FRONT STRUCTURE OF A VEHICLE

Abstract

Front structure of a vehicle (1), comprising: a radiator (15) which is installed in an engine compartment (4) in a front section of the vehicle (1); a fan collar (16) attached to a rear section of the cooler (15) and comprising a cooling fan (17) and a cylindrical section (16A) surrounding the cooling fan (17); a frame component (10) that is installed behind the fan collar (16) so that it extends in a vehicle width direction, and whose two ends are held in the vehicle width direction by a vehicle body (2L, 2R); a drive train (6) comprising a motor (7) and a drive device (8) which is connected to an end section of the motor (7) located in the width direction of the vehicle and is held on the frame component (10) so that it is suspended on the frame component (10); several engine accessories (24, 25) that are mounted on a top surface of the frame component (10); and a number of coolant lines (30, 31, 32, 33, 34) connecting the radiator (15), the several engine accessories (24, 25) and the engine (7), and cooling the several engine accessories (24, 25) and the engine (7) by means of a coolant, wherein: the several engine accessories (24, 25) are installed side by side in an up-down direction above the engine (7); the cooling fan (17) and the cylindrical section (16A) are installed on the side of the drive device (8) of a section (C) that is central in the direction of the vehicle width; the number of coolant lines (30, 31, 32, 33, 34) includes a number of intermediate coolant lines (33, 34) which connect the several engine accessories (24, 25) and the engine (7); and the number of coolant intermediate lines (33, 34) is installed on one side in the vehicle width direction of the cylindrical section (16A) and extends in the top-bottom direction.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a front structure of a vehicle. [General state of the art]

[0002] JP 2013-103585 A discloses a protective structure for a power control unit of an electric vehicle, wherein a protective bar is arranged between a radiator and the power control unit. The protective bar prevents a projection protruding from the radiator from entering the power control unit in the event of a collision.

[0003] Document DE 10 2010 045 100 A1 discloses a cooling device for a hybrid vehicle with a drive device comprising a generator driven by an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, wherein an electric water pump is arranged below a mounting device supporting the drive device. When an external force acts from a frontal direction of the vehicle, this can prevent the electric water pump from becoming trapped between the drive device and a radiator of the internal combustion engine.

[0004] Among electric vehicles that can run with a motor as a power source, a vehicle is known from JP H08 - 310 252 A in which engine accessories and a motor unit formed from an engine and a transaxle transmission are installed in an engine compartment in a front section of the vehicle.

[0005] In the electric vehicle, a control unit and motor accessories are mounted on a top surface of a component mounting frame, the motor unit is mounted on a bottom surface of the component mounting frame, and the component mounting frame is mounted on a vehicle body. [Summary of the invention][Technical problem]

[0006] Furthermore, the engine and its accessories generate heat during operation. Thus, in one known configuration, a radiator is installed in a front portion of an engine compartment, and the engine and the accessories are connected via a number of coolant lines. Thus, coolant cooled by the radiator is supplied to the engine and the accessories via the number of coolant lines.

[0007] Unless the number of coolant pipes is installed in a suitable position relative to the radiator and the component mounting frame to which the engine accessories and the engine unit are attached, the vehicle will increase in size and it may be difficult to protect the number of coolant pipes at the time of a vehicle impact.

[0008] Based on the prior art, the invention is based on the object of providing a front structure of a vehicle which simplifies the number of coolant pipes and protects the number of coolant pipes at the time of a vehicle impact, in a vehicle having a radiator, an engine installed on the underside of a frame member, and a plurality of engine accessories installed on an upper side of the frame member. [Solution to the problem]

[0009] The object is achieved according to the invention with a front structure of a vehicle having the features of patent claim 1. The front structure according to the invention comprises: a radiator installed in an engine compartment in a front portion of the vehicle; a fan shroud attached to a rear portion of the radiator and having a cooling fan and a cylindrical portion surrounding the cooling fan; a frame member installed behind the fan shroud so as to extend in a vehicle width direction, and both ends of which in the vehicle width direction are supported by a vehicle body; a powertrain including an engine and a drive device connected to an end portion of the engine in the vehicle width direction and supported on the frame member so as to be suspended from the frame member; a plurality of engine accessories mounted on a top surface of the frame member;and a plurality of coolant pipes connecting the radiator, the plurality of engine accessories, and the engine, and cooling the plurality of engine accessories and the engine with a coolant, wherein: the plurality of engine accessories are installed side by side in an up-down direction above the engine; the cooling fan and the cylindrical portion are installed on the drive device side of a central portion in the vehicle width direction; the plurality of coolant pipes includes a plurality of intermediate coolant pipes connecting the plurality of engine accessories and the engine; and the plurality of intermediate coolant pipes are installed on one side in the vehicle width direction of the cylindrical portion and extend in the up-down direction. [Advantageous effect of the invention]

[0010] As described above, according to the present invention, the number of coolant pipes can be simplified, and the number of coolant pipes can be protected at the time of a vehicle collision in a vehicle having a radiator, an engine installed on the lower side of a frame member, and a plurality of engine accessories installed on the upper side of the frame member. [Brief description of the drawings] [ Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a top view of an engine compartment including a front structure of a vehicle of an embodiment of the present invention. [ Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a diagram of the engine compartment with the front structure of a vehicle of the embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the front. [ Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a diagram of the engine compartment with the front structure of a vehicle of the embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the front, showing a state in which a radiator is removed. [ Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a diagram of the engine compartment with the front structure of a vehicle of the embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the left. [ Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a diagram of the engine compartment with the front structure of a vehicle of the embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the right. [ Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the engine compartment with the front structure of a vehicle of the embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the front upper left side. [Description of the embodiment]

[0011] A front structure of a vehicle of one embodiment of the present invention is a front structure of a vehicle, comprising: a radiator installed in an engine compartment in a front portion of the vehicle; a fan shroud attached to a rear portion of the radiator and having a cooling fan and a cylindrical portion surrounding the cooling fan; a frame member installed behind the fan shroud so as to extend in a vehicle width direction and having both ends in the vehicle width direction supported by a vehicle body; a powertrain including an engine and a drive device connected to a vehicle width direction end portion of the engine and supported on the frame member so as to be suspended from the frame member; a plurality of engine accessories mounted on an upper surface of the frame member;and a plurality of coolant pipes connecting the radiator, the plurality of engine accessories, and the engine, and cooling the plurality of engine accessories and the engine with a coolant, wherein: the plurality of engine accessories are installed side by side in an up-down direction above the engine; the cooling fan and the cylindrical portion are installed on the drive device side of a central portion in the vehicle width direction; the plurality of coolant pipes includes a plurality of intermediate coolant pipes connecting the plurality of engine accessories and the engine; and the plurality of intermediate coolant pipes are installed on one side in the vehicle width direction of the cylindrical portion and extend in the up-down direction.

[0012] As a result, the front structure of a vehicle of the embodiment of the present invention can simplify the number of coolant pipes and protect the number of coolant pipes at the time of a vehicle collision in a vehicle having a radiator, an engine installed on the lower side of a frame member, and a plurality of engine accessories installed on the upper side of the frame member. [Embodiment]

[0013] Hereinafter, a front structure of a vehicle of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] Fig. 1 to 6 are diagrams showing the front structure of a vehicle of the embodiment of the present invention. Regarding the up-down, front-back, and left-right directions, Fig. 1 to 6 the direction of travel of the vehicle is the forward direction and the reverse direction is the backward direction, the width direction of the vehicle is the left-right direction and the height direction of the vehicle is the up-down direction.

[0015] First, the configuration is described.

[0016] In Fig. 1, a vehicle 1 includes a left side member 2L and a right side member 2R. The left side member 2L and the right side member 2R are spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the vehicle 1 (hereinafter referred to as the vehicle width direction) and extend in the front-rear direction. The left side member 2L and the right side member 2R of the embodiment constitute a vehicle body of the present invention.

[0017] The vehicle 1 includes a partition wall 3, and the partition wall 3 divides the interior of the vehicle 1 into an engine compartment 4 at the front and a vehicle interior 5 at the rear. The engine compartment 4 is a space in a front portion of the vehicle 1, which is surrounded by the partition wall 3, the left side member 2L, and the right side member 2R.

[0018] It should be noted that the left side member 2L and the right side member 2R are each provided with a body wall forming the engine compartment 4, the illustration of which is omitted.

[0019] In Fig. 3, a powertrain 6 is installed in the engine compartment 4. The powertrain 6 includes an engine 7 and a drive device 8 connected to a left end portion of the engine 7 in the vehicle width direction.

[0020] The engine 7 forms a drive source for traveling the vehicle 1. The drive device 8 is configured to include a drive shaft (not shown), an output shaft, a plurality of gear pairs that transmit power from the drive shaft to the output shaft, and a differential unit that transmits power transmitted to the output shaft to a drive wheel (not shown), for example, via a drive shaft (not shown).

[0021] As in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, a subframe 10 is connected to a left side member 2L and a right side member 2R via a left support member 9L and a right support member 9R.

[0022] As in Fig. 1, the sub-frame 10 includes a front member 11, a rear member 12 installed behind the front member 11, and an auxiliary member 13 installed behind the rear member 12.

[0023] The front member 11 and the rear member 12 extend in the vehicle width direction, and the auxiliary member 13 is curved rearwardly in a substantially U-shape from the rear member. The subframe 10 of the embodiment constitutes a frame member of the present invention.

[0024] A left mounting component 14L with a mounting rubber 14a (see Fig. 4) is connected to a lower side of a left portion in the vehicle width direction of the front member 11 and the rear member 12, and the left mounting member 14L is connected to the drive device 8.

[0025] A right mounting component 14R with a mounting rubber 14b (see Fig. 5) is connected to a lower surface of a vehicle-direction right end portion of the front member 11 and the rear member 12, and the right mounting member 14R is connected to the engine 7.

[0026] A rear mounting component 14B with a mounting rubber 14c (see Fig. 5) is connected to a bottom of the auxiliary member 13, and the rear mounting member 14B is connected to a rear portion of the drive device 8.

[0027] The drive train 6 is thus elastically held to the subframe 10 by the left mounting member 14L, the right mounting member 14R and the rear mounting member 14B, so that it is suspended from the subframe 10.

[0028] In Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a radiator 15 is installed in the engine compartment 4, and the radiator 15 includes an upper tank 15A, a lower tank 15C installed below the upper tank 15A, and a radiator core 15B connecting the upper tank 15A and the lower tank 15C.

[0029] In Fig. 2, a downstream end 30b of an engine exhaust pipe 30 is connected to the upper tank 15A. An upstream end 30a of the engine exhaust pipe 30 is connected to the engine 7. The coolant that has cooled the engine 7 is introduced into the upper tank 15A via the engine exhaust pipe 30. Here, "upstream" and "downstream" refer to upstream and downstream with respect to the flow direction of the coolant.

[0030] The radiator core 15B is configured to include alternately laminated flat water tubes (not shown). The radiator core 15B cools the coolant flowing through a water tube from the upper tank 15A by exchanging heat between the coolant and outside air, and supplies the cooled coolant to the lower tank 15C.

[0031] An upstream end 31a of a radiator outlet pipe 31 is connected to the lower tank 15C, and a downstream end 31b of the radiator outlet pipe 31 is connected to an electric water pump 23. The coolant cooled by the radiator core 15B is sucked into the electric water pump 23 from the lower tank 15C via the radiator outlet pipe 31. The radiator 15 of the embodiment constitutes a radiator of the present invention.

[0032] As in Fig. 4, a fan shroud 16 is attached to a rear portion of the radiator 15. As shown in Fig. 2, the fan shroud 16 has a cooling fan 17, a cylindrical portion 16A surrounding the cooling fan 17, and a motor, not shown, that rotates the cooling fan 17.

[0033] The fan collar 16 rotates the cooling fan 17 to draw air into the radiator 15 at the front of the vehicle 1.

[0034] The sub-frame 10 is installed behind the fan shroud 16, and both end portions in the vehicle width direction are connected to the left side member 2L and the right side member 2R via the left support member 9L and the right support member 9R, respectively.

[0035] As in Fig. 2, the cooling fan 17 and the cylindrical portion 16A are installed so as to be shifted to the drive device side from a vehicle width direction center position C, and the radiator 15 covers a part of the engine 7 and the drive device 8 from the front.

[0036] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, a first engine accessory 24 and a second engine accessory 25 are attached to the top of the front member 11 and the rear member 12. The first engine accessory 24 and the second engine accessory 25 of the embodiment constitute an engine accessory of the present invention.

[0037] The first motor accessory 24 is configured as a battery module and a DC-DC converter and is installed on a top surface of the front member 11 and the rear member 12.

[0038] The second motor accessory 25 is designed as an inverter. The second motor accessory 25 is installed above the first motor accessory 24 and is connected to the first motor accessory 24 via a support 26. As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 5, the first engine accessory 24 and the second engine accessory 25 are installed above the sub-frame 10 to overlap with each other in the up-down direction above the engine 7.

[0039] A third engine accessory 27 is installed so that it lies on the left side of the first engine accessory 24 and the second engine accessory 25 on top of the front component 11, the rear component 12 and the auxiliary component 13 (see Fig. 1).

[0040] The third motor accessory 27 is designed as a junction box and is connected to the second motor accessory 25 by a cable 28. The second motor accessory 25 is connected to the motor 7 by a cable 29.

[0041] Both the battery module and the DC-DC converter of the first motor accessory 24 are connected to the third motor accessory 27 via a cable.

[0042] The DC-DC converter of the first motor accessory 24 transforms the output voltage of the battery module of the first motor accessory 24 and outputs the transformed voltage from the third motor accessory 27 to the second motor accessory 25.

[0043] The second motor accessory 25 converts the current output from the first motor accessory 24 from a direct current to an alternating current and supplies it to the motor 7 to rotate the motor.

[0044] In Fig. 3 and Fig. 6, an inverter inlet line 32, a first intermediate coolant line 33 and a second intermediate coolant line 34 are installed in the engine compartment 4.

[0045] An upstream end 32a of the inverter inlet line 32 is connected to the electric water pump 23, and a downstream end 32b of the inverter inlet line 32 is connected to the second engine accessory 25.

[0046] The electric water pump 23 is connected to the lower tank 15C through the radiator outlet line 31.

[0047] As a result, low-temperature coolant cooled by the radiator core 15B and introduced into the lower tank 15C is allowed to flow into the second engine accessory 25 via the radiator outlet line 31 and the inverter inlet line 32 by means of the electric pump 23. Thus, the second engine accessory 25 is cooled by the coolant.

[0048] An upstream end 33a of the first intermediate coolant passage 33 is connected to the second engine accessory 25, and a downstream end 33b of the first intermediate coolant passage 33 is connected to the first engine accessory 24. As a result, the coolant discharged from the second engine accessory 25 is introduced into the first engine accessory 24 via the first intermediate coolant passage 33, and the first engine accessory 24 is cooled by the coolant.

[0049] An upstream end 34a of the second intermediate coolant line 34 is connected to the first engine accessory 24, and a downstream end 34b of the second intermediate coolant line 34 is connected to the engine 7.

[0050] As a result, the coolant discharged from the first engine accessory 24 is introduced into the engine 7 via the second intermediate coolant passage 34, and the engine 7 is cooled by the coolant.

[0051] The upstream end 30a of the engine exhaust pipe 30 is connected to the engine 7, and the downstream end 30b of the engine exhaust pipe 30 is connected to the upper tank 15A. As a result, the coolant that has cooled the engine 7 is returned to the upper tank 15A by flowing through the engine exhaust pipe 30.

[0052] Thus, a cooling system composed of the radiator 15, the inverter inlet line 32, the first intermediate coolant line 33, the second intermediate coolant line 34, and the motor outlet line 30 cools the motor 7, the first motor accessory 24, and the second motor accessory 25.

[0053] As in Fig. 2, the first intermediate coolant pipe 33 and the second intermediate coolant pipe 34 are installed on the vehicle width direction side (right) of the cylindrical portion 16A of the fan shroud 16 and extend in the up-down direction.

[0054] The downstream end 33b of the first intermediate coolant pipe 33 and the upstream end 34a of the second intermediate coolant pipe 34 are installed at the same height position, and the downstream end 34b of the second intermediate coolant pipe 34 is installed at a position lower than the downstream end 33b of the first intermediate coolant pipe 33.

[0055] The first intermediate coolant pipe 33 is installed on an outer side (right) in the vehicle width direction of the second intermediate coolant pipe 34. In other words, the first intermediate coolant pipe 33 is installed at a position separated from the drive device 8 in the vehicle width direction from the second intermediate coolant pipe 34.

[0056] The engine outlet line 30, the radiator outlet line 31, the inverter inlet line 32, the first intermediate coolant line 33 and the second intermediate coolant line 34 of the embodiment constitute a number of coolant lines of the present invention.

[0057] The radiator outlet line 31 and the inverter inlet line 32 form a plurality of coolant supply lines of the present invention, and the motor outlet line 30 forms a plurality of coolant return lines of the present invention. The first intermediate coolant line 33 and the second intermediate coolant line 34 form a plurality of intermediate coolant lines of the present invention.

[0058] In Fig. 1, an electric vacuum pump 35 is installed in the engine compartment 4. The electric vacuum pump 35 is configured to include a tubular housing 35A extending in the up-down direction, and an electric motor (not shown) that generates negative pressure and is provided inside the housing 35A.

[0059] The electric vacuum pump 35 generates negative pressure through the electric motor and supplies the negative pressure to a vacuum booster (not shown). The negative pressure supplied to the vacuum booster assists the driver's pressing force applied to a brake pedal (not shown).

[0060] The housing 35A is fixed to the front component 11 by the carrier 26 (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) and extends downwards from the front component 11.

[0061] As in Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the electric vacuum pump 35 is arranged below the first intermediate coolant line 33 and upstream of the first intermediate coolant line 33. The electric vacuum pump 35 of the embodiment constitutes a vehicle accessory of the present invention. Note that the vehicle accessory is not limited to the electric vacuum pump 35.

[0062] In Fig. 6, an expansion tank 36 is installed in the engine compartment 4. The expansion tank 36 is connected to the first intermediate coolant line 33 via a first expansion tank inlet line 37.

[0063] The surge tank 36 receives from the first surge tank inlet line 37 air contained in the coolant flowing from the lower tank 15C through the radiator outlet line 31, the inverter inlet line 32, the first intermediate coolant line 33, the second intermediate coolant line 34 and the engine outlet line 30.

[0064] The expansion tank 36 is connected to the upper tank 15A of the radiator 15 via a second expansion tank inlet line 39.

[0065] The expansion tank 36 receives air contained in the coolant flowing through the upper tank 15A from the second expansion tank inlet line 39.

[0066] The expansion tank 36 separates the air admitted from the first expansion tank inlet line 37 and the second expansion tank inlet line 39 from the coolant.

[0067] The expansion tank 36 is connected to the lower tank 15C via a expansion tank outlet line 38. The expansion tank 36 supplies the coolant separated from the air to the lower tank 15C via the expansion tank outlet line 38 and mixes it with the low-temperature coolant introduced into the lower tank 15C from the radiator core 15B.

[0068] As described above, the front structure of the vehicle 1 of the embodiment includes the fan shroud 16 attached to a rear portion of the radiator 15 and having the cooling fan 17 and the cylindrical portion 16A surrounding the cooling fan 17, and a first engine accessory 24 and a second engine accessory 25 attached to the upper surface of the sub-frame 10.

[0069] Further, the front structure of the vehicle 1 includes the engine outlet line 30, the radiator outlet line 31, the inverter inlet line 32, the first coolant intermediate line 33 and the second coolant intermediate line 34, which connect the radiator 15, the first engine accessory 24, the second engine accessory 25 and the engine 7 and cool the first engine accessory 24, the second engine accessory 25 and the engine 7 by a coolant.

[0070] The first engine accessory 24 and the second engine accessory 25 are installed side by side in the up-down direction above the engine 7, and the cooling fan 17 and the cylindrical portion 16A are installed on the drive device 8 side of the vehicle width direction center portion C.

[0071] As a result, a space in front of the engine 7, the first engine accessory 24 and the second engine accessory 25 can be enlarged.

[0072] Further, according to the front structure of the vehicle 1 of the embodiment, the first intermediate coolant pipe 33 and the second intermediate coolant pipe 34 are installed on the vehicle width direction side of the cylindrical portion 16A and extend in the up-down direction.

[0073] As a result, the first intermediate coolant passage 33 and the second intermediate coolant passage 34 do not need to be curved into a complex shape to avoid the sub-frame 10 or the cylindrical portion 16A, and therefore the structure of the first intermediate coolant passage 33 and the second intermediate coolant passage 34 can be simplified.

[0074] Furthermore, since the first intermediate coolant pipe 33 and the second intermediate coolant pipe 34 can be prevented from being interposed between the cylindrical portion 16A and the sub-frame 10 at the time of an impact of the vehicle 1, the first intermediate coolant pipe 33 and the second intermediate coolant pipe 34 can be protected from an external force.

[0075] Thus, in the vehicle 1 having the radiator 15, the engine 7 installed on the lower side of the sub-frame 10, and the first engine accessory 24 and the second engine accessory 25 installed on the upper side of the sub-frame 10, the front structure of the vehicle 1 of the embodiment can simplify the first coolant intermediate pipe 33 and the second coolant intermediate pipe 34 and protect the first coolant intermediate pipe 33 and the second coolant intermediate pipe 34 at the time of a collision of the vehicle 1.

[0076] The front structure of the vehicle 1 of the embodiment further includes the first engine accessory 24 installed on the upper side of the sub-frame 10 and the second engine accessory 25 installed above the first engine accessory 24.

[0077] Further, according to the front structure of the vehicle 1 of the embodiment, the plurality of coolant passages includes the radiator outlet passage 31 and the inverter inlet passage 32 connecting the radiator 15 and the second engine accessory 25 and allowing the flow of coolant from the radiator 15 to the second engine accessory 25, and the engine outlet passage 30 connecting the radiator 15 and the engine 7 and allowing the flow of coolant that has cooled the engine 7 to the radiator 15.

[0078] According to the front structure of the vehicle 1 of the embodiment, the plurality of intermediate coolant passages further includes the first intermediate coolant passage 33 that allows the flow of the coolant from the second engine accessory 25 to the first engine accessory 24, and the second intermediate coolant passage 34 that allows the flow of the coolant from the first engine accessory 24 to the engine 7.

[0079] As a result, the first intermediate coolant pipe 33 and the second intermediate coolant pipe 34 can be installed to allow the flow of coolant from the top to the bottom in the vertical direction. Thus, the first intermediate coolant pipe 33 and the second intermediate coolant pipe 34 do not need to be curved into a complex shape to avoid the subframe 10 or the cylindrical portion 16A, and therefore the structure of the first intermediate coolant pipe 33 and the second intermediate coolant pipe 34 can be simplified more effectively.

[0080] Furthermore, since the first intermediate coolant pipe 33 and the second intermediate coolant pipe 34 can be installed to allow the coolant to flow from the top to the bottom in the vertical direction, the coolant can flow more smoothly from the top to the bottom. As a result, the capacity of the electric water pump 23 can be reduced, and the electric water pump 23 can be made smaller.

[0081] The front structure of the vehicle 1 of the embodiment further includes the electric vacuum pump 35 having the tubular housing 35A attached to the sub-frame 10 so as to extend in the up-down direction.

[0082] Further, according to the front structure of the vehicle 1 of the embodiment, the first intermediate coolant pipe 33 is installed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the second intermediate coolant pipe 34, and the electric vacuum pump 35 is arranged below the first intermediate coolant pipe 33 and in front of the first intermediate coolant pipe 33.

[0083] As a result, the electric vacuum pump 35, which has the tubular housing 35A extending in the up-down direction, can be installed in a space below the first intermediate coolant pipe 33. Thus, the mounting capability of the electric vacuum pump 35 is improved.

[0084] Furthermore, at the time of a collision (head-on collision) of the vehicle 1, the housing 35A of the electric vacuum pump 35 can be brought into contact with on-vehicle components in the front part of the vehicle 1 earlier than the first intermediate coolant passage 33. Thus, the first intermediate coolant passage 33 can be protected by the electric vacuum pump 35. Note that although the front structure of the vehicle 1 of the embodiment is the front structure of an electric vehicle, this structure is also applicable to a front structure of a hybrid vehicle.

[0085] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. All such modifications and equivalents are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the following claims. [List of reference symbols]

[0086] 1... vehicle, 2L... left side member (vehicle body), 2R... right side member (vehicle body), 4... engine compartment, 6... drive train, 7... engine, 8... drive device, 10... subframe (frame component), 15... radiator (radiator), 16... fan shroud, 16A... cylindrical section, 17... cooling fan, 24... first engine accessory (engine accessory), 25... second engine accessory (engine accessory), 30... engine outlet line (coolant line, coolant return line), 31... radiator outlet line (coolant line, coolant supply line), 32... inverter inlet line (coolant line), 33... first intermediate coolant line (intermediate coolant line, coolant line), 34... second intermediate coolant line (intermediate coolant line, coolant line), 35... electric vacuum pump (vehicle accessory), 35A... casing, C... in Vehicle width direction middle section

Claims

[1] Front structure of a vehicle (1), comprising: a radiator (15) installed in an engine compartment (4) in a front portion of the vehicle (1); a fan shroud (16) attached to a rear portion of the radiator (15) and having a cooling fan (17) and a cylindrical portion (16A) surrounding the cooling fan (17); a frame member (10) installed behind the fan shroud (16) so as to extend in a vehicle width direction and having both ends in the vehicle width direction supported by a vehicle body (2L, 2R); a drive train (6) comprising an engine (7) and a drive device (8) connected to an end portion of the engine (7) in the vehicle width direction and held on the frame member (10) so as to be suspended from the frame member (10); a plurality of engine accessories (24, 25) mounted on a top surface of the frame member (10); and a number of coolant lines (30, 31, 32, 33, 34) connecting the radiator (15), the plurality of engine accessories (24, 25) and the engine (7) and cooling the plurality of engine accessories (24, 25) and the engine (7) by a coolant, wherein: the plurality of engine accessories (24, 25) are installed side by side in an up-down direction above the engine (7); the cooling fan (17) and the cylindrical portion (16A) are installed on the drive device (8) side of a vehicle width direction central portion (C); the plurality of coolant lines (30, 31, 32, 33, 34) comprises a plurality of intermediate coolant lines (33, 34) connecting the plurality of engine accessories (24, 25) and the engine (7); and the number of intermediate coolant pipes (33, 34) are installed on one side in the vehicle width direction of the cylindrical portion (16A) and extend in the up-down direction. [2] Front structure of the vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by , that the plurality of engine accessories (24, 25) comprise a first engine accessory (24) installed on a top surface of the frame member (10) and a second engine accessory (25) installed above the first engine accessory (24); the number of coolant lines (30, 31, 32, 33, 34) comprises a number of coolant supply lines (31, 32) connecting the radiator (15) and the second engine accessory (25) and allowing the flow of coolant from the radiator (15) to the second engine component (25), and a number of coolant return lines (30) connecting the radiator (15) and the engine (7) and allowing the flow of the coolant that has cooled the engine (7) to the radiator (15); and the number of intermediate coolant lines (33, 34) comprises a number of first intermediate coolant lines (33) which enable the flow of coolant from the second engine accessory (25) to the first engine accessory (24), and a number of second intermediate coolant lines (34) which enable the flow of coolant from the first engine accessory (24) to the engine (7). [3] Front structure of the vehicle (1) according to claim 2, characterized bythat it comprises a vehicle accessory (35) having a tubular housing (35A) attached to the frame member (10) so as to extend in the up-down direction, wherein the number of first intermediate coolant lines (33) is installed on an outer side in the vehicle width direction of the number of second intermediate coolant lines (34), and the vehicle accessory part (35) is arranged below the number of first intermediate coolant lines (33) and in front of the number of first intermediate coolant lines (33).

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