Vehicle front structure

Abstract

The problem to be solved by the invention is to suppress functional damage of a detection device during slight collision. In order to solve the problem, the vehicle front structure of the present invention is provided with a bumper reinforcement, a bracket, and a detection device. The bumper reinforcement extends in a vehicle width direction at a front portion of the vehicle. The bracket is attached to an end portion of a front portion of the vehicle in a vehicle width direction. The detection device is installed on the bracket and detects an object in front of the vehicle. The end portion of the inner side of the detection device in the vehicle width direction is located on the inner side of the vehicle width direction compared with the end portion of the outer side of the bumper reinforcement in the vehicle width direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a structure of a front part of a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, efforts have been made to provide access to sustainable transportation systems that also take into account the disadvantaged among traffic participants. To achieve this goal, the applicant is committed to further improving the safety and convenience of traffic through research and development related to driver assistance technology.

[0003] In a vehicle front structure equipped with a detection device such as a radar used in driving assistance technology, the structure is as follows. That is, the vehicle front structure is equipped with a lamp, a bumper reinforcement, a detection device, and a bracket. The bumper reinforcement is at the front of the vehicle and extends in the vehicle width direction. The detection device is installed at the end of the front of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction to monitor the oblique front of the vehicle.

[0004] [Prior Technical Literature]

[0005] (Patent Document)

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-91303 Summary of the invention

[0007] [Problems to be solved by the invention]

[0008] Regulations in various countries and regions around the world sometimes require that the detection device not be damaged by a minor collision of a vehicle, such as a failure of the detection device itself or an angular deviation of the detection device to the extent that the detection device cannot be used normally.

[0009] The present invention is made in view of the above situation, and its purpose is to suppress the functional damage of the detection device when the vehicle is slightly hit.

[0010] [Technical means to solve the problem]

[0011] The inventors have found that the above object can be achieved as long as the end of the detection device on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is located further inward in the vehicle width direction than the end of the bumper reinforcement on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, thereby completing the present invention. The present invention is the following vehicle front structure (1) to (4).

[0012] (1) A vehicle front structure comprising:

[0013] A bumper reinforcement member, at the front end of the vehicle, extending in the vehicle width direction;

[0014] a bracket mounted at an end portion in the vehicle width direction of the front portion of the aforementioned vehicle; and,

[0015] a detection device mounted on the bracket to detect an object obliquely in front of the vehicle; and

[0016] The end portion of the detection device on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is located further inward in the vehicle width direction than the end portion of the bumper reinforcement on the outer side in the vehicle width direction.

[0017] According to this structure, the end of the detection device on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is located further inward in the vehicle width direction than the end of the bumper reinforcement on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, so that the detection device can be easily protected by the bumper reinforcement in the event of a minor collision. Thus, functional damage to the detection device in the event of a minor collision of the vehicle can be suppressed.

[0018] (2) The vehicle front structure according to (1), wherein the detection device is provided at a position upwardly away from an end portion of the bumper reinforcement on an outer side in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front side of the vehicle.

[0019] According to this structure, even if a force is applied to the bumper reinforcement due to a minor collision, the force will be applied in a manner that enters below the detection device because the detection device moves upward away from the bumper reinforcement. Therefore, there is no need to worry about the detection device being sandwiched between the bumper reinforcement and the component located behind the detection device. Therefore, it is possible to more firmly suppress functional damage to the detection device when the vehicle is in a minor collision.

[0020] (3) The vehicle front structure according to (2), wherein the bracket is mounted on a portion of the front portion of the vehicle that is located above the detection device.

[0021] According to this structure, the detection device is supported by the bracket at a portion located above the detection device, so it is easier to avoid the influence of the force applied from the bumper reinforcement to the lower part of the detection device during a minor collision. Therefore, it is possible to more firmly suppress the functional damage of the detection device during a minor collision of the vehicle.

[0022] (4) The vehicle front structure according to any one of (1) to (3) above, wherein the detection device is disposed at a position rearwardly away from an end portion of the bumper reinforcement in the vehicle width direction when viewed from above.

[0023] According to this structure, the detection device can be more securely protected by the bumper reinforcement than when a portion of the detection device overlaps with the bumper reinforcement when viewed from above. Therefore, functional damage to the detection device can be more securely suppressed when the vehicle is slightly hit.

[0024] (Effects of the Invention)

[0025] As described above, according to the structure of (1), the function damage of the detection device can be suppressed when the vehicle is slightly hit. Furthermore, according to the structures of (2) to (4) cited from (1), respective additional effects can be obtained. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 This is a side view of the front of the vehicle viewed from the left.

[0027] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the front of the vehicle as viewed from the left front.

[0028] Figure 3 This is a front view of the front of the vehicle as viewed from the front.

[0029] Figure 4 This is a plan view of the front of the vehicle as viewed from above.

[0030] Figure 5 It is shown Figure 4 A cross-section of line VV shown in FIG.

[0031] Figure 6 This is a stereoscopic view of the bracket and the detection device viewed diagonally from the right rear. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments at all, and can be implemented with appropriate changes within the scope of the present invention.

[0033] [First embodiment]

[0034] like Figure 1 As shown, the vehicle front structure 70 is a structure of the front portion of the vehicle 100. Figure 2 As shown, the front side of the vehicle 100 is referred to as the "front Fr", and the rear side of the vehicle 100 is referred to as the "rear Rr". In addition, the inner side of the vehicle 100 in the vehicle width direction is referred to as the "vehicle width direction inner side wI", and the outer side of the vehicle 100 in the vehicle width direction is referred to as the "vehicle width direction outer side wO".

[0035] like Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the vehicle front structure 70 includes a lamp 20, a bracket 30, a detection device 40, and a bumper reinforcement 50. The lamp 20 includes a right headlight (not shown) and a left headlight 20L. Figure 1 to Figure 6 In FIG. 7 , only the left portion of the vehicle front structure 70 is shown, and the right portion is the same after the left portion is reversed left to right.

[0036] like Figure 1As shown, the lamp 20 includes a light source 25, a housing 23, and an outer lens 27. The housing 23 is open at the front Fr side and houses the light source 25. The outer lens 27 is a transparent body that covers the housing 23 from the front Fr side.

[0037] like Figure 4 As shown, the bumper reinforcement 50 extends in the vehicle width direction wI, ​​wO at the front end of the vehicle front structure 70. The bumper reinforcement 50 is made of metal and radio waves do not pass through. The detection device 40 is provided at each of the two ends of the vehicle width direction wI, ​​wO in the front part of the vehicle 100. Therefore, as the detection device 40, there are a right detection device (not shown) and a left detection device 40L.

[0038] The following, such as Figure 4 As shown, the direction of the oblique front Fr between the front Fr and the outer side wO in the vehicle width direction is called the "Y-direction", and the opposite direction is called the "Y+ direction". In addition, the Y-direction and the Y+ direction are collectively referred to as the "Y direction". In addition, hereinafter, the direction orthogonal to the Y direction in the horizontal plane is referred to as the "X direction". In addition, the direction in the X direction close to the inner side wI in the vehicle width direction is referred to as the "X-direction", and the opposite direction is referred to as the "X+ direction".

[0039] like Figure 5 As shown, the detection device 40 is in the shape of a plate extending in the vertical direction and the X direction, and the end surface on the Y-direction side constitutes the detection surface 40s. Therefore, the surface orthogonal direction of the detection surface 40s is the Y direction. The detection device 40 is a radar device, which irradiates radio waves from the detection surface 40s to the Y-direction side, and uses the detection surface 40s to detect its reflected waves. Therefore, Figure 4 The detection device 40 shown detects an object on the Y-direction side. A cover (not shown) made of resin or the like through which radio waves pass is installed on the Y-direction side of the detection device 40 .

[0040] like Figure 6 As shown, the bracket 30 has a horizontal portion 33 and a vertical portion 36. The horizontal portion 33 is a plate extending in the Y direction and the X direction. The horizontal portion 33 is mounted on a portion of the front portion of the vehicle 100 that is located above the detection device 40 by means of screws Sc or the like. More specifically, in this embodiment, the horizontal portion 33 of the bracket 30 is mounted on the lower surface of the housing 23 of the lamp 20.

[0041] The vertical portion 36 is a plate-shaped portion extending in the X direction and the vertical direction, and protrudes downward from the Y-direction end of the horizontal portion 33. Figure 5 As shown, the detection device 40 is installed by screws Sc and the like. Figure 6As shown, the detection device 40 is supported by a bracket 30 at a portion of the front portion of the vehicle 100 that is located above the detection device 40 .

[0042] like Figure 3 As shown, when viewed from the front Fr, each detection device 40 is arranged at a position upward and away from the end portion of the bumper reinforcement 50 on the outer side wO in the vehicle width direction.

[0043] like Figure 4 As shown, the detection device 40 is set at a position that is further inward than the minor collision line cL, that is, the Y+ direction side when viewed from above. The minor collision line cL is a line that is 30 degrees relative to the vehicle width direction wO, wI when viewed from above and is connected to the front surface of the bumper reinforcement 50. More specifically, when viewed from above, the detection device 40 is set at a position that is rearward Rr away from the end of the bumper reinforcement 50 on the vehicle width direction outer side wO.

[0044] The end 40i on the inner side wI in the vehicle width direction of the detection device 40 is located further in the vehicle width direction wI than the end 50o on the outer side wO in the vehicle width direction of the bumper reinforcement 50. More specifically, the end 40si on the inner side wI in the vehicle width direction of the detection surface 40s is located further in the vehicle width direction wI than the end 50o on the outer side wO in the vehicle width direction of the bumper reinforcement 50.

[0045] Hereinafter, the configuration and effects of the present embodiment will be summarized.

[0046] like Figure 4 As shown, the end 40i on the inner side wI in the vehicle width direction of the detection device 40 is located further in the vehicle width direction wI than the end 50o on the outer side wO in the vehicle width direction of the bumper reinforcement 50. Therefore, even in the case of a minor collision LC, the detection device 40 is easily protected by the bumper reinforcement 50. Thus, it is possible to suppress functional damage to the detection device 40 when the vehicle 100 is subjected to a minor collision LC.

[0047] Moreover, if Figure 1 As shown, the detection device 40 is upwardly separated from the bumper reinforcement 50. Therefore, even if a force F is applied to the bumper reinforcement 50 due to the slight collision LC, the force F is applied in a manner that enters below the detection device 40. Therefore, there is no need to worry about the detection device 40 being caught between the bumper reinforcement 50 and the components located behind the detection device 40. Therefore, it is possible to more firmly suppress functional damage to the detection device 40 when the slight collision LC occurs.

[0048] Furthermore, in a test simulating an actual minor collision LC, specifically, for example, a pendulum test in which an impact is applied to the bumper reinforcement 50 , the detection device 40 is unlikely to be functionally damaged and easily passes the test, as described above.

[0049] In addition, by moving the detection device 40 upward away from the bumper reinforcement 50, the radio waves irradiated from the detection surface 40s and the reflected waves returned to the detection surface 40s are not easily blocked by the bumper reinforcement, so that objects can be detected at a wide angle.

[0050] Furthermore, if Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1 , the bracket 30 supports the detection device 40 at a portion located above the detection device 40. Figure 1 As shown, the detection device 40 can more easily avoid the influence of the force F applied from the bumper reinforcement 50 to the lower side of the detection device 40 during a minor collision. Therefore, it is possible to more firmly suppress functional damage to the detection device 40 during a minor collision LC.

[0051] like Figure 4 As shown in the figure, the detection device 40 is away from the bumper reinforcement 50 to the rear when viewed from above. Therefore, compared with the case where a part of the detection device 40 overlaps with the bumper reinforcement 50 when viewed from above, the detection device 40 is easily and more firmly protected by the bumper reinforcement 50. Therefore, it is possible to more firmly suppress the functional damage of the detection device 40 when a minor collision LC occurs.

[0052] [Other embodiments]

[0053] The above-described embodiment can be modified as follows, for example.

[0054] Even in Figure 4 In the plan view shown, the front end of the detection device 40 overlaps with the bumper reinforcement 50, and it can also overlap if there is no problem. Figure 6 The bracket 30 shown is not installed at a portion of the vehicle 100 located above the detection device 40, but is installed at a portion located at the Y+ direction side or the X direction side, etc., but may be installed at these portions if there is no problem.

[0055] Even in Figure 3 In the front view shown, the lower end of the detection device 40 and the like overlap with the bumper reinforcement 50, but they may overlap if there is no problem. The detection device 40 may also be a sonar device. That is, the detection device 40 may also irradiate sound waves from the detection surface 40s to the Y-direction side, and use the detection surface 40s to detect the reflected waves.

[0056] Reference numerals

[0057] 30 Bracket

[0058] 40 Detection Device

[0059] 40i The inner end of the detection device in the vehicle width direction

[0060] 50 Bumper reinforcement

[0061] 50o The end of the bumper reinforcement on the outside in the vehicle width direction

[0062] 70Vehicle front structure

[0063] 100 vehicles

[0064] Fr

[0065] wIInside in vehicle width direction

[0066] wO Outer side in vehicle width direction

[0067] After Rr

Claims

1. A vehicle front structure, comprising: A bumper reinforcement member, at the front end of the vehicle, extending in the vehicle width direction; a bracket mounted at an end portion in the vehicle width direction of the front portion of the aforementioned vehicle; and, a detection device mounted on the bracket to detect an object obliquely in front of the vehicle; and The end portion of the detection device on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is located further inward in the vehicle width direction than the end portion of the bumper reinforcement on the outer side in the vehicle width direction.

2. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein: The detection device is disposed at a position upwardly away from an end portion of the bumper reinforcement on an outer side in a vehicle width direction when viewed from the front side of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle front structure according to claim 2, wherein: The bracket is installed at a portion of the front portion of the vehicle that is located above the detection device.

4. The vehicle front structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: When viewed from above, the detection device is disposed at a position rearward and away from an end portion of the bumper reinforcement in the vehicle width direction.

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