Air guide mechanism and front structure of vehicle having the same

Abstract

A wind guide mechanism (40) guides running wind toward a cooling object, which is mounted behind a front bumper (7) of a vehicle (1); the wind guide mechanism (40) includes wind guide plates (41) and (42) arranged behind the front bumper (7) and in front of the cooling object, the wind guide plates (41) and (42) being arranged so that at least a portion of the wind guide plates (41) and (42) protrudes below the lower end of the front bumper (7) and extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and at least the front end side is offset to the left and / or right relative to the center in the vehicle width direction, and is tilted relative to the front-rear direction of the vehicle in such a manner that the front end side is closer to the outside in the vehicle width direction than the rear end side.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air guide mechanism and a front structure of a vehicle including the air guide mechanism. Background Art

[0002] Typically, the front structure of a cab-over vehicle, such as a truck, is configured such that a heat exchanger, such as an intercooler or radiator (hereinafter also referred to as a cooling target) is disposed in the engine compartment below the cab. Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example, disclose a front structure for such a vehicle that directs traveling airflow passing through a front grille opening in front of the cab or flowing under the front bumper toward the cooling target.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-034759

[0006] Patent Document 2: Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 07-013658 Summary of the Invention

[0007] Technical problem to be solved by the invention

[0008] Typically, a license plate or the like is often located in the center of the front bumper in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of the lower corner of the front surface of the front bumper is curved into a smooth, roughly circular arc shape on the outside in the vehicle width direction. However, the center of the vehicle width direction where the license plate or the like is located is sometimes curved at a roughly right angle.

[0009] In the aforementioned front bumper shape, of the traveling air that strikes the front surface of the front bumper and flows underneath it, the air flowing toward the center of the vehicle width, where the corners are bent at approximately right angles, experiences significant downward shedding. In contrast, the air flowing toward the outer sides of the vehicle width, where the corners are bent in a generally arc-like shape, tends to experience less shedding and higher flow velocity. This suggests that there is room for improvement in the cooling efficiency of the cooling objects by effectively directing this higher-velocity traveling air toward the cooling objects behind.

[0010] An object of the technology disclosed herein is to provide an air guide mechanism capable of effectively improving the cooling efficiency of an object to be cooled, and a front structure of a vehicle including the air guide mechanism.

[0011] Technical means for solving technical problems

[0012] The technology disclosed herein is an air guide mechanism that guides traveling air toward a cooling object mounted at a position rearward of a front bumper of a vehicle; the air guide mechanism is characterized in that it includes an air guide plate arranged at a position rearward of the front bumper and in front of the cooling object, the air guide plate extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle in a manner such that at least a portion of the air guide plate protrudes downward of a lower end of the front bumper, and is arranged so that at least the front end side is offset to the left and / or right relative to the center in the vehicle width direction, and is inclined relative to the front-rear direction of the vehicle in a manner such that the front end side is closer to the outside in the vehicle width direction than the rear end side.

[0013] Furthermore, it is preferable that a pair of left and right wind deflectors be provided, and that the pair of wind deflectors be arranged to face each other so as to separate from each other toward the front side of the vehicle.

[0014] In addition, it is preferred that the air deflector is arranged between the front bumper and the front wheel of the vehicle rearward of the front bumper when the vehicle is viewed from the side, and the lower end edge of the air deflector is cut off at an angle so as to converge to a position above the tangent connecting the lower end of the front bumper and the front wheel of the vehicle.

[0015] Furthermore, it is preferable to further include a second air guide plate that is provided below the cooling target and extends in the vehicle width direction and sends the traveling air guided by the air guide plate toward the cooling target.

[0016] The technology disclosed herein is a front structure of a vehicle equipped with the above-mentioned air guide mechanism, characterized in that it includes a pair of left and right side beams, a cab, and an engine, the pair of left and right side beams extending from the front bumper toward the rear of the vehicle, the cab being mounted on the upper portion of the front end side of the side beams, the engine being supported by the side beams below the cab, the cooling object being arranged between the pair of left and right side beams, rearward of the front bumper and forward of the engine, and the air guide plate being mounted to the side beams in such a manner that the front end side is located outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the side beams.

[0017] Effects of the Invention

[0018] According to the technology disclosed herein, the cooling efficiency of an object to be cooled can be effectively improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 It is a schematic perspective view showing the front structure of a vehicle including the air guide mechanism according to the present embodiment.

[0020] Figure 2A This is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing the front structure of the vehicle according to the present embodiment cut away at the center portion in the vehicle width direction along the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0021] Figure 2BThis is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing the front structure of the vehicle according to the present embodiment cut away at a portion on the left side of the center in the vehicle width direction, along the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic side view of the front structure of the vehicle according to the present embodiment as viewed from the left side.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic bottom view of the front structure of the vehicle according to the present embodiment as viewed from below.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic side view of a front structure of a vehicle according to another embodiment, viewed from the left side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The following describes the air guide mechanism of this embodiment and the front structure of a vehicle equipped with the air guide mechanism based on the accompanying drawings. Identical components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions of these components will not be repeated.

[0026] Figure 1 It is a schematic perspective view showing the front structure of the vehicle 1 including the air guide mechanism 40 according to the present embodiment.

[0027] like Figure 1 As shown, the vehicle 1 is a cab-type vehicle such as a truck, and a cab 3 is mounted on the upper front end of a vehicle body frame 10. The cab 3 is tiltably supported on the vehicle body frame 10 via a cab mounting frame (not shown).

[0028] The vehicle body frame 10 includes a pair of left and right side members 11 and 12, and multiple cross members 15 (only the front ends are shown in the illustrated example). The left and right side members 11 and 12 are formed into a roughly U-shaped cross section, opening inward in the vehicle width direction. They extend in the vehicle front-to-rear direction with their open sides facing each other. The cross members 15 are formed into a U-shaped cross section, opening toward the front or rear of the vehicle (in the illustrated example, toward the rear), and are spanned across the vehicle width direction between the side members 11 and 12.

[0029] A plurality of front grilles 8 are formed in the front fender constituting the front surface of the cab 3. A front bumper 7 is provided below the front fender of the cab 3 along the vehicle width direction. The front bumper 7 is fixed to the front ends of the side members 11 and 12 or the front cross member 15 by brackets (not shown).

[0030] An engine 20 is housed in the engine compartment below the cab 3. The engine 20 is fixedly supported on the side members 11 and 12 via mounting members (not shown). In addition, an intercooler 21 (an example of a cooling object of the present disclosure), a radiator 22 (an example of a cooling object of the present disclosure), and a cooling fan 30 (see FIG. 1 ) are arranged in this order from the front side of the vehicle in front of the engine 20 in the engine compartment. Figure 2A 、 2B , 3, 4) etc.

[0031] The intercooler 21 cools the intake air of the engine 20 by exchanging heat with the outside air (e.g., wind). Specifically, intake pipes (not shown) are connected to the inlet 21B and outlet 21C of the intercooler 21. The intake air, which is pumped by a supercharger (not shown), is cooled in the core 21A of the intercooler 21 before being delivered to the combustion chamber of the engine 20. In the illustrated example, the core 21A of the intercooler 21 is shown as a cross-flow type, but a longitudinal flow type is also possible.

[0032] The radiator 22 cools the cooling water of the engine 20 by exchanging heat with the outside air (e.g., wind). Specifically, the inlet 22B and outlet (not shown) of the radiator 22 are connected to piping of a cooling water circuit (neither shown). The cooling water, heated by the water jacket of the engine 20, is cooled in the core 22A of the radiator 22 and then circulated to the water jacket of the engine 20. In the illustrated example, the core 22A of the radiator 22 is shown as a longitudinal flow type, but a transverse flow type is also possible.

[0033] The radiator 22 is preferably fixedly supported by the side members 11 and 12 forward of the engine 20 via a bracket or the like (not shown), and the intercooler 21 is preferably fixedly supported by the radiator 22 via a bracket or the like (not shown). The intercooler 21 and the radiator 22 are inserted between the side members 11 and 12 so that the upper ends of the core portions 21A and 22A protrude upward from the side members 11 and 12, and the lower ends of the core portions 21A and 22A protrude downward from the side members 11 and 12.

[0034] In this embodiment, an air guide mechanism 40 is provided in the lower portion of the side beams 11 and 12, at a position rearward of the front bumper 7 and forward of the radiator 22 and the intercooler 21 (hereinafter referred to as the cooling objects). The air guide mechanism 40 includes a pair of left and right air guide plates 41 and 42 for guiding the running air toward the cooling objects.

[0035] Figure 2A This is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing the front structure of the vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment cut away at the center portion in the vehicle width direction along the vehicle front-rear direction. Figure 2BThis is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing the front structure of the vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment cut away at a portion on the left side of the center in the vehicle width direction, along the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0036] like Figure 2A As shown, the lower corner portion 7A (hereinafter referred to as the center side corner portion 7A) of the vehicle width direction center portion of the front bumper 7 is formed into a substantially L-shaped cross section bent at a substantially right angle. Figure 2B As shown, the lower corner portion 7B of the front bumper 7, which is located outside the center portion in the vehicle width direction (hereinafter referred to as the outer corner portion 7B), is formed into a smoothly curved substantially semicircular arc shape in cross section. Therefore, the traveling wind FA (refer to FIG. 1 ) that hits the front surface of the front bumper 7 and passes through the center side corner portion 7A and flows to the lower side of the front bumper 7 is Figure 2A ) will peel off, on the other hand, the running wind FB (refer to Figure 2B ) has the following tendency: the peeling is suppressed to a small level and the flow rate becomes large.

[0037] The air guide mechanism 40 of this embodiment is provided to effectively guide the traveling airflow FB passing through the outer corner portion 7B where the flow velocity increases toward the rear cooling objects 21 and 22. The arrangement and shape of the air guide mechanism 40 will be described in further detail below.

[0038] Figure 3 This is a schematic side view of the front structure of the vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment as viewed from the left side. Figure 4 This is a schematic bottom view of the front structure of the vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment as viewed from below.

[0039] like Figure 3 As shown, the air deflector 41 (42) is mounted on the side member 11 (12) in such a manner that its plate surface is oriented in the vertical direction (the vertical direction of the vehicle). Specifically, the air deflector 41 (42) is configured so that at least a portion thereof protrudes from the lower surface of the side member 11 (12) located rearward of the front bumper 7 and forward of the cooling objects 21 and 22 to a position below the lower end of the front bumper 7.

[0040] The lower edge 41A (42A) of the air deflector 41 (42) is formed to be inclined so that the front side is vertically higher than the rear side. Specifically, the air deflector 41 (42) is cut away at an angle so that the lower edge 41A (42A) converges above a tangent line L (a straight line indicating a so-called approach angle) connecting the lower surface of the front bumper 7 and the vehicle front wheel FT located rearward of the front bumper 7.

[0041] In this manner, by obliquely cutting away the lower edge 41A (42A) of the air deflector 41 (42), a space is ensured between the lower edge 41A (42A) and the ground G, thereby effectively ensuring the approach angle of the vehicle 1. Furthermore, by increasing the plate area on the rear end side of the air deflector 41 (42), the amount of air directed to the rear of the traveling air FB flowing under the front bumper 7 can be reliably increased.

[0042] like Figure 4 Specifically, each wind deflector 41, 42 is tilted relative to the vehicle longitudinal direction so that at least the front end is positioned outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the rear end.

[0043] Each of the air deflectors 41, 42 is disposed so that its front end is laterally offset outward from the center-side corner 7A of the front bumper 7. In other words, its front end is located behind the outer corner 7B. Furthermore, the rear end of each of the air deflectors 41, 42 is disposed so as to be located on the lower surface of the side sills 11, 12.

[0044] Specifically, the traveling airflow FB, which has increased its velocity by flowing through the outer corners 7B of the front bumper 7, is guided obliquely toward the center of the vehicle width in the rear direction of the vehicle by the air guides 41 and 42, while being actively directed toward the cooling objects 21 and 22 located between the side members 11 and 12. This effectively directs the traveling airflow FB, which has increased its velocity and flows under the front bumper 7, toward the cooling objects 21 and 22, and reliably improves the cooling efficiency of the cooling objects 21 and 22.

[0045] In addition, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within the scope not departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0046] For example, Figure 5 As shown, a configuration may also be employed in which a second air guide plate 43 is further added below the cooling objects 21 and 22 (in the illustrated example, the intercooler 21). The second air guide plate 43 extends in the vehicle width direction and is tilted so that the lower end is located forward of the upper end. The addition of the second air guide plate 43 allows the traveling airflow, which passes between the front air guide plates 41 and 42 and is directed rearward, to be more reliably directed toward the cooling objects 21 and 22.

[0047] In addition, the description has been made of a case where the air guide plates 41 and 42 include a pair of left and right plates, but the configuration may also be such that only one of the left and right plates is included, depending on the layout of the vehicle 1, etc. Alternatively, the air guide plates 41 and 42 may be provided in the following manner: instead of being provided in a vertical direction, they may be provided with an angle added to the plate surface to push the traveling wind upward. In addition, the air guide plates 41 and 42 may be directly fixed to the side beams 11 and 12, or they may be fixed to various brackets provided on the side beams 11 and 12. The second air guide plate 43 may be similarly fixed to the cooling object 21 and 22, or it may be fixed to the side beams 11 and 12, or it may be fixed to various brackets provided on the side beams 11 and 12.

[0048] In addition, the shape of the air guide plates 41 and 42 is not limited to a flat plate, and can also be set to a shape bent into a substantially U-shaped shape, or a shape having a curved portion at a predetermined position and a changed angle. In addition, the location where the air guide plates 41 and 42 are set is also the same, and can be closer to the front than the example shown in the figure, or it can be closer to the rear.

[0049] Furthermore, although the heat exchanger as the cooling target includes the intercooler 21 and the radiator 22 , it may include either one of them, an oil cooler for cooling engine oil, or an EGR cooler for cooling recirculated exhaust gas.

[0050] Furthermore, the application of the present disclosure is not limited to cab-over vehicles, and is widely applicable to other vehicles such as semi-cab-over vehicles and long-cab vehicles as long as the vehicle has a front structure that guides traveling airflow toward the heat exchanger.

[0051] This application is based on Japanese patent application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-190552) filed on October 17, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0052] Industrial Availability

[0053] The present disclosure is useful in that the cooling efficiency of an object to be cooled can be effectively improved.

[0054] Description of Reference Numerals

[0055] 1 vehicle

[0056] 3. Cab

[0057] 7 Front bumper

[0058] 7A Center side corner

[0059] 7B outside corner

[0060] 8 front grille

[0061] 10 Body frame

[0062] 11, 12 side beams

[0063] 15 beam

[0064] 20 Engine

[0065] 21 Intercooler (cooling object)

[0066] 22 Radiator (cooling object)

[0067] 40 air guide mechanism

[0068] 41, 42 air guide plates

[0069] 43 Second air guide plate

Claims

1. An air guide mechanism that guides traveling air toward a cooling object mounted behind a front bumper of a vehicle; The air guide mechanism is characterized in that: comprising an air deflector disposed rearward of the front bumper and forward of the object to be cooled; The wind deflector extends in the vehicle vertical direction in a manner such that at least a portion thereof protrudes downwardly from the lower end of the front bumper, and is configured so that at least the front end thereof is offset to the left and / or right relative to the center in the vehicle width direction, and is inclined relative to the vehicle front-rear direction in a manner such that the front end thereof is positioned outwardly in the vehicle width direction relative to the rear end thereof. The deflector is disposed between the front bumper and the front wheel of the vehicle rearward of the front bumper in a side view of the vehicle, and the lower end edge of the deflector is cut off obliquely so as to converge above a tangent line connecting the lower end of the front bumper and the front wheel of the vehicle.

2. The air guide mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: The left and right wind deflectors are provided as a pair, and the pair of wind deflectors are arranged to face each other so as to separate from each other as they go toward the front side of the vehicle.

3. The air guide mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The vehicle further includes a second air guide plate that is provided below the object to be cooled and extends in the vehicle width direction and sends the traveling air guided by the air guide plate toward the object to be cooled.

4. A front structure of a vehicle, comprising the air guide mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3; The front structure of the vehicle is characterized by comprising: A pair of left and right side members extending from the front bumper toward the rear of the vehicle, a cab mounted on the upper portion of the front end of the side member, and an engine supported on the side members below the cab; The cooling object is arranged between the pair of left and right side members, further rearward than the front bumper and further forward than the engine; The wind deflector is attached to the side sill so that the front end side thereof is located further outward in the vehicle width direction than the side sill.

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