Body structure for motor vehicle

A passenger compartment structure of a motor vehicle with a left and right side having right and left center pillars, each of said center pillars having an inner panel and an outer panel vertically erected at left and right sides, respectively, of said motor vehicle for bordering said compartment structure, a roof side rail forwardly and rearwardly extending from an upper position of each of said center pillars at said both sides, a side sill forwardly and rearwardly extending from a lower position of each of said center pillars at said both sides, a center roof brace formed of an upper panel and a lower panel connected between both of said upper positions of said center pillars, a floor panel interposed between said both lower positions of said center pillars for covering an under side of said compartment structure, comprising:

• a joint member connected between said lower panel of said center roof brace and said inner panel of each of said center pillars to reinforce said upper positions of said center pillars;
• a doubler connected between said lower position of each of said center pillars for preventing said lower position of said center pillar from collapsing upon collision impact of another vehicle sidewardly;
• and
• a reinforcement element interposed between said inner panel and said outer panel of each of said center pillars, said reinforcement having at least one strength discontinuity portion associated with each of said center pillars for bending when collision occurs from a side ward direction, said reinforcement being separated into an upper reinforcement and a lower reinforcement so as to prevent said center pillar from being bent at an upper position thereof;
• where said compartment is defined by a continuous closed cross-section structure which provides increased passenger protection against injuries from side impact forces.

A passenger compartment structure of a motor vehicle with a left and right side having, right and left center pillars, each of said center pillars having an inner panel and an outer panel vertically erected at left and right sides, respectively, of said motor vehicle for bordering said compartment structure, a roof side rail forwardly and rearwardly extending from an upper position of each of said center pillars at said both sides, a side sill forwardly and rearwardly extending from a lower position of each of said center pillars at said both sides, a center roof brace formed of an upper panel and a lower panel connected between both of said upper positions of said center pillars, a floor panel interposed between said both lower positions of said center pillars for covering an under side of said compartment structure, comprising:

• a joint member connected between said lower panel of said center roof brace and said inner panel of each of said center pillars to reinforce said upper positions of said center pillars;
• a doubler connected between said lower position of each of said center pillars for preventing said lower position of said center pillar from collapsing when another vehicle collides sidewardly;
• a reinforcement interposed between said inner panel and said outer panel of each of said center pillars;
• and
• said reinforcement having a strength discontinuity portion at an approximately lower position of each of said center pillars for easily giving away so as to protect a passenger when collision occurs from a sideward direction.

A center pillar structure of a vehicle body having a roof side rail provided at an upper and side position of said vehicle to extend in a longitudinal direction thereof, a center roof brace transversely interposed between said roof side rails, a floor panel provided at a lower portion of said vehicle no form a floor of a passenger compartment, a side sill provided to extend at a lower and side position of said vehicle in parallel with said roof side rail, a reinforcement at the center pillar interposed between said roof side rail and said side sill, and a center tunnel provided on said floor panel to form a channel and to contain various equipments, comprising:

• a joint member provided to directly connect said center roof brace with said center pillar;
• a doubler provided with a first cross section in a lateral direction of said vehicle body to directly connect said side sill with said center tunnel, said doubler being positioned on said floor panel to establish a closed cross section;
• a tunnel reinforcement provided under said center tunnel to connect each inside end of said doubler and said floor panel;
• a bracket connecting said tunnel reinforcement and said doubler so as to firmly secure a bulkhead frame formed by said center pillars, said doubler, and said center roof brace to prevent said center pillar from breaking at a center position thereof when subject to sideward collision;
• and
• a strength discontinuity portion of said center pillar to provide a weaker portion of said center pillar by separating said center pillar reinforcement into an upper reinforcement and a lower reinforcement so as to prevent said center pillar from being bent at an upper position thereof and to protect a passenger when subject to sidewardly directed collision forces.

A center pillar structure of a vehicle body having a roof side rail provided at an upper and side position of said vehicle to extend in a longitudinal direction thereof, a center roof brace transversely interposed between said roof side rails, a floor panel provided at a lower portion of said vehicle to form a floor of a passenger compartment, a side sill provided to extend at a lower and side position of said vehicle in parallel with said roof side rail, a center pillar interposed between said roof side rail and said side sill, and a center tunnel provided on said floor panel to form a channel and to contain various equipments, comprising:

• a joint member provided to directly connect said center roof brace with said center pillar;
• a doubler provided with a first cross section in a lateral direction of said vehicle body to directly connect said side sill with said center tunnel, said doubler being positioned on said floor panel to establish a closed cross section;
• a tunnel reinforcement provided under said center tunnel to connect each inside end of said doubler and said floor panel;
• and
• a bracket connecting said tunnel reinforcement and said doubler so as to firmly secure a bulkhead frame formed by said center pillars, said doubler, and said center roof brace to prevent said center pillar from breaking at a center position thereof when subject to sideward collision;
• a center pillar reinforcement provided to reinforce said center pillar and to have a strength discontinuity portion at a lower position of said center pillar where said strength discontinuity portion provides a weaker portion of said center pillar than other portion thereof by separating said center pillar reinforcement into an upper reinforcement and a lower reinforcement so as to prevent said center pillar from being bent at an upper position thereof and to protect a passenger when subject to sidewardly directed collision forces.