U.S. patent application number 13/622110 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-19 for apparatus for assembling fender panel of vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kia Motors Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Sang Ill Lee. Invention is credited to Sang Ill Lee.
Application Number | 20130334834 13/622110 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49640653 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130334834 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Sang Ill |
December 19, 2013 |
APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING FENDER PANEL OF VEHICLE
Abstract
An apparatus for assembling a fender panel of a vehicle,
including a single-type bracket may have a horizontal assembly
surface at an upper end portion thereof, and an assembly end having
a fender panel assembly aperture at a lower end portion thereof
extending from the horizontal assembly surface toward a front side
of the vehicle, wherein the assembly end of the single-type bracket
may be mounted on a front end portion of a fender panel located
between a front end module and a bumper cover, and wherein the
horizontal assembly surface may be fixed to a lower end portion of
a fender apron upper member.
Inventors: |
Lee; Sang Ill; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lee; Sang Ill |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Kia Motors Corporation
Seoul
KR
Hyundai Motor Company
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
49640653 |
Appl. No.: |
13/622110 |
Filed: |
September 18, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/35.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62D 25/163
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/35.1 |
International
Class: |
B62D 24/02 20060101
B62D024/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 18, 2012 |
KR |
10-2012-0064703 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for assembling a fender panel of a vehicle,
comprising a single-type bracket including: a horizontal assembly
surface at an upper end portion thereof; and an assembly end having
a fender panel assembly aperture at a lower end portion thereof
extending from the horizontal assembly surface toward a front side
of the vehicle, wherein the assembly end of the single-type bracket
is mounted on a front end portion of a fender panel located between
a front end module and a bumper cover, and wherein the horizontal
assembly surface is fixed to a lower end portion of a fender apron
upper member.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the horizontal assembly
surface of the single-type bracket is fixed to the lower end
portion of the fender apron upper member by welding while
controlling an assembly location of the fender panel in
back-and-forth and right-and-left horizontal directions.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front end module adjacent
to the assembly end of the single-type bracket includes stiffness
enhancing ends protruding and extending in a longitudinal direction
at upper and middle portions of the front end module.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the single-type bracket has a
plurality of stiffness enhancing grooves that cross each other in a
longitudinal direction thereof between the horizontal assembly
surface and the assembly end.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the single-type bracket has a
three-dimensional hanger grip shape that extends from the
horizontal assembly surface at the upper portion thereof to the
assembly end at the lower portion thereof.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the horizontal assembly
surface and assembly end are integrally bent to form a shape of "".
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2012-0064703 filed Jun. 18, 2012, the entire
contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an apparatus for assembling
a fender panel of a vehicle. More particularly, the present
invention relates to an apparatus for assembling a fender panel of
a vehicle, which can easily control the fender panel of the vehicle
in back-and-forth or right-and-left horizontal directions and also
save cost by a simple assembly structure.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Generally, a fender apron is provided on the right and left
sides of an engine room of a vehicle to serve as a partition with
respect to a wheel and support a force delivered from a suspension.
Also, a front fender (hereinafter, referred to as a fender panel)
surrounding a tire is disposed outside the fender apron.
[0006] Usually, since the fender panel defines a boundary with a
lamp and a bumper in addition to a hood panel, fitting gap step
adjustment with the hood panel and the bumper is needed during the
assembly of the fender panel.
[0007] Hereinafter, a typical fender panel assembly structure will
be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3.
[0008] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hood panel 20 and a bumper
cover 30 are provided. Also, a fender panel 10 is assembled using
two brackets such that parting lines with the hood panel 20, a head
lamp 25 and the bumper cover 30 can be adjusted in back-and-forth
and right-and-left horizontal directions.
[0009] A first bracket 11 of the two brackets is integrally welded
to a front side member 50, and has a bolting aperture 14 for
coupling with a second bracket 12 at a side portion thereof.
[0010] The second bracket 12 is integrally connect to the lower end
of the fender panel 10 by welding or bolting at an outer end
portion thereof, and the second bracket 12 has an expansion
aperture 15 with a larger diameter than the bolting aperture 14 of
the first bracket 11 at the inner end portion thereof.
[0011] Accordingly, the inner end portion of the second bracket 12
is allowed to overlap the first bracket 11, and simultaneously, the
expansion aperture 15 of the second bracket 12 is allowed to align
with the bolting aperture 14 of the first bracket 11. Then, a bolt
16 is inserted into the expansion aperture 15 and the bolting
aperture to fix the assembly of the first bracket 11 and the second
bracket 12.
[0012] In this case, when the bolt 16 is not completely fastened in
a temporary assembly, the second bracket 12 integrally coupled to
the fender panel 10 is moved in back-and-forth and right-and-left
horizontal directions to adjust a gap between the expansion
aperture 15 of the second bracket 12 and the bolt 16. Thus, the gap
step difference of the fender panel 10 can be adjusted with respect
to the parting lines with the hood panel 20 and the bumper cover
30.
[0013] The front end portion of the second bracket 12 is integrally
connected to a front end module 40 coupled to the bumper cover 30
to provide a supporting stiffness for the front end portion of the
fender panel 10.
[0014] For reference, the front end module 40 refers to a component
that is modularized for easiness of assembly of a carrier that
forms the frame, a head lamp, a radiator, and a front bumper
beam.
[0015] However, the typical fender panel assembly structure has the
following limitations.
[0016] First, since the two brackets, i.e., the first and second
brackets are used to control the assembly location of the fender
panel in back-and-forth and right-and-left horizontal directions,
the weight of the vehicle body and the manufacturing cost may
increase.
[0017] Second, since the gap step difference of the fender panel is
adjusted while the first and second brackets are being separately
assembled, the assembly working time may increase, and thus the
assembly workability may be reduced.
[0018] The information disclosed in this Background of the
Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the
general background of the invention and should not be taken as an
acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information
forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the
art.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0019] Various aspects of the present invention are directed to
providing an apparatus for assembling a fender panel of a vehicle,
which can reduce the weight of the vehicle body, the manufacturing
cost, and the assembly working time by assembling the fender panel
while controlling the assembly location the fender panel in
back-and-forth and right-and-left directions using a single-type
bracket.
[0020] In an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for
assembling a fender panel of a vehicle, may include a single-type
bracket having a horizontal assembly surface at an upper end
portion thereof, and an assembly end having a fender panel assembly
aperture at a lower end portion thereof extending from the
horizontal assembly surface toward a front side of the vehicle,
wherein the assembly end of the single-type bracket is mounted on a
front end portion of a fender panel located between a front end
module and a bumper cover, and wherein the horizontal assembly
surface is fixed to a lower end portion of a fender apron upper
member.
[0021] The horizontal assembly surface of the single-type bracket
is fixed to the lower end portion of the fender apron upper member
by welding while controlling an assembly location of the fender
panel in back-and-forth and right-and-left horizontal
directions.
[0022] The front end module adjacent to the assembly end of the
single-type bracket may include stiffness enhancing ends protruding
and extending in a longitudinal direction at upper and middle
portions of the front end module.
[0023] The single-type bracket may have a plurality of stiffness
enhancing grooves that cross each other in a longitudinal direction
thereof between the horizontal assembly surface and the assembly
end.
[0024] The single-type bracket may have a three-dimensional hanger
grip shape that extends from the horizontal assembly surface at the
upper portion thereof to the assembly end at the lower portion
thereof.
[0025] The horizontal assembly surface and assembly end are
integrally bent to form a shape of "".
[0026] Other aspects and exemplary embodiments of the invention are
discussed infra.
[0027] The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have
other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are
set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are
incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which
together serve to explain certain principles of the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a typical fender
panel assembly structure of a vehicle,
[0029] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of
FIG. 1,
[0030] FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a typical fender panel
assembly structure of a vehicle,
[0031] FIG. 4 is a view of a typical fender panel assembly
structure, which illustrates an assembly relation between a second
bracket and a front end module,
[0032] FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views illustrating a fender
panel assembly structure of a vehicle according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention,
[0033] FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a fender panel assembly
structure of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention,
[0034] FIG. 8 is a schematic view a fender panel assembly structure
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
which illustrates a assembly relation between a single-type bracket
and a front end module, and
[0035] FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating a fender apron
member of a body frame mounted with a single-type bracket.
[0036] Reference numerals set forth in the Drawings includes
reference to the following elements as further discussed below,
[0037] It should be understood that the appended drawings are not
necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified
representation of various features illustrative of the basic
principles of the invention. The specific design features of the
present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example,
specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be
determined in part by the particular intended application and use
environment.
[0038] In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or
equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several
figures of the drawing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0039] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments
of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings and described below. While the
invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary
embodiments, it will be understood that the present description is
not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary
embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to
cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various
alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments,
which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined by the appended claims.
[0040] It is understood that the term "vehicle" or "vehicular" or
other similar term as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in
general such as passenger automobiles including sports utility
vehicles (SUV), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles,
watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and
the like, and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in
hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles and other
alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuels derived from resources other
than petroleum). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicle is a
vehicle that has two or more sources of power, for example both
gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles.
[0041] The above and other features of the invention are discussed
infra.
[0042] Hereinafter, exemplar embodiments of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0043] The present invention provides a simple fender panel
assembly structure, which can install a fender panel while
controlling the assembly location thereof using a new type of
single-type bracket instead of two typical brackets.
[0044] For this, a hanger grip type of single-type bracket 100 that
can be mounted while controlling the assembly location may be
provided.
[0045] As shown in FIGS. 5 through 7, the single-type bracket 100
may be a hanger type that extends from the upper end to the lower
end. The extending portion of the single-type bracket 100 may not
be straight but may be bent toward the front. A horizontal assembly
surface 102 may be formed at the upper end portion of the
single-type bracket 100 that is flat. The lower end portion of the
horizontal assembly surface 102 may be provided with an assembly
end 104 having a fender panel assembly aperture 106.
[0046] The horizontal assembly surface 102 and assembly end 104 may
be integrally bent to form a shape of "".
[0047] Preferably, the single-type bracket 100 may be manufactured
to have a three-dimensional hanger grip shape from the horizontal
assembly surface 102 at the upper portion thereof to the assembly
end 104 at the lower portion thereof, forming a structure that can
maintain stiffness in all directions of X, Y, and Z-axes.
[0048] The single-type bracket 100 may be disposed between a fender
apron upper member 52 and a fender panel 10.
[0049] More specifically, the assembly end 104 of the single-type
bracket 100 may be mounted on the front end portion of the fender
panel between a front end module 40 and a bumper cover 30 by means
of bolts. Also, the horizontal assembly surface 102 of the
single-type bracket 100 may be fixed to the lower end of the fender
apron upper member 52 of a body frame by welding.
[0050] For reference, the fender apron upper member 52 may be
disposed just over a side member 50 of the body frame, and may
refer to one of frame components that are attached with a fender
apron panel serving as a partition between a wheel and an engine
room.
[0051] First, in order to control the assembly location of the
fender panel 10 in back-and-forth and right-and-left horizontal
directions, the assembly end 104 of the single-type bracket 100 may
be integrally mounted on the front end portion of the fender panel
10 that is located between the front end module 40 and the bumper
cover 30 by means of bolts.
[0052] Next, in order to accurately adjust parting lines with the
edge of the fender panel 10 and a head lamp 25 and the bumper cover
30 adjacent thereto, the fender panel 10 may be adjusted little by
little in back-and-forth or right-and-left horizontal direction. In
this case, the location of a welding point of the horizontal
assembly surface 102 of the single-type bracket 100 on the fender
apron upper member 52 may be together controlled.
[0053] In order words, when the parting line of the fender panel 10
is adjusted, the assembly end 104 of the single-type bracket 100
may already be in integral connection with the fender panel 10, and
the horizontal assembly surface 102 of the single-type bracket 100
may be in surface contact with the lower end portion of the fender
apron upper member 52. Accordingly, when the fender panel 10 is
adjusted little by little in back-and-forth or right-and-left
horizontal direction, the location of the welding point of the
horizontal assembly surface 102 of the single-type bracket 100 on
the fender apron upper member 52 may be together controlled.
[0054] Accordingly, the assembly of the fender panel 10 by the
single-type bracket 100 may be completed by accurately adjusting
the parting lines with the edge of the fender panel 10 and the head
lamp 25 and the bumper cover 30 adjacent thereto and then welding
the horizontal assembly surface 102 of the single-type bracket 100
on the fender apron upper member 52.
[0055] A plurality of stiffness enhancing grooves 108 crossing each
other in the longitudinal direction thereof may be formed at a
section extending from the horizontal assembly surface 102 to the
assembly end 104 of the single-type bracket 100 to prevent flexure
or breakage of the single-type bracket 100 below the critical
strength.
[0056] Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the fender panel 10, the bumper
cover 30, and the front end module 40 may be integrally connected
to each other via a bumper bracket. The assembly end 104 of the
single-type bracket 100 may extend between the front end module 40
and the bumper cover 30, and may be mounted to the front end
portion of the fender panel 10 via a bolt. Accordingly, a stiffness
supporting structure (stiffness supporting structure for supporting
a force applied from the outside) on the front end portion of the
fender panel 10 may not be provided.
[0057] For this, stiffness enhancing ends 42 may be integrally
formed at the upper portion and the middle portion of the front end
module 40 adjacent to the assembly end 104 of the single-type
bracket 100. The stiffness enhancing ends 42 may have a circular
section and extending in the longitudinal direction thereof.
[0058] Accordingly, a second bracket of two brackets becomes a
stiffness supporting structure for the front end portion of the
fender panel 10 in a related art, whereas the stiffness enhancing
end 42 of the front end module 40 may serve to support the front
end portion of the fender panel 10 using the single-type bracket
100 in the present exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0059] Thus, since the fender panel 10 can be more simply assembled
compared to a typical one while controlling the assembly location
of the fender panel 10 in back-and-forth and right-and-left
horizontal directions using the single-type bracket 100, the
vehicle weight and the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and also
the assembly workability can be improved while reducing the
assembly working time.
[0060] The present invention provides the following effects.
[0061] An apparatus for assembling a fender panel of a vehicle
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can
reduce the weight of the vehicle body, the manufacturing cost, and
the assembly working time by tightly assembling a fender panel
while controlling the assembly location of the fender panel in
back-and-forth and right-and-left directions using a single-type
bracket.
[0062] Also, as a stiffness enhancing structure for supporting the
front end portion of the fender panel is formed in a front end
module, the front end portion of the fender panel that may lack of
the support stiffness due to the use of a single-type bracket can
be easily reinforced.
[0063] For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in
the appended claims, the terms "upper", "lower", "inner" and
"outer" are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments
with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in
the figures.
[0064] The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments
of the present invention have been presented for purposes of
illustration and description. They are not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms
disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are
possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments
were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of
the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable
others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary
embodiments of the present invention, as well as various
alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the
scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and
their equivalents.
* * * * *