Vehicle front bumper periphery structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle front bumper periphery structure which enables reduction of air resistance during traveling to improve aerodynamic performance.SOLUTION: A vehicle front bumper periphery structure 100 according to the invention includes: a front bumper 102 installed on a vehicle body front end; and a garnish 108 fixed to a lower part 104 of the front bumper and extending in a vehicle width direction. The garnish has an extension wall 114 which lowers toward the vehicle rear and extends to the vehicle rear farther than the lower part of the front bumper.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a structure around a front bumper for a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Vehicles such as automobiles include a front bumper installed at the front end of the vehicle body. For this reason, in a vehicle, when traveling, the oncoming wind flows from the lower part of the front bumper into the lower surface of the vehicle body, and the aerodynamic resistance (air resistance) may increase. In order to reduce such air resistance generated during traveling, for example, components such as an air dam, a deflector, and a strake, which are fairings having a shape that blocks air, are known.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a front fairing structure for an automobile. This front fairing structure includes a front part of a cover of an under cover, an air dam attached to a front bumper, and a deflector. The deflector is located at a position separated from the air dam by a predetermined distance between the air dam and the front wheel house.

[0004] The front fairing structure also forms a pocket part with an opening on the inner side in the vehicle width direction by the front part of the cover, the air dam, and the deflector. Further, the air dam includes a traveling wind intake part formed with an opening so as to take in the traveling wind toward the pocket part.

[0005] In Patent Document 1, since the air dam can deflect the traveling wind from the front of the vehicle downward, it is possible to suppress the intrusion of the traveling wind into the front wheel house and suppress the air resistance caused by the disturbance of the side flow on the side of the vehicle. Also, in Patent Document 1, by introducing the traveling wind into the inside of the pocket part through the traveling wind intake part, the difference between the flow velocity of the traveling wind flowing outside the pocket part and the flow velocity of the traveling wind flowing inside the pocket part is reduced, and it is possible to easily adjust the lift force at the front of the vehicle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2015-150913 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] Here, structural components such as undercarriage parts (e.g., drive shafts and differentials) are located behind the lower part of the front bumper. Therefore, airflow flowing from the lower part of the front bumper to the underside of the vehicle body may collide with these structures, potentially increasing driving resistance (air resistance) and reducing aerodynamic performance.

[0008] The front airflow rectification structure in Patent Document 1 merely uses an air dam to prevent airflow from entering the front wheel well, or introduces airflow into the pocket section using an airflow intake section.

[0009] Therefore, in the front airflow rectification structure of Patent Document 1, the airflow collides with a structure located behind the lower part of the front bumper, increasing air resistance and reducing aerodynamic performance. Furthermore, if the airflow is sharply deflected by a deflector separated from the air dam by a predetermined distance, it may have unfavorable aerodynamic effects.

[0010] In view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle front bumper surrounding structure that can reduce air resistance during driving and improve aerodynamic performance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] To solve the above problems, a typical configuration of the vehicle front bumper surrounding structure according to the present invention is a vehicle front bumper surrounding structure equipped with a front bumper installed at the front end of the vehicle body, wherein the vehicle front bumper surrounding structure further includes a garnish fixed to the lower part of the front bumper and extending in the vehicle width direction, and the garnish has an extending wall that slopes downward towards the rear of the vehicle and extends further rearward than the lower part of the front bumper. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle front bumper surrounding structure that can reduce air resistance during driving and improve aerodynamic performance. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This figure shows a vehicle front bumper surrounding structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure shows the main parts of the surrounding structure of Figure 1, viewed from a diagonal front angle. [Figure 3] This figure shows the main parts of the surrounding structure of Figure 1 as viewed from below. [Figure 4] This figure shows the main parts of the surrounding structure of Figure 1, viewed from a diagonal rearward angle. [Figure 5] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view (AA) and a view taken along arrow D of the surrounding structure. [Figure 6] Figure 4 shows cross-sectional views of the surrounding structure, specifically BB and CC.

[0014] A typical configuration of a vehicle front bumper peripheral structure according to one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle front bumper peripheral structure equipped with a front bumper installed at the front end of the vehicle body, wherein the vehicle front bumper peripheral structure further includes a garnish fixed to the lower part of the front bumper and extending in the vehicle width direction, and the garnish has an extending wall that slopes downward towards the rear of the vehicle and extends further rearward than the lower part of the front bumper.

[0015] Structural components such as suspension parts are located behind the lower part of the front bumper. Therefore, airflow flowing from the lower part of the front bumper to the underside of the vehicle body may collide with these structures, potentially increasing air resistance and reducing aerodynamic performance.

[0016] Therefore, in the above configuration, a garnish extending in the vehicle width direction is fixed to the lower part of the front bumper, and the garnish is provided with an extension wall that descends toward the rear of the vehicle and extends to the rear of the vehicle beyond the lower part of the front bumper.

[0017] Thus, since the extension wall of the garnish is inclined or curved so as to descend toward the rear of the vehicle, the running wind is guided to flow along the extension wall and is rectified. That is, the extension wall can rectify the running wind so as to flow downward toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0018] In addition, the running wind rectified along the extension wall diffuses from the location where the extension wall ends, that is, from the rear end. Since the extension wall extends to the rear of the vehicle beyond the lower part of the front bumper, it can maintain the downward flow of the diffused running wind while guiding the running wind further downward. Therefore, even when a structure is arranged behind the garnish, it is difficult for the running wind to collide with the structure, and the air resistance during running can be reduced and the aerodynamic performance can be improved.

[0019] The above structure around the front bumper for a vehicle further includes a strake arranged outside the garnish in the vehicle width direction and extending downward of the vehicle. The garnish preferably has a front wall overlapping the strake from the front side of the vehicle, and a standing wall connecting the extension wall and the front wall.

[0020] Thus, since the strake is arranged outside the garnish in the vehicle width direction, when the running wind colliding with the front wall or the strake of the garnish flows in the vehicle width direction, the strake guides the running wind to the outside in the vehicle width direction. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the collision of the running wind with the structure arranged behind the garnish.

[0021] In addition, the oncoming air that collides with the front wall or the strake of the garnish can be guided from the front wall of the garnish to the extending wall via the standing wall and rectified so as to flow inward in the vehicle width direction and downward of the vehicle. According to the above configuration, the oncoming air that collides with the front wall or the strake of the garnish can be guided not only to the outside in the vehicle width direction but also to the inside in the vehicle width direction and downward of the vehicle. Therefore, the air resistance during running can be reduced and the aerodynamic performance can be improved. Further, since the extending wall of the garnish is connected to the front wall overlapping the strake via the standing wall, rigidity can be ensured.

[0022] The above-mentioned standing wall may be inclined inward in the vehicle width direction as it goes toward the rear of the vehicle, and the height dimension may become smaller as it goes toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0023] Thereby, the oncoming air flows inward in the vehicle width direction along the standing wall inclined inward in the vehicle width direction from the front wall of the garnish, and is further guided to the extending wall. Therefore, the air guiding performance of the garnish is likely to be exhibited, and the oncoming air can be more reliably guided inward in the vehicle width direction and downward of the vehicle. Thereby, even when a structure is arranged behind the garnish, the oncoming air can be directed downward, so that the air resistance during running can be reduced and the aerodynamic performance can be improved.

[0024] In addition, since the height dimension of the standing wall of the garnish becomes smaller as it goes toward the rear of the vehicle, the area of the standing wall that collides with the oncoming air becomes smaller as it goes toward the rear of the vehicle, and an increase in air resistance can be suppressed.

[0025] The above-mentioned garnish may further have a rib standing on the extending wall and abutting against the lower part of the front bumper.

[0026] In this configuration, the ribs erected on the extension wall of the garnish are in contact with the lower part of the front bumper, thus maintaining the shape of the extension wall. Therefore, even if the wind collides with the extension wall and causes wind pressure, the lower part of the front bumper acts as a shield, pushing the ribs downwards against the vehicle, thereby preventing the extension wall from deforming upwards.

[0027] The front bumper described above has a fixed surface extending in the vehicle width direction to which the garnish is fixed, a wall surface that bends downward from the rear end of the fixed surface, and a contact surface that extends from the lower end of the wall surface toward the rear of the vehicle and abuts against a rib, and the rib extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction, with its front end located below the fixed surface and its rear end located behind the contact surface.

[0028] Thus, the ribs extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle from their front end, located below the fixing surface of the front bumper, to their rear end, located behind the contact surface of the front bumper. As a result, the garnish is less prone to deformation of the extended wall due to the ribs extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and even if it is struck by airflow while driving, it is possible to prevent the rear end of the extended wall from bending upwards. [Examples]

[0029] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values ​​shown in these embodiments are merely illustrative to facilitate understanding of the invention and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant explanations, and elements not directly related to the present invention are omitted from the illustrations.

[0030] Figure 1 shows a vehicle front bumper surrounding structure (hereinafter referred to as "surrounding structure 100") according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following figures, the front-rear direction of the vehicle is indicated by the arrows Front and Back, the left and right directions in the vehicle width direction are indicated by the arrows Left and Right, and the up-down direction of the vehicle is indicated by the arrows Up and Down. In the following description, the surrounding structure 100 on the left side of the vehicle in Figure 1 is used as an example, but this embodiment may also be applied to the right side of the vehicle.

[0031] The surrounding structure 100 includes a front bumper 102 installed at the front end of the vehicle body. Behind the lower part 104 of the front bumper 102, there is a structure 106 (see Figure 5(a)) such as undercarriage components, which is schematically shown in the figure. Therefore, when driving, the airflow that flows from the lower part 104 of the front bumper 102 to the underside of the vehicle body may collide with the structure 106, potentially increasing air resistance and reducing aerodynamic performance.

[0032] Therefore, the peripheral structure 100 of this embodiment is further equipped with an airflow garnish 108 and a strake 110, thereby reducing the collision of airflow with the structure 106 and suppressing the increase in air resistance during driving.

[0033] The garnish 108 is a component fixed to the lower part 104 of the front bumper 102 and extending in the vehicle width direction. The strake 110 is a component positioned on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the garnish 108 and extending downwards of the vehicle, and its rigidity is increased by forming a step 111, for example. The strake 110 also has the function of reducing air resistance by reducing air interference with the wheels 112 during driving.

[0034] Figure 2 shows the main part of the peripheral structure 100 in Figure 1 viewed from an oblique front angle. Figure 3 shows the main part of the peripheral structure 100 in Figure 1 viewed from below.

[0035] The garnish 108 has an extension wall 114 that extends to the rear of the vehicle, a front wall 116 that overlaps the strake 110 from the front of the vehicle, and a vertical wall 118 that connects the extension wall 114 and the front wall 116. The vertical wall 118 has a height dimension that decreases towards the rear of the vehicle as shown by the dashed line in Figure 2 (see Figure 5), and further inclined inward in the vehicle width direction as it approaches the rear of the vehicle as shown in Figure 3. In addition, the extension wall 114 of the garnish 108 is connected to the front wall 116 that overlaps the highly rigid strake 110 via the vertical wall 118, thus ensuring rigidity.

[0036] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the garnish 108 is overlapped vertically with the lower part 104 and the strake 110 of the front bumper 102 behind the front wall 116 and fastened with screws 120. In addition, the extended wall 114 of the garnish 108 has an upwardly bulging portion 122 (see Figure 4).

[0037] The garnish 108 is formed by overlapping the bulging portion 122 and the lower part 104 of the front bumper 102 in the vertical direction and fastening them together with screws 124. As shown in Figure 3, a wheel well 126 surrounding the upper part of the wheel 112 is located near the front bumper 102 and the strake 110.

[0038] Figure 4 shows the main part of the peripheral structure 100 in Figure 1 as viewed from the rear at an oblique angle. Figure 5 shows the AA cross-sectional view and the view from arrow D of the peripheral structure 100 in Figure 4. In the AA cross-sectional view of Figure 5(a), the positions of the vertical wall 118 and screw 124 of the garnish 108 are indicated by dashed lines, and the structure 106 located behind the lower part 104 of the front bumper 102 is also shown.

[0039] As shown in Figure 5(a), the extension wall 114 of the garnish 108 is curved or inclined so as to descend towards the rear of the vehicle, and further extends so that its rear end 128 is located further rearward than the lower part 104 of the front bumper 102.

[0040] The lower part 104 of the front bumper 102 has a fixing surface 130 that extends in the vehicle width direction, as shown in Figure 4. Screws 120, 124, and 132 that fix the lower part 104 of the front bumper 102 to the garnish 108 are arranged on the fixing surface 130, spaced apart in the vehicle width direction.

[0041] The lower part 104 of the front bumper 102 further has a wall surface 134 and a contact surface 136. The wall surface 134 extends downward in a curve from the rear end 138 of the fixed surface 130. The garnish 108 further has a rib 140 erected from the extending wall 114. The contact surface 136 extends rearward from the lower end 142 of the wall surface 134, as shown in Figure 5(a), and contacts the rib 140.

[0042] The garnish 108 also has an upper wall 144, as shown in Figure 5(a). The upper wall 144 extends from the extending wall 114 in a curve toward the rear of the vehicle and abuts against the fixed surface 130. The rib 140 extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, with its front end 146 extending to the upper wall 144 of the garnish 108 and positioned below the fixed surface 130, and its rear end 148 positioned behind the abutment surface 136.

[0043] As shown in the perspective view D of Figures 4 and 5(b), the garnish 108 has another rib 150 that is spaced apart from the rib 140 and outward in the vehicle width direction. The rib 150 is erected on the extension wall 114 and abuts against the fixed surface 136 of the lower part 104 of the front bumper 102.

[0044] Here, we will explain the behavior of the airflow that flows from the lower part 104 of the front bumper 102 to the underside of the vehicle body during driving in the surrounding structure 100. As an example, we consider the case where the airflow W collides with the front wall 116 and strake 110 of the garnish 108 and flows in the width direction of the vehicle, as shown in Figure 3. The airflow W is guided by the garnish 108 from the front wall 116, along the vertical wall 118 which slopes inward in the width direction as it approaches the rear of the vehicle, and is further guided to the extension wall 114, becoming the airflow Wa.

[0045] In this way, because the vertical wall 118 is inclined inward in the vehicle width direction, the air guiding performance of the garnish 108 is more easily utilized, and the airflow Wa can be more reliably guided inward in the vehicle width direction and downward on the vehicle. In addition, since the height dimension of the vertical wall 118 decreases as it approaches the rear of the vehicle, the area of ​​the vertical wall 118 that strikes the airflow decreases as it approaches the rear of the vehicle, thereby suppressing the increase in air resistance.

[0046] Furthermore, a portion of the airflow W is guided outward in the vehicle width direction by the strake 110 positioned on the outside of the garnish 108 in the vehicle width direction, becoming airflow Wb. Since the airflow Wb flows outward in the vehicle width direction, it is less likely to collide with the structure 106 positioned behind the garnish 108. In this way, the surrounding structure 100 can guide the airflow W that collides with the front wall 116 and strake 110 of the garnish 108 not only outward in the vehicle width direction, but also inward in the vehicle width direction and downward on the vehicle.

[0047] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5(a), the extension wall 114 of the garnish 108 is inclined or curved so as to descend towards the rear of the vehicle, so the airflow Wa is guided and straightened to flow along the extension wall 114. In other words, the extension wall 114 can straighten the airflow Wa so that it flows downwards towards the rear of the vehicle.

[0048] Furthermore, the airflow Wa, which is rectified along the extension wall 114, is diffused from the point where the extension wall 114 is interrupted, i.e., the rear end 128. Here, as shown in Figure 5(a), the extension wall 114 extends further rearward than the lower part 104 of the front bumper 102. Therefore, the extension wall 114 can guide the airflow Wa further downward while maintaining the downward flow of the further diffused airflow Wa.

[0049] As a result, the airflow Wa is less likely to collide with the structure 106 located behind the garnish 108, and even if it does collide, it is more likely to flow downwards towards the structure 106, like the airflow Wc. Therefore, the surrounding structure 100 can reduce air resistance during driving and improve aerodynamic performance.

[0050] Furthermore, since the ribs 140 erected on the extension wall 114 of the garnish 108 are in contact with the contact surface 136 of the lower part 104 of the front bumper 102, the shape of the extension wall 114 can be maintained. Therefore, even if the airflow Wa collides with the extension wall 114 and it is subjected to wind pressure, the contact surface 136 of the front bumper 102 acts as a backing, pushing the ribs 140 downwards on the vehicle. As a result, the surrounding structure 100 can suppress the deformation of the extension wall 114 upwards on the vehicle as shown by arrow E in Figure 5(a).

[0051] Furthermore, the rib 140 extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle from its front end 146, located below the fixing surface 130 of the front bumper 102, to its rear end 148, located behind the contact surface 136 of the front bumper 102. As a result, the garnish 108 is less susceptible to deformation of the extended wall 114 due to the rib 140 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. This prevents the rear end 128 of the extended wall 114 from bending upwards of the vehicle even when struck by the airflow Wa of the vehicle.

[0052] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the BB and CC sections of the peripheral structure 100 in Figure 4. The depth configuration of each section is also shown in the figure. As shown in the BB cross-sectional view of Figure 4 and Figure 6(a), the garnish 108 has other ribs 152 spaced apart from the rib 140 in the vehicle width direction.

[0053] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6(a), the front bumper 102 has an extension surface 154 that extends forward from the contact surface 136. The rib 152 is erected on the extension wall 114 and contacts the contact surface 136 and the extension surface 154, and is further sandwiched between the extension surface 154 and the upper wall 144.

[0054] As a result, the shape of the extension wall 114 can be adequately maintained by the ribs 152. Therefore, in the surrounding structure 100, even if the airflow Wa (see Figure 5(a)) collides with the extension wall 114 and is subjected to wind pressure, the contact surface 136 and extension surface 154 of the front bumper act as a shield, making it difficult for the extension wall 114 to deform upwards on the vehicle.

[0055] As shown in Figures 4 and 6(a), the garnish 108 has a projection 156 that protrudes toward the rear of the vehicle. This projection 156 passes through an opening 158 formed in the wall surface 134 of the lower part 104 of the front bumper 102 shown in Figure 4, allowing the garnish 108 to be temporarily fastened to the lower part 104 of the front bumper 102. Figure 6(a) shows a vertical wall 160 located on the right side of the garnish 108 in the vehicle width direction. This vertical wall 160 is located opposite the vertical wall 118 (see Figure 5(b)) located on the left side in the vehicle width direction.

[0056] Furthermore, in the garnish 108, as shown in the CC cross-sectional view in Figure 6(b), the top wall 162 of the bulging portion 122 that protrudes above the extension wall 124 and the fixing surface 130 of the lower part 104 of the front bumper 102 are overlapped, and the screw 124 is inserted from below. In this way, the surrounding structure 100 allows the garnish 108 and the lower part 104 of the front bumper 102 to be temporarily fixed by the protruding portion 156 and then securely fixed with the screw 124.

[0057] Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications or alterations can be conceived within the scope of the claims, and these will naturally also fall within the technical scope of the present invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0058] This invention can be used in the structure surrounding the front bumper of a vehicle. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0059] 100…Vehicle front bumper surrounding structure, 102…Front bumper, 104…Lower part of front bumper, 106…Structure, 108…Garnish, 110…Strake, 111…Step of strake, 112…Wheel, 114…Extending wall, 116…Front wall, 118, 160…Vertical wall, 120, 124, 132…Screw, 122…Bulging part, 126…Wheel house, 128…Rear end of extending wall, 130…Fixed surface, 134…Wall surface, 136…Contact surface, 138…Rear end of fixed surface, 140, 150, 152…Rib, 142…Lower end of wall surface, 144…Upper wall, 146…Front end of rib, 148…Rear end of rib, 154…Extension surface, 156…Protrusion, 158…Opening in wall surface, 162…Top wall

Claims

1. In a vehicle front bumper peripheral structure having a front bumper installed at the front end of a vehicle body, the vehicle front bumper peripheral structure further comprises: a garnish fixed to a lower portion of the front bumper and extending in a vehicle width direction; The garnish has an extending wall that descends toward the rear of the vehicle and extends further rearward than the lower portion of the front bumper.

2. The vehicle front bumper peripheral structure further includes a strake disposed on the outer side of the garnish in the vehicle width direction and extending downward of the vehicle, The garnish is a front wall overlapping the strake from the front side of the vehicle; 2. The vehicle front bumper peripheral structure according to claim 1, further comprising a standing wall connecting the extension wall and the front wall.

3. 3. The vehicle front bumper peripheral structure according to claim 2, wherein the vertical wall is inclined inward in the vehicle width direction toward the rear of the vehicle, and the height dimension of the vertical wall decreases toward the rear of the vehicle.

4. 4. The vehicle front bumper peripheral structure according to claim 1, wherein the garnish further includes a rib extending from the extension wall and abutting against a lower portion of the front bumper.

5. The front bumper is a fixing surface extending in the vehicle width direction to which the garnish is fixed; a wall surface that bends downward and extends from a rear end of the fixing surface; a contact surface extending from a lower end of the wall surface toward the rear of the vehicle and contacting the rib; 5. The vehicle front bumper peripheral structure according to claim 4, wherein the rib extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, with its front end located below the fixing surface and its rear end located rearward of the abutment surface.

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