the vehicle. Furthermore, the side frame
30
, dash panel
10
, and front column
20
damaged due to the impact may be penetrated into the interior of the vehicle, thereby causing the occupants to be injured.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the invention is to solve the above mentioned problems, and to provide a front frame reinforcement structure of a vehicle which is capable of absorbing impact energy applied to a side panel in a sequential fashion when impact is applied to the front part of the vehicle due to a collision accident, thereby suppressing a penetration of the side panel to achieve an improvement in the safety of occupants.
In accordance with the present invention, this object is accomplished by providing a front frame reinforcement structure of a vehicle comprising: a front column including an inner panel and an outer panel coupled to each other to form a closed structure; a side frame welded at one end thereof to one end of the front column; a reinforcement panel welded at one end thereof to the one end of the front column, the reinforcement panel being welded at the other end thereof to the other end of the side frame so that it defines a closed structure enclosing the front column, together with the side frame; and a dash panel welded at one end thereof to the other end of the reinforcement panel.


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