Vehicle front structure

Abstract

The present application discloses a vehicle front structure, which includes: a suspension housing disposed between a front side member and an upper member of a fender; a first reinforcing member extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and coupled to the suspension housing; and a first connecting portion attached to the first reinforcing member and connecting the upper member of the fender and the front side member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle front structure. Background Art

[0002] The vehicle front structure includes a pair of front side members spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the vehicle, and a fender, a suspension housing in which an upper portion of a shock absorber is mounted, and the like are connected to the front side members.

[0003] The front side members extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and are directly affected by the collision load when a frontal collision occurs.

[0004] Electric vehicles are equipped with high-voltage batteries under their floor, and the capacity of the battery must be increased to extend its range to 200 miles. Due to the increased capacity of the battery, the volume of the battery may increase by 1.5 times or more compared to existing batteries. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the structure to achieve the crash resistance and rigidity of the vehicle body.

[0005] The above information described in this Background section is provided to help understanding the background of the present inventive concept and may include any technical concept that is not considered to be prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the invention

[0006] The embodiments of the present invention can solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art while completely retaining the advantages achieved by the prior art.

[0007] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle front structure. Specific embodiments provide a vehicle front structure that can evenly distribute collision loads and improve safety during a collision.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle front structure may include: a suspension shell, which is arranged between a front side member and an upper member of a protective plate; a first reinforcement member, which extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is coupled to the suspension shell; and a first connecting portion, which is attached to the first reinforcement member and connects the upper member of the protective plate and the front side member.

[0009] The first reinforcement member may have a cavity open to the suspension housing, a top flange extending along a top edge of the first reinforcement member, and a bottom flange extending along a bottom edge of the first reinforcement member, and the top and bottom flanges may be coupled to the suspension housing to seal the cavity.

[0010] The first connection portion may extend from a front end portion of the first reinforcement member toward the fender upper member and the front side member.

[0011] A top end portion of the first connection portion may be coupled to the fender upper member, and a bottom end portion of the first connection portion may be coupled to the front side member.

[0012] An axis of the first connection portion may be perpendicular to an axis of the first reinforcing member.

[0013] The vehicle front structure may further include a second connection portion extending from a middle portion of the first reinforcement member toward the front side member.

[0014] A top end portion of the second connection portion may be coupled to the first reinforcement member, and a bottom end portion of the second connection portion may be coupled to the front side member.

[0015] The vehicle front structure may further include a support frame coupled to the suspension housing, and the second connection portion may be aligned with the support frame in a longitudinal direction of the support frame.

[0016] A top end portion of the second connection portion may be coupled to a bottom end portion of the support frame, and a bottom end portion of the second connection portion may be coupled to the front side member.

[0017] The vehicle front structure may further include a bumper plate provided at a rear portion of the suspension housing, and a second reinforcement member interposed between the suspension housing and the bumper plate.

[0018] The second reinforcement member may be connected to a rear end portion of the first reinforcement member, and the second reinforcement member may be inserted between the fender upper member and the buffer plate.

[0019] A top end portion of the second reinforcement member may be coupled to the fender upper member.

[0020] The vehicle front structure may further include an extending portion connected to a rear end portion of the front side member, and a bottom end portion of the second reinforcement member may be coupled to the extending portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] Figure 1 A perspective view showing a front structure of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] Figure 2 Shown along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line AA;

[0024] Figure 3 Shows Figure 2 A modified cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 A perspective view from the bottom showing a left side portion of a vehicle front structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] Figure 5 A plan view from the top showing a left side portion of a vehicle front structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0027] Figure 6 Shown along Figure 5 A cross-sectional view taken along line BB. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the text to refer to the same or equivalent elements. In addition, detailed descriptions of known technologies associated with the present disclosure will be omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present disclosure.

[0029] Terms such as first, second, A, B, (a) and (b) can be used to describe the elements in the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element, and the inherent characteristics, order or sequence of the corresponding elements, etc. are not limited by these terms. Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical terms or scientific terms) have the same meaning as the meaning generally understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. These terms (such as those defined in common dictionaries) will be interpreted as having the meaning of the contextual meaning equivalent to the relevant art, and are not interpreted as having an ideal or overly formal meaning, unless clearly defined as having such meaning in this application.

[0030] refer to Figure 1 The vehicle front structure 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include a suspension housing 13 disposed between a front side member 11 and a fender upper member 12 , and a first reinforcement member 21 coupled to the suspension housing 13 .

[0031] Each front side member 11 may extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A pair of front side members may be spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the vehicle.

[0032] Each fender upper member 12 may extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and bend toward the front of the vehicle. A pair of fender upper members 12 may be spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the vehicle. A pair of fender upper members 12 may be positioned outward from a pair of front side members 11. Front end portions of the fender upper members 12 may be connected to front end portions of the corresponding front side members 11.

[0033] refer to Figure 1 , the fender upper member 12 may define a first load path L1 , and the front side member 11 may define a second load path L2 .

[0034] A pair of front side members 11 and a pair of fender upper members 12 may define left and right sides of a front compartment of the vehicle. The front compartment may receive a prime mover (such as an internal combustion engine and an electric motor) and a heat exchanger.

[0035] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , a buffer plate 19 may be provided at the rear of the pair of fender upper members 12. The buffer plate 19 may separate the front compartment from the passenger compartment.

[0036] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , the extension 14 may be connected to the rear end portion of the front side member 11. The extension 14 may be attached to the bottom of the bumper plate 19 by welding or the like. For example, the extension 14 and the front side member 11 may be manufactured as separate components, and the extension 14 may be connected to the rear end portion of the front side member 11 using fasteners, welding, or the like. As another example, the extension 14 may be integrally connected to the front side member 11, so that the extension 14 and the front side member 11 may form a single one-piece structure.

[0037] The extension portion 14 may extend from the rear end portion of the front side member 11 toward the front pillar 18 and the side beam (not shown). Specifically, the extension portion 14 may be bent from the rear end portion of the front side member 11 toward the front pillar 18.

[0038] refer to Figure 6 , the extension 14 may include a side outer member 15 and a side lower member 16. The side outer member 15 may have a top wall 15a facing the top of the vehicle, and a vehicle outer side wall 15b facing the external space of the vehicle. The side lower member 16 may have a bottom wall 16a facing the bottom of the vehicle, and a vehicle inner side wall 16b facing the internal space of the vehicle. The side outer member 15 may have a first flange 15c extending vertically downward from the bottom end of the vehicle outer side wall 15b, and the side lower member 16 may have a second flange 16c extending vertically downward from the bottom wall 16a. The first flange 15c of the side outer member 15 and the second flange 16c of the side lower member 16 may be coupled using fasteners, welding, etc.

[0039] The rear end of the fender upper member 12 and the rear end of the extension 14 may be coupled to a front pillar 18 .

[0040] The suspension housing 13 may be disposed between the front side member 11 and the corresponding fender upper member 12. A pair of suspension housings 13 may be spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the vehicle. The upper portion of the shock absorber may be mounted in the suspension housing 13. The suspension housing 13 may have a top flange 13a extending along the top edge of the suspension housing 13, and a bottom flange 13b extending along the bottom edge of the suspension housing 13. The top flange 13a may be coupled to the fender upper member 12 using fasteners, welding, etc., and the bottom flange 13b may be coupled to the front side member 11 using fasteners, welding, etc.

[0041] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The suspension housing 13 may have an inner surface 13c facing the interior space of the vehicle, and an outer surface 13d facing the outer space of the vehicle. Specifically, the inner surface 13c may face the front compartment of the vehicle, and the outer surface 13d may face the wheel housing of the vehicle.

[0042] refer to Figure 1 , the first reinforcement member 21 may extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the first reinforcement member 21 may have a front end portion 31 facing the front of the vehicle, and a rear end portion 32 facing the rear of the vehicle. The first reinforcement member 21 may be positioned between the fender upper member 12 and the front side member 11, so that the first reinforcement member 21 may define a third load path L3 between the fender upper member 12 and the front side member 11. The vehicle front structure 10 may have a plurality of load paths L1, L2, and L3, thereby uniformly distributing the collision load. Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the first reinforcing member 21 may be coupled to the suspension housing 13 using fasteners, welding, etc. The first reinforcing member 21 may have a C-shaped cross section. The first reinforcing member 21 may have a cavity 21a opened toward the suspension housing 13, a top flange 21b extending along the top edge of the first reinforcing member 21, and a bottom flange 21c extending along the bottom edge of the first reinforcing member 21. The top flange 21b and the bottom flange 21c of the first reinforcing member 21 may be coupled to the suspension housing 13 using fasteners, welding, etc., so that the cavity 21a is sealed. That is, the first reinforcing member 21 and the suspension housing 13 may form a closed cross section.

[0043] Since the first reinforcing member 21 is coupled to the suspension housing 13 to form a closed section, the rigidity of the suspension housing 13 can be strengthened and the resistance to collision load can be increased. In addition, since the first reinforcing member 21 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is coupled to the suspension housing 13, the torsional rigidity of the vehicle body can be increased.

[0044] According to an exemplary embodiment, the first reinforcement member 21 may be coupled to the vehicle interior side surface 13c of the suspension housing 13, such as Figure 2 shown.

[0045] According to another exemplary embodiment, the first reinforcement member 21 may be coupled to the vehicle outer side surface 13d of the suspension housing 13, such as Figure 3 shown.

[0046] refer to Figure 1, the vehicle front structure 10 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include a first connection portion 41 attached to the front end portion 31 of the first reinforcement member 21. The first connection portion 41 may extend from the front end portion 31 of the first reinforcement member 21 toward the front side member 11 and the fender upper member 12. Specifically, the axis of the first connection portion 41 may be perpendicular to the axis of the first reinforcement member 21. The top end portion of the first connection portion 41 may be coupled to the fender upper member 12 using fasteners, welding, etc., and the bottom end portion of the first connection portion 41 may be coupled to the front side member 11 using fasteners, welding, etc., so that the first connection portion 41 may be connected to the front side member 11 and the corresponding fender upper member 12.

[0047] refer to Figure 1 , the vehicle front structure 10 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include a second connection portion 42 attached to the middle portion of the first reinforcement member 21. The second connection portion 42 may extend from the middle portion of the first reinforcement member 21 toward the front side member 11. Specifically, the axis of the second connection portion 42 may be perpendicular to the axis of the first reinforcement member 21. The top end portion of the second connection portion 42 may be coupled to the middle portion of the first reinforcement member 21, and the bottom end portion of the second connection portion 42 may be coupled to the front side member 11, so that the second connection portion 42 may connect the first reinforcement member 21 and the front side member 11.

[0048] refer to Figure 1 , the support frame 43 for reinforcing the rigidity of the suspension housing 13 may be coupled to the vehicle interior side surface 13c of the suspension housing 13 using fasteners, welding, etc. The second connection portion 42 may be aligned with the support frame 43 in the longitudinal direction of the support frame 43. That is, the axis of the second connection portion 42 may be aligned with the axis of the support frame 43. The top end portion of the second connection portion 42 may be coupled to the bottom end portion of the support frame 43 using fasteners, welding, etc., and the bottom end portion of the second connection portion 42 may be coupled to the front side member 11 using fasteners, welding, etc. Therefore, the load applied to the suspension housing 13 may be distributed through the second connection portion 42 and the support frame 43. Since the bottom end portion of the support frame 43 is coupled to the top end portion of the second connection portion 42, the load acting on the support frame 43 may be distributed through the second connection portion 42 and the first reinforcing member 21, and the moment acting on the support frame 43 may be reduced, so that the durability and rigidity may be improved.

[0049] According to an exemplary embodiment, the first connection portion 41 may be integrally connected to the front end portion 31 of the first reinforcement member 21, and the second connection portion 42 may be integrally connected to the middle portion of the first reinforcement member 21. Therefore, the first reinforcement member 21, the first connection portion 41, and the second connection portion 42 may form a single one-piece structure.

[0050] refer to Figure 1The vehicle front structure 10 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a second reinforcement member 22 connected to the rear end portion of the first reinforcement member 21. The second reinforcement member 22 may be disposed on the rear portion of the suspension housing 13. Figure 4 and Figure 5 , the second reinforcing member 22 may be inserted between the suspension housing 13 and the buffer plate 19. The front surface of the second reinforcing member 22 may be coupled to the rear edge of the suspension housing 13 by welding or the like, and the rear surface of the second reinforcing member 22 may be coupled to the front surface of the buffer plate 19 by welding or the like.

[0051] refer to Figure 4 , the top end portion 22a of the second reinforcement member 22 may be adjacent to the top end portion of the front pillar 18. Figure 6 , the top end portion 22a of the second reinforcement member 22 may be coupled to the fender upper member 12 by welding or the like.

[0052] refer to Figure 6 , the bottom end portion 22b of the second reinforcement member 22 may be coupled to the extension portion 14 by welding or the like. The bottom end portion 22b of the second reinforcement member 22 may be inserted into the interior of the extension portion 14 through the opening 15d of the top wall 15a of the side outer member 15 of the extension portion 14. The bottom end portion 22b of the second reinforcement member 22 may be coupled to the vehicle outer side wall 15b of the side outer member 15 and the vehicle inner side wall 16b and the bottom wall 16a of the side lower member 16 by welding or the like.

[0053] refer to Figure 1 , the vehicle front structure 10 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may have a plurality of load paths L1, L2, and L3. The plurality of load paths L1, L2, and L3 refer to a first load path L1 defined by the fender upper member 12, a second load path L2 defined by the front side member 11, and a third load path L3 defined by the first reinforcing member 21. The collision load generated during a vehicle collision may be transmitted through the first load path L1, the second load path L2, and the third load path L3. The load transmitted through the first load path L1 and the second load path L2 may be transmitted to the third load path L3 through the first connecting portion 41, so that the collision load may be distributed. Specifically, since the first connecting portion 41 connects the fender upper member 12 and the front side member 11, the fender upper member 12 and the front side member 11 may be prevented from being separated by the load. In addition, the second reinforcing member 22 may prevent the load from being transmitted through the first load path L1, the second load path L2, and the third load path L3, thereby minimizing the deformation of the buffer plate 19 and more reliably protecting the passenger compartment.

[0054] As described above, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, since the first reinforcement member is coupled to the suspension housing, the rigidity of the suspension housing can be strengthened and the resistance to collision load can be increased. In addition, since the first reinforcement member extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the torsional rigidity of the vehicle body can be increased.

[0055] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first reinforcement member may extend between the fender upper member and the front side member in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, thereby forming a plurality of load paths, so that the collision load may be evenly distributed.

[0056] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the second reinforcement member may prevent the load from being transferred through a plurality of load paths, thereby minimizing deformation of the crash panel and more reliably protecting the passenger compartment.

[0057] This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0044603 filed on November 12, 2019, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0058] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to the exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as claimed in the following claims.

[0059] Part reference number:

[0060] 11: Front side member

[0061] 12: Upper component of protective plate

[0062] 13: Suspension housing

[0063] 14: Extension

[0064] 15: Side outer member

[0065] 16: Side lower member

[0066] 18: Front pillar

[0067] 19: Buffer plate

[0068] 21: First reinforcement member

[0069] 22: Second reinforcement member

[0070] 41: First connection part

[0071] 42: Second connection part

Claims

1. A vehicle front structure, comprising: A suspension housing disposed between the front side member and the upper member of the fender; a first reinforcement member extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and coupled to the suspension housing; a first connecting portion attached to the first reinforcing member and connecting the fender upper member and the front side member; as well as a second connecting portion extending from a middle portion of the first reinforcing member toward the front side member; wherein: a top end portion of the second connecting portion is coupled to the first reinforcing member; and a bottom end portion of the second connecting portion is coupled to the front side member; And wherein the vehicle front structure further includes a support frame coupled to the suspension housing, wherein the second connection portion is aligned with the support frame in a longitudinal direction of the support frame.

2. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein: The first reinforcing member comprises: a cavity, open toward the suspension housing; a top flange extending along a top edge of the first reinforcement member; and A bottom flange extends along a bottom edge of the first reinforcement member, wherein the top flange and the bottom flange are coupled to the suspension housing.

3. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein: The first connection portion extends from a front end portion of the first reinforcement member toward the fender upper member and the front side member.

4. The vehicle front structure according to claim 3, wherein: The top end portion of the first connecting portion is coupled to the guard plate upper member; and A bottom end portion of the first connection portion is coupled to the front side member.

5. The vehicle front structure according to claim 3, wherein: An axis of the first connecting portion is perpendicular to an axis of the first reinforcing member.

6. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein: A top end portion of the second connecting portion is coupled to a bottom end portion of the supporting frame; and A bottom end portion of the second connection portion is coupled to the front side member.

7. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, further comprising: A buffer plate, disposed at the rear of the suspension housing; as well as A second reinforcement member is inserted between the suspension housing and the buffer plate.

8. The vehicle front structure according to claim 7, wherein: The second reinforcing member is connected to a rear end portion of the first reinforcing member; and The second reinforcement member is inserted between the protection plate upper member and the buffer plate.

9. The vehicle front structure according to claim 7, wherein: A top end portion of the second reinforcement member is coupled to the fender upper member.

10. The vehicle front structure according to claim 7, further comprising an extension portion connected to a rear end portion of the front side member, wherein A bottom end portion of the second reinforcing member is coupled to the extending portion.

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