U.S. patent application number 11/481864 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-04 for rail vehicle, manufacturing method thereof, and hollow shape member user for the same.
Invention is credited to Toshihiko Mochida, Hideyuki Nakamura.
Application Number | 20070227396 11/481864 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38213818 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070227396 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nakamura; Hideyuki ; et
al. |
October 4, 2007 |
Rail vehicle, manufacturing method thereof, and hollow shape member
user for the same
Abstract
A rail vehicle capable of preventing reduction in strength and
noise occurrence in a connecting portion of a low roof construction
body to a roof construction or a side construction body, and
facilitating mounting of the low roof construction body to the roof
construction body or the side construction body, its manufacturing
method and a hollow shape member used for the same are provided. In
joining a hollow shape member 120 constructing a side construction
body and a hollow shape member 210 constructing a low roof
construction body 20, an uppermost portion above a spot to be a
joint portion of the hollow shape member 120 to the low roof
construction body 20 is cut, and a first protruded rib 124 and a
second protruded rib 125 are left at an upper end portion 128 of
the hollow shape member 120 toward the low roof construction body
20. Next, the low roof construction body 20 is lowered from above
the side construction body 12, the first engaging rib 214 and the
second engaging rib 215 of the low roof construction body 20 are
mounted on the first protruded rib 124 and the second protruded rib
125, and butted portions 220 and 221 are welded from a vehicle
outer side or a vehicle inner side. Occurrence of a level
difference of the welding spot which becomes a noise generation
source can be prevented, and manufacture of the vehicle body can be
facilitated.
Inventors: |
Nakamura; Hideyuki;
(Kudamatsu-shi, JP) ; Mochida; Toshihiko;
(Kudamatsu-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANTONELLI, TERRY, STOUT & KRAUS, LLP
1300 NORTH SEVENTEENTH STREET
SUITE 1800
ARLINGTON
VA
22209-3873
US
|
Family ID: |
38213818 |
Appl. No.: |
11/481864 |
Filed: |
July 7, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
105/396 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B61D 17/12 20130101;
B61D 17/043 20130101; B61D 17/041 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
105/396 |
International
Class: |
B61D 17/00 20060101
B61D017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 28, 2006 |
JP |
2006-086987 |
Claims
1. A rail vehicle in a rail vehicle construction body in which a
roof construction body constructing a top surface of a vehicle body
and a side construction body constructing a side surface of the
vehicle body are each constructed by a hollow shape member formed
by two face plates and a plurality of ribs connecting the face
plates, wherein a low roof construction body loaded with an on roof
apparatus is joined at both its end portions in its vehicle width
direction, to an upper end portion of the side construction body;
wherein in joint portions of the side construction body and the low
roof construction body, the low roof construction body is mounted
on the side construction body by engaging portions formed at both
end portions in the vehicle width direction being mounted on
mounting portions formed on the upper end portion of the side
construction body; and wherein the joint portions are welded in a
state in which the engaging portions are mounted on the mounting
portions.
2. The rail vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the engaging
portions are engaging ribs formed to protrude toward the upper end
portion of the side construction body; and wherein the mounting
portions formed at the upper end portion of the side construction
body are protruded ribs that are respectively formed to protrude
toward both end portions in the vehicle width direction of the low
roof construction body, and have upper surfaces made mounting
surfaces on which the engaging ribs are mounted.
3. The rail vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the engaging
portions are engaging ribs formed to protrude toward the upper end
portion of the side construction body; wherein the mounting
portions formed at the upper end portion of the side construction
body are protruded ribs that are respectively formed to protrude
toward both end portions in the vehicle width direction of the low
roof construction body, and have upper surfaces made mounting
surfaces on which the engaging ribs are mounted; wherein the
engaging ribs and the protruded ribs are provided as two joint sets
distantly placed at the vehicle outer side and the vehicle inner
side in the respective joint portions; and wherein the joint set
located at the vehicle outer side is disposed at an outer side in
the vehicle width direction at a distance which makes it possible
to avoid interference with the joint set at the vehicle inner side
on an occasion of mounting the low roof construction body on the
side construction body.
4. The rail vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the engaging
portions are engaging ribs formed to protrude toward the upper end
portion of the side construction body; wherein the mounting
portions formed at the upper end portion of the side construction
body are protruded ribs that are respectively formed to protrude
toward both end portions in the vehicle width direction of the low
roof construction body, and have upper surfaces made mounting
surfaces on which the engaging ribs are mounted; wherein the
engaging ribs and the protruded ribs are provided as two joint sets
distantly placed at the vehicle outer side and the vehicle inner
side in the respective joint portions; wherein the joint set
located at the vehicle outer side is disposed at an outer side in
the vehicle width direction at a distance which makes it possible
to avoid interference with the joint set at the vehicle inner side
on an occasion of mounting the low roof construction body on the
side construction body; wherein the joint set at the vehicle outer
side is constructed by a first protruded rib protruded in a
position recessed by a predetermined depth from a vehicle outer
side surface of the side construction body, and a first engaging
rib which is formed to extend with a thickness corresponding to the
predetermined depth from the face plate at the vehicle outer side,
of the low roof construction body and is mountable on the first
protruded rib; and wherein the joint set at the vehicle inner side
is constructed by a second protruded rib which protrudes by
extending from the face plate at the vehicle inner side of the side
construction body, and a second engaging rib which is formed in a
position raised by a height corresponding to a thickness of the
second protruded rib from a vehicle inner side surface of the low
roof construction body, and is mountable on the second protruded
rib.
5. The rail vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the engaging
portions are engaging ribs formed to protrude toward the upper end
portion of the side construction body; wherein the mounting
portions formed at the upper end portion of the side construction
body are protruded ribs that are respectively formed to protrude
toward both end portions in the vehicle width direction of the low
roof construction body, and have upper surfaces made mounting
surfaces on which the engaging ribs are mounted; wherein the
engaging ribs and the protruded ribs are provided as two joint sets
distantly placed at the vehicle outer side and the vehicle inner
side in the respective joint portions; wherein the joint set
located at the vehicle outer side is disposed at an outer side in
the vehicle width direction at a distance which makes it possible
to avoid interference with the joint set at the vehicle inner side
on an occasion of mounting the low roof construction body on the
side construction body; wherein the joint set at the vehicle outer
side is constructed by a first protruded rib protruded in a
position recessed by a predetermined depth from a vehicle outer
side surface of the side construction body, and a first engaging
rib which is formed to extend with a thickness corresponding to the
predetermined depth from the face plate at the vehicle outer side
of the low roof construction body and is mountable on the first
protruded rib; wherein the joint set at the vehicle inner side is
constructed by a second protruded rib which protrudes by extending
from the face plate at the vehicle inner side of the side
construction body, and a second engaging rib which is formed in a
position raised by a height corresponding to a thickness of the
second protruded rib from a vehicle inner side surface of the low
roof construction body, and is mountable on the second protruded
rib; wherein in the joint set at the vehicle outer side, the face
plate of the side construction body at the vehicle outer side and
the first engaging rib of the low roof construction body are welded
from the vehicle outer side; and wherein in the joint set at the
vehicle inner side, the second protruded rib of the side
construction body and the vehicle inner side face plate of the low
roof construction body are welded from the vehicle inner side.
6. The rail vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the mounting
portion is also formed at the side construction body at a position
where the low roof construction body is not provided.
7. The rail vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an end portion in
a longitudinal direction of the roof construction body and the low
roof construction body are connected via a connecting plate; and
wherein the connecting plate is fillet-welded to a vehicle outer
side face plate of a hollow shape member constructing the roof
construction body, and the vehicle inner side face plate, which is
at the roof construction body side and constructs the low roof
construction body.
8. A manufacturing method of a rail vehicle in a manufacturing
method of a rail vehicle construction body in which a roof
construction body constructing a top surface of a vehicle body and
a side construction body constructing a side surface of the vehicle
body are each constructed by a hollow shape member formed by two
face plates and a plurality of connecting ribs connecting the face
plates, comprising the steps of: by cutting off an upper end
portion corresponding to an on roof apparatus to be loaded on the
vehicle with the roof construction body out of the hollow shape
member constituted of a vehicle outer side face plate and a vehicle
inner side face plate and the connecting ribs connecting both the
face plates and constructing the side construction body, exposing
mounting portions in cutoff portions which appear; by lowering a
low roof construction body loaded with the on roof apparatus from
above, and mounting engaging portions formed at both end portions
in its vehicle width direction on the mounting portions appearing
in the cutoff portions of the side construction body, joining the
low roof construction body to the upper end portion of the side
construction body; and welding the joint portion in a state in
which the engaging portions are mounted on the mounting
portions.
9. The manufacturing method of a rail vehicle according to claim 8,
wherein the mounting portions are a first protruded rib protruding
in a horizontal direction from a vicinity of an intersection point
of the connecting rib and the vehicle outer side face plate, and a
second protruded rib protruding in a horizontal direction from an
intersection point of the vehicle inner side face plate and the
connecting rib; and wherein the engaging portions are a first
engaging rib formed from the face plate at a vehicle outer side of
the low roof construction body as its extension and mountable on
the first protruded rib, and a second engaging rib formed in a
position raised from a vehicle inner side surface of the low roof
construction body by a height corresponding to a thickness of the
face plate at a vehicle inner side of the side construction body
and mountable on the second protruded rib.
10. The manufacturing method of a rail vehicle according to claim
8, wherein the mounting portions are a first protruded rib
protruding in a horizontal direction from a vicinity of an
intersection point of the connecting rib and the vehicle outer side
face plate, and a second protruded rib protruding in a horizontal
direction from an intersection point of the vehicle inner side face
plate and the connecting rib; wherein the engaging portions are a
first engaging rib formed from the face plate at a vehicle outer
side of the low roof construction body as its extension and
mountable on the first protruded rib, and a second engaging rib
formed in a position raised from a vehicle inner side surface of
the low roof construction body by a height corresponding to a
thickness of the face plate at a vehicle inner side of the side
construction body and mountable on the second protruded rib;
wherein in a joint portion where the low roof construction body is
joined to the upper end portion of the side construction body, the
face plate at the vehicle outer side of the side construction body
and the first engaging rib of the low roof construction body are
welded from a vehicle outer side; and wherein the second protruded
rib of the side construction body and the face plate at a vehicle
inner side of the low roof construction body are welded from the
vehicle inner side.
11. A hollow shape member comprising two face plates, and a
plurality of connecting ribs connecting both the face plates,
comprising: a first protruded rib formed to protrude toward a
hollow portion of the hollow shape member from a joint spot of one
of the face plates and the connecting rib; and a second protruded
rib formed to protrude toward outside from a joint spot of the
other face plate and the connecting rib.
Description
[0001] The present application is based on and claims priority of
Japanese patent application No. 2006-086987 filed on Mar. 28, 2006,
the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a railroad vehicle, a
vehicle traveling on a monorail track, namely, a rail vehicle,
manufacturing method thereof and a hollow material used for the
same.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A rail vehicle is generally constructed by a rail vehicle
construction body including a roof construction body constructing a
top surface of a vehicle body, side construction bodies
constructing side surfaces, a base frame constructing a bottom
surface, and end construction bodies constructing end surfaces. In
recent years, with reduction in weight and enhancement in
manufacturability as the main purpose, each of the roof
construction body, the side construction bodies and the base frame
which construct the rail vehicle construction body is formed by
joining a hollow extruded shape member of an aluminum alloy formed
by two face plates and a plurality of connecting ribs connecting
the face plates. For the end construction body, a ribbed extruded
shape member made of an aluminum alloy is used. The structure of
each of the construction bodies is shown in, for example, Japanese
Patent Publication No. 2604226 (Patent Document 1).
[0006] In a rail vehicle, a current collector (pantograph) and an
air conditioning device (air conditioner) are installed on a top
surface of a roof construction body for the purpose of securing
power and comfortability. The installation spots of the roof
construction body for such devices have a low roof structure
(hereinafter, called "low roof construction body") as compared with
the other region of the vehicle construction body (hereinafter,
called "general construction body") to avoid contact of the devices
and an aerial line, except for the current collector of a
pantograph.
[0007] The low roof construction body is usually manufactured
separately from the general construction body, and is joined to the
general construction body which is provided with a large opening on
the top surface by cutting a hollow extruded shape member
constructing the roof construction body or the side construction
bodies in such a manner as to be fitted into the opening. The low
roof construction body is constructed of a plate material and a
hollow extruded shape member in accordance with the required
conditions such as strength and mass. Here, in order to facilitate
understanding, a method of joining the low roof construction body
constructed of a plate material to the general construction body
will be described.
[0008] The case where the low roof construction body is mounted
from above for the purpose of simplification of manufacture of a
vehicle body is assumed. In this case, an end portion of the plate
material constructing the low roof construction body is
fillet-welded to the surface of the face plate at the vehicle outer
side of the hollow extruded shape member constructing the roof
construction body or the side construction body. Therefore, a level
difference occurs to the welded portion, which may cause reduction
in strength of the vehicle body, or cause a noise from the level
difference portion.
[0009] On the other hand, the case where the low roof construction
body is mounted from below is assumed in order to avoid these
problems. In this case, by providing a level difference of a height
equivalent to the plate thickness of the face plate of the vehicle
outer side of the hollow extruded shape member constructing the
roof construction body or the side construction body at an end
portion of the plate material constructing the low roof
construction body, butt joint of the general construction body and
the low roof construction body becomes possible. However, in
mounting the low roof construction body from below, it is necessary
to mount the low roof construction body from inside of the general
construction body, which makes production of the vehicle body
difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is an object of the present invention to prevent
reduction in strength and noise occurrence in a connecting portion
of a low roof construction body to a roof construction body or a
side construction body, and to facilitate mounting of the low roof
construction body to the roof construction body or the side
construction body.
[0011] In order to attain the above-described object, according to
a rail vehicle of the invention, in a rail vehicle construction
body in which a roof construction body constructing a top surface
of a vehicle body and a side construction body constructing a side
surface of the vehicle body are each constructed by a hollow shape
member formed by two face plates and a plurality of ribs connecting
the face plates, a low roof construction body loaded with an on
roof apparatus is joined at both its end portions in its vehicle
width direction, to an upper end portion of the side construction
body, in joint portions of the side construction body and the low
roof construction body, the low roof construction body is mounted
on the side construction body by engaging portions formed at both
end portions in the vehicle width direction being mounted on
mounting portions formed on the upper end portion of the side
construction body, and a vehicle outer side face plate and a
vehicle inner side face plate of a first hollow shape member
constructing the side construction body are respectively welded to
a vehicle outer side faceplate and a vehicle inner side face plate
of a second hollow shape member respectively constructing the low
roof construction body.
[0012] A manufacturing method of a rail vehicle according to the
invention is a manufacturing method of a rail vehicle construction
body in which a roof construction body constructing a top surface
of a vehicle body and a side construction body constructing a side
surface of the vehicle body are each constructed by a hollow shape
member formed by two face plates and a plurality of connecting ribs
connecting the face plates, comprising the steps of by cutting off
an upper end portion corresponding to an on roof apparatus to be
loaded on the vehicle with the roof construction body out of a
first hollow shape member constituted of a vehicle outer side face
plate and a vehicle inner side face plate and the connecting ribs
connecting both the face plates and constructing the side
construction body, exposing mounting portions in cutoff portions
which appear, by lowering a low roof construction body loaded with
the on roof apparatus from above, and mounting engaging portions
formed at both end portions in its vehicle width direction on the
mounting portions appearing in the cutoff portions of the side
construction body, joining the low roof construction body to the
upper end portion of the side construction body, and further
welding the vehicle outer side face plate and the vehicle inner
side face plate of the first hollow shape member are welded to a
vehicle outer side face plate and a vehicle inner side face plate
of a second hollow shape member respectively constructing the low
roof construction body.
[0013] Further, a hollow shape member according to the invention is
a hollow shape member formed by two face plates, and a plurality of
connecting ribs connecting both the face plates, and including a
first protruded rib formed to protrude toward a hollow portion of
the hollow shape member from a joint spot of one of the face plates
and the connecting rib, and a second protruded rib formed to
protrude toward outside from a joint spot of the other face plate
and the connecting rib.
[0014] According to the rail vehicle and its manufacturing method
which are the present invention, in the rail vehicle construction
body of the rail vehicle, the roof construction body constructing
the top surface of the vehicle body and the side construction body
constructing the side surface of the vehicle body are each
constructed by the hollow shape member formed by two face plates
and a plurality of ribs connecting the face plates. By lowering the
low roof construction body loaded with the on roof apparatus from
above, the engaging portions formed at both end portions in the
vehicle width direction of the low roof construction body are
mounted on the mounting portions formed at the upper end portion of
the side construction body, and thereby, the low roof construction
body is mounted on the side construction body. The side
construction body and the low roof construction body are welded at
the welded part where the engaging portions are mounted on the
mounting portions. Accordingly, a special complicated operation is
not required for mounting both of them, and the side construction
body and the low roof construction body can be fixed by performing
welding to the vehicle outer side face plate and the vehicle inner
side face plate from the surface side at both the vehicle outer
side and the vehicle inner side in the obtained joint state.
[0015] According to the hollow shape member of the invention, when
it is applied as the side construction body, the spot which becomes
the upper end portion of the side construction body is matched with
the spot where the protruded rib is formed, and the hollow shape
member is cut off at the spot, whereby the first protruded rib
protruding toward the hollow portion of the hollow shape member
from the joint spot of one of the face plates and the connecting
rib can be exposed to the surface. By mounting the respective
engaging portions of the low roof construction body onto the first
protruded rib and the second protruded rib protruding toward
outside from the joint spot of the other face plate and the
connecting rib, the low roof construction body can be joined to the
upper end portion of the side construction body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a railroad vehicle
construction body being one embodiment of a rail vehicle according
to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a view showing a part of the II-II section of the
rail vehicle shown in FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a view showing a part of the III-III section of
the rail vehicle shown in FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of IV in FIG.
1; and
[0020] FIG. 5 is a view showing one example of connection in the
longitudinal direction of a low roof construction body and a roof
construction body of the rail vehicle shown in FIG.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] One embodiment of the present invention will be described
with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. 1 is a perspective view
showing one embodiment of a rail vehicle according to the
invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a rail vehicle construction body 1
is constructed by a general construction body 10 and a low roof
construction body 20 for loading apparatuses. The ordinary
construction body 10 is constructed by a roof construction body 11
constructing a top surface, two side construction bodies 12 and 12
constructing side surfaces, a base frame 13 constructing a bottom
surface, and two end construction bodies 14 and 14 constructing end
surfaces. The roof construction body 11, the side construction
bodies 12 and 12, the base frame 13, the end construction bodies 14
and 14 and the low roof construction body 20 are constructed by
joining a plurality of extruded shape members, respectively.
[0022] The extruded shape members constructing the roof
construction body 11, the side construction bodies 12 and 12, the
base frame 13 and the low roof construction body 20 are hollow
shape members made of an aluminum alloy, and the extruding
direction coincides with the longitudinal direction of the rail
vehicle construction body 1. The longitudinal direction is the
fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and the traveling direction
of the vehicle. The extruding shape members constructing the end
construction bodies 14 and 14 are ribbed shape members made of an
aluminum alloy, and the extruding direction is in the vertical
direction of the rail vehicle construction body 1.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a view showing a part of the II-II section of the
rail vehicle shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, an uppermost
portion 129 of the side construction body 12 is welded to the roof
construction body 11 at a welded part 30. The uppermost portion 129
of the side construction body 12 becomes flat so as to connect to
the roof construction body 11 smoothly continuously. The roof
construction body 11 and the side construction body 12 have the
face plates at the vehicle outer side and the vehicle inner side
butted to each other, and upper and lower (vehicle inner and outer)
face plates of the roof construction body 11 and vehicle inner and
outer face plates (a face plate 121 at the vehicle outer side and a
face plate 122 at the vehicle inner side) of the side construction
body 12 are welded so that the surfaces of the face plates of the
roof construction body 11 and the side construction body 12 are
flash with each other in the butted portions, and are joined as the
welded part 30. The welded part 30 is formed by welding, but may be
formed by the other joint means, for example, joint by, friction
stir welding. In FIG. 2, the structures other than the uppermost
portion 129 of the side construction body 12 are previously
included for joint with the low roof construction body 20 which
will be described later, and is not used for joint with the roof
construction body 11.
[0024] Each of the roof construction body 11 and the side
construction body 12 is made by joining a plurality of hollow
extruded shape members to one body by welding or friction stir
welding.
[0025] Next, joint of the side construction body 12 and the low
roof construction body 20 will be described. FIG. 3 is a view
showing a part of the III-III section of the rail vehicle shown in
FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part shown by IV in FIG. 3.
As shown in FIG. 3, the low roof construction body 20 is made by
joining a plurality of hollow extruded shape members to be one body
by welding or friction stir welding.
[0026] The low roof construction body 20 is constructed by a flat
part 21, a raised part 22 raised to be joined to the side
construction body 12 at both sides of the width direction of the
flat part 21, and a protruded part 23 that flatly protrudes toward
the joint portion with the side construction body 12 from the
raised part 22. The protruded part 23 becomes the end portion in
the vehicle width direction, and is joined by butting to an upper
end portion 128 of the side construction body 12.
[0027] Explaining the joint portion of the side construction body
12 and the low roof construction body 20 in detail, the extruded
shape member of the side construction body 12 is cut at the portion
to be joined to the low roof construction body 20, and the
uppermost portion 129 at the upper end side from the cut portion is
removed, as can be understood by comparison with FIG. 2. The
protruded part 23 of the low roof construction body 20 is joined to
the spot exposed at the upper end portion 128 by cutoff to be joint
portions, and the joint portions are finally bonded by welding as
will be described in detail later.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, in the hollow shape member 120
prepared for constructing the side construction body 12, a first
protruded rib 124 and a second protruded rib 125 are formed at
spots to be joined to the protruded part 23 of the low roof
construction body 20 before cutoff of the uppermost portion 129.
The first protruded rib 124 is formed to be protruded toward a
hollow portion 126 in the hollow shape member 120 from the portion
in the vicinity of the joint spot of an outer surface side face
plate 121 and a connecting rib 123 for connecting the outer surface
side face plate 121 and a vehicle inner side face plate 122. The
protruding direction of the first protruded rib 124 is the
direction which is the horizontal direction in the state where the
hollow shape member 120 is vertically provided as the side
construction body 12. The connecting rib 123 is formed in the
hollow portion 126 of the hollow shape member 120. Protruding
toward the hollow portion 126 means protruding in the horizontal
direction when the uppermost portion 129 of the side construction
body 12 is cut off to be exposed to the front to construct the
vehicle body.
[0029] A second protruded rib 125 is formed to protrude toward an
inside of a vehicle compartment from a joint spot of the vehicle
inner side face plate 122 of the side construction body 12 and the
connecting rib 123. The protruding direction of the second
protruded rib 125 is the horizontal direction in the same meaning
as in the case of the first protruded rib 124. The reason why the
second protruded rib 125 protrudes to the inside of the vehicle
compartment instead of the inside of the hollow portion 126 is that
the corresponding portion of the hollow shape member 120 is in an
arc shape. The first and the second protruded ribs 124 and 125 of
the side construction body 12 do not play any role when joined to
the roof construction body 11. The first and the second protruded
ribs 124 and 125 function as mounting portions only when the side
construction body 12 is joined to the low roof construction body
20. When the low roof construction body 20 is joined to the side
construction body 12, in the upper end portion 128 of the first
hollow shape member 120 constituting the side construction body 12,
the vehicle outer side face plate 121 and the vehicle inner side
face plate 122 are cut at both the protruded ribs 124 and 125 and
removed. The remaining hollow shape member 120 is integrally joined
as the side construction body 12.
[0030] Next, the low roof construction body 20 is joined to the
hollow shape member 120 from which the face plates 121 and 122 at
the upper end side are cut. On the occasion of the joint, a
plurality of hollow shape members constructing the low roof
construction body 20 are joined to be already an integrated hollow
shape member 210. Engaging portions protruding in the direction to
be horizontal toward the upper end portion 128 of the first hollow
shape member 120 in the joined state to the low roof construction
body 20 are formed at end portions in the vehicle width direction
of the protruded part 23 of the low roof construction body 20. The
engaging portions are engaging ribs 214 and 215 which are
respectively formed corresponding to the first and the second
protruded ribs 124 and 125 that are the mounting portions. The
joint portions are provided as two sets of joint portions distantly
placed at the vehicle inner and outer sides. Namely, the engaging
rib 214 and the protruded rib 124 construct a set of joint portions
at the vehicle outer side, and the engaging rib 215 and the
protruded rib 125 construct a set of joint portions at the vehicle
inner side.
[0031] The set of joint portions at the vehicle outer side are
disposed at the outer side in the vehicle width direction from the
set of the joint portions at the vehicle inner side. Namely, the
first protruded rib 124 is at the outer side in the vehicle width
direction from the second protruded rib 125, and the first
protruded rib 124 is at the outer side in the vehicle width
direction from the second engaging rib 215. The first engaging rib
214 is at the outer side in the vehicle width direction from the
second engaging rib 215. By such disposition, on the occasion of
lowering the low roof construction body 20, it does not interfere
with the sets of joint portions at the vehicle inner side and outer
side.
[0032] When the low roof construction body 20 is lowered from
above, the first engaging rib 214 and the second engaging rib 215
of the low roof construction body 20 are placed to be overlaid on
the top surface of the first projected rib 124 of the hollow shape
member 120 constructing the side construction body 12 and on the
top surface of the second protruded rib 125, respectively. The
first protruded rib 124 and the second engaging rib 215 define a
hollow portion 127 formed in the joint portions with the connecting
ribs 123 and 213.
[0033] The first protruded rib 124 is formed to protrude in a
position recessed by a predetermined depth from a surface of the
vehicle outer side face plate 211 of the first hollow shape member
120. The predetermined depth is specifically the dimension
corresponding to the thickness of the first engaging rib 214.
Accordingly, the first protruded rib 124 is protruded from the
position recessed by the amount corresponding to the thickness of
the first engaging rib 214 from the surface of the vehicle outer
side face plate 121 of the first hollow shape member 120. The
second engaging rib 215 is formed to protrude in the position
raised by a predetermined height from the vehicle inner side
surface of the second hollow shape member 210. The predetermined
height is specifically the dimension corresponding to the thickness
of the second protruded rib 125. Accordingly, the second engaging
rib 215 is formed to protrude in the position raised from the
position recessed by the amount corresponding to the thickness of
the second protruded rib 125, from the surface of the vehicle inner
side face plate 212 of the second hollow shape member 210.
[0034] By setting the above described dimension in each set of
joint portions at the vehicle inner side and outer side, the
surfaces at the joint portions at the inner side and outer side of
the vehicle become smooth, and occurrence of a level difference can
be avoided. When the low roof construction body 20 is overlaid on
the hollow shape member 120 of the side construction body 12, the
surfaces of the face plate 121, the first engaging rib 214 and the
face plate 211 become continuous without forming a level difference
at the vehicle outer side. At the vehicle inner side, the surfaces
of the face plate 122, the second protruded rib 125 and the face
plate 212 also become continuous without forming a level
difference. In this explanation, the continuous surface without
generating a level difference is called the coplanarity.
[0035] In each set of joint portions at the vehicle inner and outer
sides, the butted portions of the overlaid first protruded rib 124
and the first engaging rib 214, and the second protruded rib 125
and second engaging rib 215, are joined by welding or friction stir
welding. A butted portion 220 occurring to the set at the vehicle
outer side is formed between the connecting portion of the vehicle
outer side face plate 121 of the first hollow shape member 120 and
the connecting fib 123, and the tip end portion of the first
engaging rib 214 at the side of the second hollow shape member 210.
The butted portion 220 occurring to the set at the vehicle inner
side is formed between the tip end portion of the second protruded
rib 125 at the side of the first hollow shape member 120 and the
connecting portion of the vehicle inner side face plate 212 at the
side of the second hollow shape member 210 and the connecting rib
213.
[0036] Welding of the butted portion 220 at the vehicle outer side
can be performed from the vehicle outer side. The butted portion
220 has a groove. The groove is filled with a welding bead 222. The
welding bead 222 may be protruded slightly upward from the face
plate 211. Welding of a butted portion 221 at the vehicle inner
side can be performed from the vehicle inner side. A groove present
in the butted portion 221 is filled with a welding bead 223. The
welding bead 223 may be protruded from the face plate 212 or the
second protruded rib 125.
[0037] The first protruded rib 124 and the second engaging rib 215
become backings on the occasion of welding in the butted portions
220 and 221, respectively.
[0038] As for welding of the butted portions 220 and 221, when the
grooves of the butted portions are large, the first protruded rib
124 and the second protruded rib 125 may be fillet-welded.
[0039] In FIG. 4, the first engaging rib 214 of the hollow shape
member 210 constructing the low roof structure 20 is thicker than
the faceplate 211 at the other spots. The first engaging rib 214 is
the vehicle outer side end portion of the projected part 23, but is
not the vehicle outer side face plate 211 itself, and therefore,
can be called a rib. The first engaging rib 214 is protruded from
the rib 213 which connects the face plate 211 and the face plate
212.
[0040] In the hollow shape member 120 constructing the side
construction body 12, the protruded ribs 124 and 125 can be said to
protrude from the vicinity of the intersection points of connection
of the connecting rib 123 and the face plates 121 and 122. In the
hollow shape member 210, the engaging ribs 214 and 215 can be also
said to protrude from the vicinity of the intersection points of
the connecting portions of the face plates 211 and 212 and the
connecting rib 213.
[0041] According to this, by inserting the low roof construction
body 20 downward from above, the low roof construction body 20 is
supported with the side construction body 12, and therefore, the
mounting operation can be easily performed.
[0042] The welding beads 222 and 223 are practically in the same
planes as the face plates 211 and 212 in the hollow shape member
210, and therefore, they do not become the noise generating
sources.
[0043] In the above described embodiment, the protruded ribs 124
and 125 are previously provided at the first hollow shape member
120 constructing the side construction body 12, and are exposed by
deleting the face plates 121 and 122, and therefore, the first
hollow shape member 120 becomes large in weight. In order to
prevent this, it is suitable to provide the protruded ribs 124 and
125 at only the hollow shape member 120 at the position where the
low roof construction body 20 is connected without providing the
protruded ribs at the first hollow shape member 120 at the position
where the low roof construction body 20 is not connected at the
side construction body 12. The first hollow shape member 120 with
the protruded ribs 124 and 125 and the hollow shape member 120
without the protruded ribs 124 and 125 are welded at the butted
portions at the end portions in the longitudinal direction. Since
the butted portions are welded, the welding beads protrude, which
becomes the factor of noise generation. In order to prevent this,
the welding beads are cut and removed.
[0044] Next, connection in the longitudinal direction of the low
roof construction body 20 and the roof construction body 11 will be
described based on FIG. 5. Since a space occurs between both of
them, the space is bridged by a connecting plate 40. The connecting
plate 40 is constructed by a hollow shape member. End portions of
the hollow shape member of the connecting plate 40 are butt-welded
to end portions in the longitudinal direction of the roof
construction body 11 and the low roof construction body 20. An end
portion (upper end) in the longitudinal direction of the connecting
plate 40 is along the shape in the width direction of the roof
construction body 11. The other end portion (lower end) in the
longitudinal direction of the connecting plate 40 is along the
shape of an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the low
roof construction body 20. The upper end of the connecting plate 40
is orthogonal to a vehicle outer side face plate 141 of a hollow
shape member 140 of the roof construction body 11. A vehicle inner
side face plate 142 and the rib are removed. The face of the
connecting plate 40 at the low roof construction body 20 side and
the vehicle outer side face plate 141 are fillet-welded to a rib
48.
[0045] Connection of the connecting plate 40 and the hollow shape
member 210 of the low roof structure 20 is the same. However, the
connecting plate 40 is connected to the vehicle inner side face
plate 212 of the low roof construction body 20. A rib 49 is welded
between the vehicle inner side face plate 212 and the connecting
plate 40. In FIG. 5, the connecting plate 40 is constructed by a
hollow shape member, but its rib is not shown.
[0046] In the above embodiment, the low roof construction body 20
is described as the hollow shape member 210, but it may be
constructed by a flat plate instead of the hollow shape member
210.
* * * * *