Vehicle body structure employing gussets fastened to cross member portion between damper bases
A vehicle body structure for securing sufficient interior space and for opposing the load for forcing the suspension to fall sideward by effectively using the existing members of the body structure, thereby improving the rigidity of the vehicle body. The structure has damper bases provided at both sides of the vehicle; a cross member portion between the damper bases; and gussets fastened to both ends of the cross member portion. Each gusset is attached at the outside of an interior of the vehicle to an upper wall and a side wall of each damper base, and typically has an upper wall combined with a bottom face of the upper wall of the damper base; a side wall fastened to an outer face of the side wall of the damper base; and front and rear walls, each being joined to the upper and side walls of the gusset.
1. A body structure of a vehicle, comprising:
damper bases provided at both sides of the vehicle in a width direction of the vehicle;
a cross member portion which is provided between the damper bases and consists of a cross member having a U-shaped section and joint members attached to both ends of the cross member;
rear frames arranged in a front-rear direction of the vehicle, wherein each rear frame has a U-shaped section and is positioned between each damper base and the cross member, and is fit to each joint member;
a bulkhead attached inside each rear frame, so as to prevent the U-shaped rear frame from being deformed and opened; and
gussets respectively fastened to the joint members of the cross member portion, wherein
each gusset is provided at the damper base and is attached at the outside of an interior of the vehicle to at least an upper wall and a side wall of each damper base, and a lower portion of said each gusset is fastened to the respective joint member;
each gusset has a side wall, and a front wall and a rear wall on either side of the side wall, so as to form a U-shaped section of said each gusset with the side, the front, and the rear walls and an opening surrounded by the side, the front, and the rear walls; and
a damper of a rear suspension of the vehicle is disposed respectively in each said opening.
2. A body structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each gusset further has:
an upper wall combined with a bottom face of the upper wall of the damper base;
the side wall of said each gusset is fastened to an outer face of the side wall of the damper base; and
the front wall and the rear wall, of said each gusset are each joined to the upper wall and the side wall of said each gusset.
3. A body structure as claimed in claim 2 , wherein each said the opening is surrounded by the upper wall, the side wall, the front wall, and the rear wall of said each gusset, respectively, and the respective damper is disposed in each said opening.