Vehicle front structure

Abstract

To obtain a vehicle front structure that can effectively allow the vehicle to escape from the impacting body during a minute lap collision. [Solution] The front structure of the vehicle includes a front side member 12 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a crash box 18 positioned in front of the front side member 12, a bump reinforcement 20 positioned in front of the crash box 18 and extending in the vehicle width direction, and a receiving member 22 positioned between the front side member 12 and the crash box 18, connecting the two, and protruding outward in the vehicle width direction from the front side member 12, with a bent portion 22C provided at its outer end in the vehicle width direction that is bent forward and inward in the vehicle width direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle front structure.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a structure provided with a front protrusion and a rear protrusion at both ends of a bumper reinforcement. During a minor overlap collision, the rear protrusion presses the front side member and causes it to bend and deform.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in a configuration that absorbs collision energy by bending and deforming the front side member as in Patent Document 1, it is impossible to avoid the collision body from advancing toward the cabin, and there is room for improvement.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to obtain a vehicle front structure that can effectively escape a vehicle from a collision body during a minor overlap collision.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The front vehicle structure according to claim 1 comprises: a front side member extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a crash box positioned in front of the front side member; a bump reinforcement positioned in front of the crash box and extending in the vehicle width direction; and a receiving member positioned between the front side member and the crash box, connecting the two, and protruding outward in the vehicle width direction from the front side member, with a bent portion provided at its outer end in the vehicle width direction that is bent forward and inward in the vehicle width direction.

[0007] In the vehicle front structure according to claim 1, a crash box is positioned in front of the front side member, and a bump relief reinforcement is positioned in front of the crash box. A receiving member is positioned between the front side member and the crash box, and the receiving member connects the front side member and the crash box. Furthermore, the receiving member has a bent portion that protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the front side member, and the bent portion is bent forward and inward in the vehicle width direction at its outer end in the vehicle width direction. As a result, when the end of the bump relief reinforcement bends during a minor lap collision, the receiving member can support the bump relief reinforcement across its surface, effectively generating lateral force on the vehicle body. This allows the vehicle body to escape from the impacting object.

[0008] The vehicle front structure according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in claim 1, the corner at the tip of the bent portion is rounded.

[0009] In the vehicle front structure according to claim 2, stress concentration at the tip of the bent portion of the receiving member can be suppressed, preventing fracture.

[0010] The vehicle front structure according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in claim 1, the receiving member is integrally formed by casting together with the front side member.

[0011] In the vehicle front structure according to claim 3, since the receiving member and the front side member are integrally formed by casting, the number of parts can be reduced compared to a configuration in which they are separate parts.

[0012] The vehicle front structure according to claim 4 is configured in claim 3, wherein the receiving member includes a plurality of transverse ribs arranged at intervals in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and vertical ribs connecting vertically adjacent transverse ribs.

[0013] In the vehicle front structure according to claim 4, the receiving member can be reinforced by these longitudinal ribs.

[0014] The vehicle front structure according to claim 5 is further comprising a cover portion that covers the open cross-section of the bent portion, in any one of claims 1 to 4.

[0015] In the vehicle front structure according to claim 5, the open cross-section of the bent portion is covered by the cover portion, so that the bumper reinforcement can be received over a surface area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] As described above, the vehicle front structure according to the present invention can effectively allow the vehicle to escape from the impacting body during a minute lap collision. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a plan view showing the main parts of the front structure of a vehicle according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the receiving member in the embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a plan view showing the main parts of the front structure of a modified vehicle. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] The vehicle front structure according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a main part of a vehicle front structure according to an embodiment. In the figure, arrows RR, UP, and RH indicate the vehicle rear direction, the vehicle upward direction, and the vehicle right direction in the vehicle, respectively. In the following description, when the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions are used without special mention, they indicate the front and rear in the vehicle front-rear direction, the up and down in the vehicle up-down direction, and the left and right in the vehicle left-right direction (width direction), respectively.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, a front side member 12 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction is provided at the front part of a vehicle 10 to which the vehicle front structure is applied. A pair of left and right front side members 12 are provided, and the rear end portions of the respective front side members 12 are connected to the suspension towers 14.

[0021] The left and right suspension towers 14 are connected in the vehicle width direction by braces 16. Here, in this embodiment, as an example, the suspension towers 14 and the front side members 12 are die-cast parts integrally formed by casting. Note that it is not limited to this, and the front side member 12 and the suspension tower 14 may be formed separately. Also, the brace 16 is formed of a steel plate separate from the die-cast part.

[0022] A crash box 18 is disposed in front of the front side member 12 in the vehicle. A pair of left and right crash boxes 18 are arranged, each extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. Also, the crash box 18 is configured to be able to collapse and absorb at least a part of the collision energy when a collision load is input during a frontal collision of the vehicle. For example, the crash box 18 may be formed with a weak part that serves as a starting point for collapse when a collision load is input.

[0023] A bumper reinforcement 20 is disposed in front of the vehicle relative to the crash box 18. The bumper reinforcement 20 extends in the vehicle width direction and has a round shape in a plan view such that the central portion in the vehicle width direction bulges toward the front side of the vehicle. Further, the bumper reinforcement 20 connects the left and right crash boxes 18 in the vehicle width direction.

[0024] At both ends in the vehicle width direction of the bumper reinforcement 20, extension portions 20A are provided which extend to the outside in the vehicle width direction beyond the front side member 12 and the crash box 18. In a collision mode where a collision occurs outside the vehicle width direction relative to the front side member 12, such as a micro-lap collision, the extension portions 20A of the bumper reinforcement 20 are bent and deformed toward the rear side of the vehicle.

[0025] A receiving member 22 is provided between the front side member 12 and the crash box 18. The receiving member 22 connects the front side member 12 and the crash box 18 in the front-rear direction and is formed as a die-cast component separate from the front side member 12 in the present embodiment. Note that the present invention is not limited to this, and the front side member 12 and the receiving member 22 may be integrally formed by casting.

[0026] The receiving member 22 mainly includes a coupling portion 22A to which the front side member 12 is coupled, a protruding portion 22B protruding outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the front side member 12, and a bent portion 22C bent from the end of the protruding portion 22B toward the front and inside the vehicle width direction.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the receiving member 22 in the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, an opening into which the front side member 12 can be inserted is formed in the coupling portion 22A of the receiving member 22, and the receiving member 22 can be mechanically fastened to the front side member 12 by bolts, nuts, etc. in a state where the coupling portion 22A is inserted into the front side member 12.

[0028] The protruding portion 22B extends outward in the vehicle width direction from the side wall of the connecting portion 22A. Figure 2 shows the receiving member 22 on the left side of the vehicle, and the protruding portion 22B protrudes from the connecting portion 22A to the left side of the vehicle. In addition, the protruding portion 22B is formed in a roughly triangular shape in plan view.

[0029] Here, the front end of the receiving member 22 is configured to include a front plate portion 30 that extends in the vehicle width direction and the vehicle vertical direction. The lower part of the front plate portion 30 extends further outward in the vehicle width direction than the upper part, and the lower part of this front plate portion 30 constitutes the protruding portion 22B.

[0030] The protruding portion 22B is provided with a plurality of transverse ribs 32 arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. Each transverse rib 32 is formed in a substantially triangular shape in plan view, and in this embodiment, as an example, three transverse ribs 32 are formed.

[0031] The three horizontal ribs 32 have one side connected to the front plate portion 30 and the other side connected to the side wall of the joint portion 22A. In addition, vertical ribs 34 are provided between vertically adjacent horizontal ribs 32, and the vertical ribs 34 connect the upper and lower horizontal ribs 32 to each other.

[0032] Each of the vertical ribs 34 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape when viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and is formed at a position where two vertical ribs 34 overlap in a plan view. In this embodiment, the vertical ribs 34 are formed substantially parallel to the front plate portion 30.

[0033] The bent portion 22C includes a cover portion 36 that extends from the vehicle width direction end of the front plate portion 30 toward the front of the vehicle and toward the inside in the vehicle width direction. The cover portion 36 is integrally formed with the front plate portion 30, and the bent portion between the cover portion 36 and the front plate portion 30 is rounded. That is, the corner of the tip of the bent portion 22C is rounded.

[0034] A front transverse rib 38 is installed between the cover portion 36 and the front plate portion 30. Although not shown in the diagram, there are three front transverse ribs 38, spaced apart in the vertical direction of the vehicle, similar to the transverse ribs 32 of the protruding portion 22B.

[0035] In this embodiment, the bent portion 22C is configured such that the open cross section formed by the front transverse rib 38 is covered by the cover portion 36. However, the embodiment is not limited to this configuration, and a configuration without the cover portion 36 is also possible. In this case, the bent portion 22C is formed by the front transverse rib 38.

[0036] A reinforcing portion 22D is provided on the upper part of the receiving member 22. The front part of the reinforcing portion 22D is composed of the upper part of the front plate portion 30, and the reinforcing portion 22D has four reinforcing transverse ribs 42 arranged along the front plate portion 30 at intervals in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0037] Each reinforcing transverse rib 42 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape when viewed from above and is installed between the front plate portion 30 and the rear plate portion 40 facing it.

[0038] (action) Next, the operation of the vehicle front structure according to this embodiment will be explained.

[0039] As shown in Figure 1, in this embodiment, a crash box 18 is positioned in front of the front side member 12 of the vehicle, and a bumper reinforcement 20 is positioned in front of the crash box 18 of the vehicle. A receiving member 22 is positioned between the front side member 12 and the crash box 18, and the receiving member 22 connects the front side member 12 and the crash box 18.

[0040] Here, the receiving member 22 has a bent portion 22C that protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the front side member 12, and the bent portion 22C is bent forward and inward in the vehicle width direction at its outer end in the vehicle width direction. As a result, when the end of the bump relief reinforcement 20 is bent during a minute lap collision, the receiving member 22 can support the extension portion 20A of the bump relief reinforcement 20 with its surface, effectively generating lateral force on the vehicle body. As a result, the vehicle body can escape from the impacting object.

[0041] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the tip of the bent portion 22C in the receiving member 22 is rounded, which helps to suppress stress concentration and fracture at this bent portion 22C.

[0042] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the receiving member 22 and the front side member 12 are integrally formed by casting, the number of parts can be reduced compared to a configuration in which they are separate components.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the protruding portion 22B is composed of a transverse rib 32 and a vertical rib 34 that connects the transverse rib 32 vertically. Therefore, the receiving member 22 can be reinforced by the vertical rib 34.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the open cross-section of the bent portion 22C is covered by the cover portion 36, the bump reinforcement 20 can be received over a surface area.

[0045] In this embodiment, the bent portion 22C is formed by the cover portion 36 and the front transverse rib 38, but this is not the only configuration. For example, the modified configuration shown in Figure 3 may be adopted.

[0046] (modified version) Figure 3 is a plan view showing the main parts of the modified vehicle front structure. As shown in Figure 3, the vehicle 50 to which this modified vehicle front structure is applied differs from the embodiment in that a bent portion 22E is provided instead of a bent portion 22C.

[0047] The bent section 22E is equipped with multiple front transverse ribs 52 that are spaced apart in the vertical direction of the vehicle. Although not shown in the figures, in this modified example, three front transverse ribs 52 are provided in the vertical direction of the vehicle. Each of the front transverse ribs 52 is formed in a roughly triangular shape in plan view.

[0048] Furthermore, the bent portion 22E is equipped with a cover portion 54. The cover portion 54 is formed in a roughly V-shape in plan view so as to cover the outer peripheral end of the front transverse rib 52 and is fixed to the front transverse rib 52 and the front plate portion 30. The vertical height of the cover portion 54 is formed to be high enough to sufficiently cover the three front transverse ribs 52.

[0049] In this modified example, by providing a cover portion 54 that is roughly V-shaped in plan view, the impact load input from the bump reinforcement 20 can be effectively received over a surface.

[0050] The vehicle front structure according to the present invention has been described above, but it goes without saying that it can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in this embodiment, a brace 16 is provided between the suspension towers 14, but it is not limited to this and a configuration without a brace 16 is also possible.

[0051] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a configuration in which the receiving member 22 is equipped with a reinforcing portion 22D has been described as shown in Figure 2, but the embodiment is not limited to this, and a configuration with a reinforcing portion is also possible.

[0052] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the receiving member 22 is integrally formed by casting, including the connecting portion 22A, the protruding portion 22B, and the bent portion 22C, but is not limited to this. For example, the bent portion 22C may be formed separately.

[0053] The following additional information is disclosed regarding the above embodiment.

[0054] (Note 1) Front side members extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, A crash box positioned in front of the vehicle, A bump relief reinforcement positioned in front of the crash box and extending in the vehicle width direction, A receiving member is positioned between the front side member and the crash box, connecting the two, and protruding outward in the vehicle width direction from the front side member, and having a bent portion at its outer end in the vehicle width direction that bends forward and inward in the vehicle width direction, A vehicle front structure having [a certain feature]. (Note 2) The vehicle front structure as described in Appendix 1, wherein the corners at the tip of the bent portion are rounded. (Note 3) The vehicle front structure according to Appendix 1 or 2, wherein the receiving member is integrally formed together with the front side member by casting. (Note 4) The vehicle front structure according to any one of the appendices 1 to 3, wherein the receiving member comprises a plurality of transverse ribs arranged at intervals in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and longitudinal ribs connecting vertically adjacent transverse ribs. (Note 5) The vehicle front structure according to any one of the appendices 1 to 4, comprising a cover portion that covers the open cross-section of the bent portion. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0055] 12 Front side member 18 Crash Box 20 Bumper Inforcement 22 Receiving member 22C Bend part 22E Bend part 32 Transverse Ribs 34 Vertical Ribs 36 Cover section 54 Cover section

Claims

1. Front side members extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, A crash box positioned in front of the vehicle, A bump relief reinforcement positioned in front of the crash box and extending in the vehicle width direction, A receiving member is positioned between the front side member and the crash box, connecting the two, and protruding outward in the vehicle width direction from the front side member, and having a bent portion at its outer end in the vehicle width direction that bends forward and inward in the vehicle width direction, A vehicle front structure having [a certain feature].

2. The front vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the corner of the tip of the bent portion is rounded.

3. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the receiving member is integrally formed together with the front side member by casting.

4. The vehicle front structure according to claim 3, wherein the receiving member comprises a plurality of transverse ribs arranged at intervals in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and longitudinal ribs connecting vertically adjacent transverse ribs.

5. The vehicle front structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a cover portion that covers the open cross-section of the bent portion.

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