Vehicle grille structure

By providing reinforcement ribs smaller than the thickness of the fins on the rear surface of the vehicle grille fins, the problem of taking into account both the noise and appearance of the vehicle grille structure is solved, and a balance between noise suppression and aesthetic appearance is achieved.

CN119160118APending Publication Date: 2024-12-20HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202310726904.1
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-06-19
Publication Date
2024-12-20

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The existing vehicle grille structure generates wind noise during driving, and the improvement method leads to poor appearance, making it difficult to take into account both noise suppression and aesthetic appearance.

Method used

Reinforcement ribs are provided on the rear surface of the vehicle grille fins, which are smaller than the fins in the width direction and extend and incline up and downward to disturb the airflow and reduce vortex formation while designing to avoid noticeable from the outside.

Benefits of technology

Effectively reduce wind noise, while maintaining the appearance of the vehicle grille structure, ensuring that the reinforcement ribs do not affect the visual effect of the vehicle.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention provides a vehicle grille structure capable of suppressing wind noise and having both appearance. The vehicle grille structure includes: a vehicle exterior member having a grille opening; a grille fin provided on the grille opening and spanning the grille opening in the vertical direction of the vehicle; and a reinforcing rib provided on a rear surface of the grille fin and having a dimension in a width direction of the vehicle smaller than a dimension in the width direction of the grille fin, in which the reinforcing rib extends in the up-down direction and is inclined in the width direction.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle structure, and in particular to a vehicle grill structure. Background Art

[0002] In the prior art, a vehicle grille structure includes a vehicle exterior component (e.g., a bumper) having a grille opening, and a grille fin extending in the up-down direction arranged on the grille opening. The grille fin is usually formed by mold molding, so that the rear side of the grille fin has a parting line corresponding to the mold joint surface, and a step portion is formed behind the parting line to help demolding. In this way, during the driving of the vehicle, the airflow flowing through the vehicle will form a vortex near the step portion on the rear side of the grille fin. Since the vortex is continuously generated along the parting line and grows in this state, wind noise is generated. In this regard, a common improvement method is to set the parting line of the grille fin to be offset in the up-down direction, for example, to set the parting line to be inclined in the up-down direction, or to be set in a concave-convex structure, to adjust the position / size of the step portion, etc., so that the length of the grille fin in the front-to-back direction is uneven in all areas in the up-down direction, thereby suppressing wind noise. However, such an improvement method makes the parting line or step of the grille fin easily visible from the outside of the vehicle and becomes tilted in a side view, resulting in poor appearance of the vehicle grille structure. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the wind noise and appearance of the vehicle grille structure. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present invention provides a vehicle grille structure which can suppress wind noise and take into account the appearance.

[0004] The present invention provides a vehicle grille structure, comprising: a vehicle exterior component having a grille opening; a grille fin, which is arranged on the grille opening and spans the grille opening in the up-down direction of the vehicle; and a reinforcing rib, which is arranged on the rear surface of the grille fin and whose dimension in the width direction of the vehicle is smaller than the dimension of the grille fin in the width direction, wherein the reinforcing rib extends in the up-down direction and is inclined in the width direction.

[0005] In one embodiment of the present invention, a dimension of the reinforcing rib in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is less than one third of a dimension of the grille fin in the front-rear direction.

[0006] In an embodiment of the present invention, the dimension of the reinforcing rib in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is equal in all regions in the up-down direction.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the reinforcing rib extends from the upper end of the grille fin to the lower end of the grille fin in the up-down direction, and extends from one end of the left and right ends of the grille fin to the other end of the left and right ends in the width direction.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, a step portion is formed between the left and right sides of the reinforcing rib in the width direction and the rear surface of the grille fin, respectively, and the size of the step portion in the width direction on one side of the reinforcing rib gradually increases along the up-down direction, and the size of the step portion in the width direction on the other side of the reinforcing rib gradually decreases along the up-down direction.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, the size of the grille fin in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is equal in all regions in the up-down direction.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the dimension of the reinforcing rib in the width direction is the same over the entire region in the up-down direction, and the dimension of the grille fin in the width direction is the same over the entire region in the up-down direction.

[0011] Based on the above, in the vehicle grille structure of the present invention, the reinforcing rib is provided on the rear surface of the grille fin, and its dimension in the width direction of the vehicle is smaller than the dimension of the grille fin in the width direction. In addition, the reinforcing rib extends in the up-down direction and is inclined in the width direction. In this way, the reinforcing rib can suppress the vortex generated on the rear side of the grille fin, thereby reducing wind noise, and the reinforcing rib is not easily visible from the outside of the vehicle, thereby ensuring the appearance of the vehicle grille structure. Accordingly, the vehicle grille structure of the present invention can suppress wind noise and take into account appearance.

[0012] In order to make the above features and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, embodiments are given below with reference to the accompanying drawings for detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a vehicle grille structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The vehicle grille structure shown is a partially enlarged schematic diagram near the grille fins;

[0015] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A rear schematic diagram of a vehicle grille structure is shown;

[0016] Figure 4 yes Figure 3A schematic cross-sectional view of the vehicle grille structure shown at the section line AA';

[0017] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of the vehicle grille structure shown at the section line BB';

[0018] Figure 6 yes Figure 3 The schematic cross-sectional view of the vehicle grille structure shown is taken along the section line CC'.

[0019] Description of reference numerals:

[0020] 100: Vehicle grille structure;

[0021] 110: Vehicle exterior parts;

[0022] 112: grille opening;

[0023] 114: transverse partition;

[0024] 120: grille fins;

[0025] 122: upper end;

[0026] 124: lower end;

[0027] 126: left end;

[0028] 128: right end;

[0029] 130: Reinforcement ribs;

[0030] 140A, 140B: step difference part;

[0031] A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6: eddy current;

[0032] L1, L2: length;

[0033] P1, P3, P5: left endpoints;

[0034] P2, P4, P6: right endpoints;

[0035] PL: parting line;

[0036] S: posterior surface;

[0037] T1, T2: thickness;

[0038] W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, W6: width;

[0039] X: front-to-back direction;

[0040] Y: width direction;

[0041] Z: Up and down direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a vehicle grille structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The vehicle grille structure shown is a partial enlarged schematic diagram near the grille fins. Figure 3 yes Figure 2 The rear schematic diagram of the vehicle grille structure shown, Figure 4 yes Figure 3 The schematic cross-sectional view of the vehicle grille structure shown is taken along the section line AA'. Figure 5 yes Figure 3 The schematic cross-sectional view of the vehicle grille structure shown at the section line BB', Figure 6 yes Figure 3 The cross-sectional view of the vehicle grille structure shown in FIG. Figures 1 to 6 The specific composition of the vehicle grille structure 100 of the present embodiment is described, wherein the front-to-back direction of the vehicle is, for example, the front-to-back direction X in the drawing and the direction indicated by the arrow is the front, the width direction of the vehicle is, for example, the width direction Y in the drawing and the direction indicated by the arrow is the left, and the up-down direction of the vehicle is, for example, the up-down direction Z in the drawing and the direction indicated by the arrow is the top, but this is only one example and the present invention is not limited to this.

[0043] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 In this embodiment, the vehicle grille structure 100 is suitable for being installed on the front end side (i.e., the side corresponding to the front of the front-rear direction X) of a vehicle (not shown). The vehicle grille structure 100 includes a vehicle exterior component 110, a grille fin 120, and a reinforcing rib 130. The vehicle exterior component 110 has a grille opening 112. As an example, the vehicle exterior component 110 is a bumper disposed at the front of the vehicle (i.e., the direction indicated by the arrow corresponding to the front-rear direction X), but is not limited thereto. In addition, the grille fin 120 is disposed on the grille opening 112 and spans the grille opening 112 in the up-down direction Z of the vehicle. The reinforcing rib 130 is disposed on the rear surface S (i.e., the surface corresponding to the rear of the front-rear direction X) of the grille fin 120, and its dimension in the width direction Y of the vehicle (i.e., thickness T1) is smaller than the dimension of the grille fin 120 in the width direction Y (i.e., thickness T2). In addition, the reinforcing rib 130 extends in the up-down direction Z and is inclined in the width direction Y. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific structure and application of the vehicle grille structure 100 , which can be adjusted according to needs.

[0044] Specifically, in this embodiment, if Figure 1As shown, the grille opening 112 of the vehicle exterior component 110 is set to open toward the front side and connect the inner and outer sides (i.e., the front and rear sides) of the vehicle, and the grille opening 112 extends in the front-to-rear direction X and the width direction Y to form an arc-shaped long strip opening ( Figure 1 1 and 1 ). Accordingly, the grille fin 120 is configured as a thin sheet structure extending in the vertical direction Z, and is configured to span the grille opening 112 in the vertical direction Z. The grille fin 120 may extend from the upper end to the lower end of the grille opening 112, or may be a transverse partition 114 extending in the width direction Y provided at the center of the grille opening 112, and the grille fin 120 extends from the upper end of the grille opening 112 to the transverse partition 114 or from the transverse partition 114 to the lower end of the grille opening 112. In addition, the vehicle grille structure 100 may also be provided with a plurality of grille fins 120 along the extension direction of the grille opening 112, for example, two rows of grille fins 120 are correspondingly provided on the upper and lower sides of the transverse partition 114. In addition, although the grille fin 120 is configured to extend along the vertical direction Z, it is not limited to being parallel to the vertical direction Z, and may also be configured to be slightly inclined relative to the vertical direction Z. The present invention does not limit the shape and number of the grille fins 120, and it may be adjusted according to needs.

[0045] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the reinforcing rib 130 is provided as a thin sheet structure extending in the vertical direction Z, and is provided on the rear surface S of the grille fin 120. That is, the reinforcing rib 130 can be regarded as a reinforcing structure protruding from the rear surface S of the grille fin 120 to the rear side. Among them, the dimension of the reinforcing rib 130 in the width direction Y (i.e., the thickness T1) is smaller than the dimension of the grille fin 120 in the width direction Y (i.e., the thickness T2). That is, the reinforcing rib 130 is provided as a thin sheet structure thinner than the grille fin 120 in the width direction Y. As an example, the dimension of the reinforcing rib 130 in the width direction Y (i.e., the thickness T1) is the same in the entire area of ​​the vertical direction, and the dimension of the grille fin 120 in the width direction Y (i.e., the thickness T2) is the same in the entire area of ​​the vertical direction, and the reinforcing rib 130 is provided as a thin sheet structure thinner than the grille fin 120 in the entire area of ​​the vertical direction, but it is not limited thereto. In addition, the reinforcing rib 130 extends in the up-down direction Z and is inclined in the width direction Y. That is, the reinforcing rib 130 is arranged to be inclined relative to the grille fin 120 in the width direction Y. In the case where the vehicle grille structure 100 is provided with a plurality of grille fins 120 along the extension direction of the grille opening 112, the vehicle grille structure 100 may also be provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs 130, that is, a rear surface S of each grille fin 120 is provided with a reinforcing rib 130. However, in other embodiments not shown, the rear surface S of only one or a part of the grille fins 120 may be provided with a reinforcing rib 130. The present invention does not limit the shape and number of the reinforcing ribs 130, which may be adjusted according to needs.

[0046] It can be seen that in this embodiment, the reinforcing rib 130 protrudes from the rear surface S of the grille fin 120 to the rear side, and the thickness T1 of the reinforcing rib 130 in the width direction Y is smaller than the thickness T2 of the grille fin 120 in the width direction Y. In this way, the reinforcing rib 130 is not easily seen from the outside of the vehicle (i.e., the front side of the grille opening 112), thereby ensuring the appearance of the vehicle grille structure 100. In addition, since the reinforcing rib 130 with a smaller thickness does not completely cover the rear surface S of the grille fin 120, the airflow flowing through the vehicle during the driving process will generate vortices near the rear surface S of the grille fin 120 and the reinforcing rib 130. At this time, since the reinforcing rib 130 extends in the up-down direction Z and is inclined in the width direction Y, that is, the reinforcing rib 130 gradually deviates from one side of the width direction Y to the other side along the up-down direction Z, the reinforcing rib 130 can disturb the airflow near the rear surface S of the grille fin 120. In this way, the reinforcing rib 130 can suppress the vortex generated on the rear side of the grille fin 120, thereby reducing wind noise. According to this, the vehicle grille structure 100 can suppress wind noise and achieve good appearance.

[0047] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the reinforcing rib 130 extends from the upper end 122 of the grille fin 120 to the lower end 124 of the grille fin 120 in the vertical direction Z, and extends from one end (for example, the left end 126) of the left and right ends of the grille fin 120 to the other end (for example, the right end 128) of the left and right ends in the width direction Y. That is, the reinforcing rib 130 extends obliquely from the upper left to the lower right, and the reinforcing rib 130 is formed on the entire section of the rear surface S of the grille fin 120 in the vertical direction Z (that is, the size of the reinforcing rib 130 in the vertical direction Z is larger than the size of the grille fin 120 in the vertical direction Z). In this way, step portions 140A and 140B are formed between the left and right sides of the reinforcing rib 130 in the width direction Y and the rear surface S of the grille fin 120, respectively. However, the reinforcing rib 130 may also extend obliquely from the upper right to the lower left, or may be formed only on one section of the rear surface S of the grille fin 120 in the vertical direction Z (i.e., the size of the reinforcing rib 130 in the vertical direction Z is smaller than the size of the grille fin 120 in the vertical direction Z). The present invention is not limited to this and can be adjusted according to needs.

[0048] As an example, Figures 4 to 6 As shown, the dimension of the step portion 140A on one side (for example, the left side) of the reinforcing rib 130 in the width direction Y gradually increases from top to bottom along the vertical direction Z (for example, the widths W1, W2, and W3 gradually increase), and the dimension of the step portion 140B on the other side (for example, the right side) of the reinforcing rib 130 in the width direction Y gradually decreases from top to bottom along the vertical direction Z (for example, the widths W4, W5, and W6 gradually decrease). In other words, the shapes of the step portions 140A and 140B formed on the left and right sides of the reinforcing rib 130 in the width direction Y are substantially opposite in the vertical direction Z (for example, the widths W1, W2, and W3 gradually increase). Figure 3 Thus, in Figure 4 In the horizontal height shown, the left airflow takes the left end point P1 of the reinforcing rib 130 as the peeling point (i.e., the position where the airflow leaves after flowing along the surface), and the right airflow takes the right end point P2 of the grille fin 120 as the peeling point. Figure 5 In the horizontal height shown, the left airflow is separated from the left end point P3 of the grille fin 120, and the right airflow is separated from the right end point P4 of the grille fin 120. Figure 6 In the horizontal height shown, the left airflow takes the left end point P5 of the grille fin 120 as the peeling point, and the right airflow takes the right end point P6 of the reinforcing rib 130 as the peeling point.

[0049] It can be seen that in this embodiment, the separation point of the left airflow changes along the vertical direction Z from the left end point P1 which is closer to the rear to the left end point P5 which is closer to the front, so that the vortices A1, A2, and A3 formed by the left airflow in the vertical direction Z are as follows: Figure 2 Correspondingly, the separation point of the right airflow changes along the vertical direction Z from the right end point P2 closer to the front to the right end point P6 closer to the rear, so that the vortices A4, A5, and A6 formed by the right airflow in the vertical direction Z are as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the airflow is disturbed by the inclined reinforcing rib 130 and becomes uneven. Similarly, the separation points of the left and right airflows at the same level are offset in the front-to-back direction X, for example Figure 4 The left end point P1 at the same level is behind the right end point P2, so Figure 2 The vortex A1 at the same horizontal height is farther behind the vortex A4. In this way, the airflow is disturbed by the inclined reinforcing rib 130 and is uneven on the left and right. Thereby, the formation of vortices can be further suppressed. In addition, when the grille fin 120 and the reinforcing rib 130 are manufactured by mold forming, the edge of the rear surface S of the grille fin 120 is configured to correspond to the parting line PL of the mold joint surface, and the step portions 140A and 140B formed behind the parting line PL can be used to assist in demolding. However, the present invention does not limit the grille fin 120 and the reinforcing rib 130 to be manufactured as an integral part, and they can also be manufactured separately and then combined, which can be adjusted according to needs.

[0050] In addition, in this embodiment, Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the dimension of the reinforcing rib 130 in the front-to-rear direction X of the vehicle (i.e., the length L1) is less than one-third of the dimension of the grille fin 120 in the front-to-rear direction X (i.e., the length L2). That is, the reinforcing rib 130 is configured as a thin sheet structure with a shorter length. In this way, even if the grille fin 120 is arranged along the arc-shaped grille opening 112 and is slightly offset relative to the front-to-rear direction X at the side portion of the vehicle exterior component 110, the reinforcing rib 130 arranged on the rear surface S of the grille fin 120 is difficult to be seen from the outside of the vehicle (i.e., the front side of the grille opening 112). In addition, it is preferred that the dimension of the reinforcing rib 130 in the front-to-rear direction X of the vehicle (i.e., the length L1) is equal in all areas in the up-down direction Z. That is, the reinforcing rib 130 is configured as a thin sheet structure with equal length along the up-down direction Z. In this way, the reinforcing rib 130 will not form a concave-convex structure or inclined surface that is easily found visually, so that the reinforcing rib 130 is more difficult to be seen from the outside of the vehicle (i.e., the front side of the grille opening 112). Similarly, preferably, the size of the grille fin 120 in the front-to-rear direction X of the vehicle (i.e., the length L2) is equal in all areas in the up-down direction Z. In other words, the grille fin 120 is configured as a thin sheet structure of equal length along the up-down direction Z. In this way, the grille fin 120 has the same length in all areas in the up-down direction Z, and will not form a concave-convex structure or inclined surface that is easily found visually. Therefore, it will not become inclined in a side view like the non-uniform length structure of the prior art, and the appearance of the vehicle grille structure 100 is good. However, the present invention does not limit the specific structure of the grille fin 120 and the reinforcing rib 130, which can be adjusted according to needs.

[0051] In summary, in the vehicle grille structure of the present invention, the reinforcing rib is provided on the rear surface of the grille fin, and its dimension in the width direction of the vehicle is smaller than the dimension of the grille fin in the width direction. Furthermore, the reinforcing rib extends in the up-down direction and is inclined in the width direction. In this way, the reinforcing rib can suppress the vortex generated on the rear side of the grille fin, thereby reducing wind noise, and the reinforcing rib is not easily visible from the outside of the vehicle, thereby ensuring the appearance of the vehicle grille structure. Preferably, the dimension of the reinforcing rib in the front-to-back direction is equal in all areas in the up-to-down direction, and the dimension of the reinforcing rib in the front-to-back direction is less than one-third of the dimension of the grille fin in the front-to-back direction, thereby making the reinforcing rib more difficult to be seen from the outside of the vehicle. Accordingly, the vehicle grille structure of the present invention can suppress wind noise and can take into account appearance.

[0052] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle grille structure, Features include: A vehicle exterior component having a grille opening; A grille fin is provided on the grille opening and spans the grille opening in the up-down direction of the vehicle; as well as a reinforcing rib provided on the rear surface of the grille fin and having a dimension in the width direction of the vehicle smaller than a dimension of the grille fin in the width direction, wherein The reinforcement rib extends in the up-down direction and is inclined in the width direction.

2. The vehicle grille structure according to claim 1, It is characterized in that A dimension of the reinforcement rib in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is one-third or less of a dimension of the grille fin in the front-rear direction.

3. The vehicle grille structure according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The dimension of the reinforcement rib in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is equal in all regions in the up-down direction.

4. The vehicle grille structure according to claim 1, Features: The reinforcing rib extends from an upper end portion of the grille fin to a lower end portion of the grille fin in the up-down direction, and extends from one end portion of left and right ends of the grille fin to the other end portion of the left and right ends in the width direction.

5. The vehicle grille structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, It is characterized in that Step portions are formed between the left and right sides of the reinforcing rib in the width direction and the rear surface of the grille fin, respectively. The dimension of the step portion on one side of the reinforcing rib in the width direction gradually increases along the up-down direction, and The dimension of the step portion on the other side of the reinforcing rib in the width direction gradually decreases along the up-down direction.

6. The vehicle grille structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, It is characterized in that The size of the grille fin in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is equal in all regions in the up-down direction.

7. The vehicle grille structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, It is characterized in that The dimension of the reinforcing rib in the width direction is the same over the entire region in the up-down direction, and the dimension of the grille fin in the width direction is the same over the entire region in the up-down direction.