Vehicle engine unit

Abstract

To more surely protect a fuel supply pipe from an intake manifold at the time of collision of a vehicle.SOLUTION: A vehicle engine unit 3 provided on a front side of a dash panel 2, includes: a resin intake manifold 11; and a protection member 24. The resin intake manifold includes: a flange part 12 bonded to an intake manifold attachment surface 10 of a cylinder head 5; a surge tank 13 provided above the flange part 12; and a plurality of branch pipes 14A-14C that connect the surge tank 13 and the flange part 12. The protection member includes a cover part 25 arranged between a fuel supply pipe 19 and a downstream side of the plurality of branch pipes 14A-14C, and restricts a region in which the plurality of branch pipes 14A-14C rupture when the intake manifold 11 collides against the dash panel 2. The protection member 24 includes a projection part 32 connected to a rear part of the cover part 25 and projecting upward, and covering a rear part of the fuel supply pipe 19.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an engine unit for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses that in order to protect the fuel supply pipe from the intake manifold in the event of a vehicle collision, a protective member is provided on the intake manifold and the position at which the branch pipe of the intake manifold breaks is adjusted. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-63448 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, when the intake manifold collides with the dash panel during a vehicle collision, a portion of the intake manifold upstream of the rupture position moves forward above the fuel supply pipe. However, depending on the circumstances of the collision and the location of the breakage, it may be impossible to completely avoid the upstream portion colliding with the fuel supply pipe.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to more reliably protect the fuel supply pipe from the intake manifold in the event of a vehicle collision. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The engine unit for a vehicle of the present invention is an engine unit for a vehicle that is arranged in front of a dash panel, and comprises: a cylinder head having an intake manifold mounting surface that is inclined so as to face diagonally upward and rearward; a flange portion joined to the intake manifold mounting surface, a surge tank installed higher than the flange portion, and a resin intake manifold having a plurality of branch pipes connecting the surge tank and the flange portion; and a protective member that is installed in the space between the engine unit and the intake manifold and has a fuel supply pipe extending in the vehicle width direction, and a cover portion that is arranged between the fuel supply pipe and downstream portions of the plurality of branch pipes, and that limits the area where the plurality of branch pipes break when the intake manifold collides with the dash panel, and the protective member has a protrusion that is connected to a rear portion of the cover portion, protrudes upward, and covers the rear of the fuel supply pipe. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the fuel supply pipe can be more reliably protected from the intake manifold in the event of a vehicle collision. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a right side view showing a part of the vehicle according to the embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an engine unit according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an engine unit according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an intake manifold according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a portion of the intake manifold according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an intake manifold according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a right side view showing the protective member according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining a state in which an intake manifold breaks during a vehicle collision. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] An engine unit for a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention is an engine unit (3) for a vehicle disposed in front of a dash panel (2), and includes a cylinder head (5) having an intake manifold mounting surface (10) inclined so as to face obliquely upward toward the rear, a flange portion (12) joined to the intake manifold mounting surface (10), a surge tank (13) installed above the flange portion (12), and an intake manifold (11) made of resin having a plurality of branch pipes (14A-14C) connecting the surge tank (13) and the flange portion (12); the fuel supply pipe (19) is disposed in the space between the intake manifold (11) and the intake unit (3) and extends in the vehicle width direction; and a protective member (24) that has a cover portion (25) disposed between the fuel supply pipe (19) and downstream portions of the plurality of branch pipes (14A-14C) and limits an area where the plurality of branch pipes (14A-14C) break when the intake manifold (11) collides with the dash panel (2). The protective member (24) has a protruding portion (32) that is connected to a rear portion of the cover portion (25), protrudes upward, and covers the rear of the fuel supply pipe (19). This makes it possible to more reliably protect the fuel supply pipe (19) from the intake manifold (11) in the event of a vehicle collision. EXAMPLES

[0010] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a right side view showing a part of a vehicle. In this application, the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1 is defined as the front-rear direction, the left-right direction of the vehicle (vehicle width direction) as the left-right direction, and the up-down direction of the vehicle (vehicle height direction) as the up-down direction. Each direction of the engine unit 3 refers to the direction when the engine unit 3 is mounted on the vehicle 1.

[0011] 1, a vehicle 1 includes a dash panel 2. In the vehicle 1, an engine room 1A is defined in front of the dash panel 2, and a passenger compartment 1B is defined behind the dash panel 2.

[0012] The engine room 1A is equipped with an engine unit 3, which is an internal combustion engine. The engine unit 3 is a three-cylinder engine unit, and includes a cylinder block 4, a cylinder head 5 provided on the upper part of the cylinder block 4, a cylinder head cover 6 provided on the upper part of the cylinder head 5, and an oil pan (not shown) provided on the lower part of the cylinder block 4. The cylinder block 4 has cylinders 7 that house pistons (not shown), and also houses a crankshaft (not shown). The up and down reciprocating motion of the pistons is converted into the rotational motion of the crankshaft via a connecting rod (not shown). Three intake ports 8 are provided in the cylinder head 5. The intake ports 8 are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction, i.e., in the left-right direction. On the rear wall surface of the cylinder head 5, the upstream end surface of the intake ports 8 forms an intake manifold mounting surface 10 that is inclined so as to face diagonally upward and rearward. Furthermore, three exhaust ports 9 are provided in the cylinder head 5. The exhaust ports 9, like the intake ports 8, are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction. Further, valve train chambers are formed within the cylinder head 5 and the cylinder head cover 6, and each of these chambers accommodates an intake camshaft having an intake cam and an exhaust camshaft having an exhaust cam, both not shown.

[0013] An intake manifold 11 made of resin is attached to an intake manifold mounting surface 10 on the rear wall surface of the cylinder head 5. The intake manifold 11 is located between the cylinder head 5 and the dash panel 2, and between the cylinder head cover 6 and the dash panel 2. The intake manifold 11 will be described below with reference to Figs. 2 to 8. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the engine unit 3 (cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 1). Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the engine unit 3 (cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 2). Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the intake manifold 11. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a portion of the intake manifold 11. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the intake manifold 11 (cross-sectional view taken along line CC in Fig. 5). Fig. 7 is a right side view showing the protective member 24. Fig. 8 is a view for explaining a state in which the intake manifold 11 breaks when the vehicle 1 collides.

[0014] The intake manifold 11 has a flange portion 12 joined to the intake manifold mounting surface 10, a surge tank 13 installed above the flange portion 12, and a branch pipe unit 14 in which three branch pipes 14A-14C that connect the surge tank 13 and the flange portion 12 are unitized.

[0015] Intake air that has been purified by an air cleaner (not shown) is introduced into the surge tank 13.

[0016] The branch pipe unit 14 is a unit formed of three branch pipes 14A to 14C that communicate with the surge tank 13. The three branch pipes 14A to 14C are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction, connected to the surge tank 13, and extend downward while curving toward the intake manifold mounting surface 10.

[0017] The flange portion 12 is integrally formed with the downstream end surface of the branch pipe unit 14 and is configured in a plate shape extending in the vehicle width direction. As shown in Figs. 4 to 6, boss portions 15, 16 are provided on the left upper portion and the right lower portion of the flange portion 12. In addition, boss portions corresponding to the boss portions 15, 16 are provided on the rear wall surface of the cylinder head 5 so as to form a part of the intake manifold mounting surface 10. In a state where the flange portion 12 is aligned with the intake manifold mounting surface 10, bolts 17 are fastened to the boss portions 15, 16, whereby the flange portion 12 is joined to the intake manifold mounting surface 10. Since the intake manifold mounting surface 10 is inclined so as to face obliquely upward and rearward, the flange portion 12 is also inclined so as to face obliquely upward and rearward. By joining the flange portion 12 to the intake manifold mounting surface 10, the branch pipes 14A to 14C communicate with the respective intake ports 8 of the cylinder head 5.

[0018] 2, a plurality of fuel injection valves 18 are provided at the rear of the cylinder head 5. Two fuel injection valves 18 are provided for each intake port 8, and inject fuel into the intake port 8. Also provided is a delivery pipe 19, which is a fuel supply pipe connected to the fuel injection valves 18. The delivery pipe 19 extends in the vehicle width direction, and distributes and supplies fuel supplied from a fuel tank (not shown) to each fuel injection valve 18. As shown in Fig. 1, the delivery pipe 19 is provided in the space between the cylinder head 5 and the cylinder head cover 6 and the intake manifold 11, and is covered above, behind and below by the surge tank 13 and the branch pipe unit 14.

[0019] To describe the intake manifold 11 in more detail, the branch pipe unit 14 is divided into an upstream branch pipe unit 20 and a downstream branch pipe unit 21. The terms upstream and downstream are defined based on the flow direction of the intake air, with the surge tank 13 side being the upstream and the intake port 8 side being the downstream.

[0020] The upstream branch pipe unit 20 is formed with upstream branch pipe sections 20A-20C which are the upstream sections of the branch pipes 14A-14C. The three upstream branch pipe sections 20A-20C are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction, connected to the surge tank 13, and extend downward while curving. A flange section 22 is provided on the downstream end face of the upstream branch pipe unit 20. The flange section 22 faces the intake manifold mounting surface 10 at approximately the same height as the delivery pipe 19.

[0021] The downstream branch pipe unit 21 is formed with downstream branch pipe sections 21A to 21C which are downstream parts of the branch pipes 14A to 14C. The three downstream branch pipe sections 21A to 21C are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction and extend linearly toward the intake manifold mounting surface 10. A flange section 12 is provided on the downstream end face of the downstream branch pipe unit 21. A flange section 23 is provided on the upstream end face of the downstream branch pipe unit 21. The upstream branch pipe unit 20 and the downstream branch pipe unit 21 are integrated by joining the flange section 23 to the flange section 22 of the upstream branch pipe unit 20. As shown in FIG. 1, when an imaginary plane M is created along the joining surfaces of the flange sections 22 and 23, the imaginary plane M is inclined from the rear to the front obliquely upward and passes above the delivery pipe 19.

[0022] The intake air introduced into the surge tank 13 is distributed to the three upstream branch pipe sections 20A-20C of the upstream branch pipe unit 20, and then introduced into the three downstream branch pipe sections 21A-21C of the downstream branch pipe unit 21, and supplied to each intake port 8. Fuel injected from the fuel injection valve 18 is mixed with the intake air, and this mixture is combusted in the cylinder 7, causing the piston to reciprocate. Exhaust gas combusted in the cylinder 7 is discharged to the outside through the exhaust port 9.

[0023] 4 to 6, the intake manifold 11 is provided with a protective member 24. The protective member 24 has a cover portion 25 disposed between the delivery pipe 19 and the downstream branch pipe unit 21. This makes it possible to limit the area where the three branch pipes 14A to 14C (branch pipe unit 14) break when the intake manifold 11 collides with the dash panel 2 during a vehicle collision, as described below.

[0024] The cover portion 25 is formed in a corrugated shape having a convex portion 25b located above the downstream branch pipe portion 21B, which is the downstream portion of the central branch pipe 14B, convex portions 25a, 25c located above the downstream branch pipe portions 21A, 21C, which are the downstream portions of the left and right branch pipes 14A, 14C, and concave portions 25d, 25e connecting the convex portions 25a-25c and located between the adjacent branch pipes 14A-14C. The convex portion means a convex portion facing upward, and the concave portion means a convex portion facing downward. By forming the cover portion 25 in a corrugated shape in this way, it is possible to increase the rigidity and make it less likely to deform, compared to a case where the cover portion 25 is flat. In addition, the right concave portion 25d and parts of the convex portions 25a, 25b connected thereto form an extension portion 25f extending toward the flange portion 12. By providing the extension 25f extending in the direction of the flange 12 in this manner, the rigidity can be increased and deformation can be prevented.

[0025] A cylindrical upper boss member 26 is attached to the top of the right recessed portion 25d. The recessed portion 25d of the cover portion 25 constitutes an extension portion 25f, which is connected to the outer periphery of the upper boss member 26, so that the cover portion 25 can be reinforced by the upper boss member 26. Further, a bracket 27 that protrudes downward is provided at the bottom of the left-side recessed portion 25e, and a cylindrical lower boss member 28 is attached to the bracket 27. By connecting the bracket 27 to the cover member 24, the cover portion 25 can be reinforced. Bolts 29 are inserted into the upper boss member 26 and the lower boss member 28, respectively. These bolts 29 are inserted through bolt holes in boss portions 30, 31 provided in the flange portion 12, and fastened to the intake manifold mounting surface 10 of the cylinder head 5. In this way, the protective member 24 can be firmly fixed to the cylinder head 5 by using the bolts 29 that fix the intake manifold 11 to the cylinder head 5. The upper boss member 26 and the lower boss member 28 form fixing portions for connecting to and fixing the flange portion 12.

[0026] A protruding portion 32 that protrudes upward is integrally formed at the rear of the cover portion 25. A bend between the cover portion 25 and the protruding portion 32 is beaded for reinforcement. The protruding portion 32 is disposed between the branch pipe unit 14 and the delivery pipe 19 so as to cover the rear of the delivery pipe 19. The protruding portion 32 has a smaller dimension in the vehicle width direction than the dimension in the vehicle width direction of the cover portion 25, and is connected to the convex portion 25b at the center of the cover portion 25 in the vehicle width direction. This makes it possible to prevent the protective member 24 having the protruding portion 32 from becoming large and heavy. In addition, by connecting the protruding portion 32 to the convex portion 25b, a structure can be formed in which the protruding portion 32 is less likely to fall toward the cover portion 25.

[0027] Further, a pair of upper ribs 33 are integrally formed on the upper part of each of the downstream branch pipe sections 21A to 21C of the downstream branch pipe unit 21. The upper ribs 33 have an elongated shape and extend upstream from the flange section 12. By providing the upper ribs 33 in this manner, the rigidity of the downstream branch pipe unit 21 can be increased. As shown in FIG. 6, the upper ribs 33 of the downstream branch pipe sections 21A and 21B come into contact with the lower surface of the cover section 25 of the protection member 24.

[0028] Further, a pair of lower ribs 34 are integrally formed at the lower part of each of the downstream branch pipe sections 21A to 21C of the downstream branch pipe unit 21. The lower ribs 34 have an elongated shape, extend upstream from the flange section 12, and connect the flange section 12 and the flange section 23 as shown in Fig. 3. By providing the lower ribs 34 in this manner, the rigidity of the downstream branch pipe unit 21 can be increased.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 3, the front-rear length of the upper rib 33 is shorter than the front-rear length of the lower rib 34. In addition, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the front-rear length of the upper rib 33 is longer than the front-rear length of the cover portion 25. In addition, as shown in Fig. 3, the rear end of the upper rib 33 is located rearward of the delivery pipe 19.

[0030] In the engine unit 3 configured as above, when the branch pipe unit 14 of the intake manifold 11 collides with the dash panel 2 during a collision of the vehicle 1, the upstream branch pipe unit 20 is pushed forward by the dash panel 2, and the downstream branch pipe unit 21 receives an upward bending load starting from the flange portion 12. At that time, the cover portion 25 of the protective member 24 comes into contact with the downstream branch pipe unit 21, and restricts the portion covered by the cover portion 25 from deforming upward. Therefore, the area where the branch pipe unit 14 breaks is limited to the upstream side of the rear of the cover portion 25.

[0031] In this case, the load is concentrated on the flange portion 22 of the upstream branch pipe unit 20 and the flange portion 23 of the downstream branch pipe unit 21, and the joint surface between the flange portions 22 and 23 is likely to break. Since most of the upstream branch pipe unit 20 is located above the delivery pipe 19, when the upstream branch pipe unit 20 breaks at the joint surface of the flanges 22, 23, it moves forward above the delivery pipe 19 and does not collide with the delivery pipe 19. Moreover, as shown in Fig. 1, an imaginary plane M along the joint surface of the flanges 22, 23 is inclined obliquely upward from the rear to the front and passes above the delivery pipe 19, so that when the upstream branch pipe unit 20 breaks at the joint surface of the flanges 22, 23, it is possible to move the upstream branch pipe unit 20 forward above the delivery pipe 19. In addition, even if it is impossible to completely avoid the portion of the intake manifold 11 upstream of the breakage position (in this case, the upstream branch pipe unit 20) colliding with the delivery pipe 19 due to the collision conditions, the upstream portion collides with the protrusion 32 of the protective member 24, so that the delivery pipe 19 can be protected.

[0032] Also, although it has been described that the break occurs at the joining surface of the flanges 22, 23, it may break at other positions as well. For example, as shown in Fig. 8, in the downstream branch pipe unit 21, it may break at the base portion downstream of the flanges 23, specifically at a position rearward (upstream) of the rear end of the upper rib 33. When the downstream branch pipe unit 21 breaks in this manner, the upstream branch pipe unit 20 plus the base portion of the downstream branch pipe unit 21 on the flange portion 23 side moves forward, making it more likely to collide with the delivery pipe 19, compared to when the break occurs at the joint surface of the flange portions 22, 23. In this way, even if it is impossible to completely avoid the portion of the intake manifold 11 upstream of the breaking position (in this case, the upstream branch pipe unit 20 plus a part of the downstream branch pipe unit 21) from colliding with the delivery pipe 19 due to the breaking position, the upstream portion collides with the protrusion 32 of the protective member 24, so that the delivery pipe 19 can be protected.

[0033] In addition, after the upstream portion moves forward above the delivery pipe 19, there is a possibility that it may fall and collide with the delivery pipe 19; however, even in this case, the delivery pipe 19 can be protected by the protrusion 32 of the protective member 24.

[0034] As described above, the protective member 24 has the cover portion 25 disposed between the delivery pipe 19 and the downstream portions of the branch pipes 14A-14C and limits the area where the branch pipes 14A-14C break when the intake manifold 11 collides with the dash panel 2, and the protective member 24 has the protruding portion 32 connected to the rear portion of the cover portion 25, protruding upward, and covering the rear of the delivery pipe 19, so that the delivery pipe 19 can be more reliably protected from the intake manifold 11 in the event of a vehicle collision. Furthermore, the single protective member 24 limits the breakage area and guards the delivery pipe 19 after the intake manifold 11 breaks, so that the protective member 24 can be stored in a lightweight and compact size.

[0035] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, each embodiment merely shows a specific example of the implementation of the present invention. The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to each embodiment. Various modifications of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and these modifications are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 3: engine unit, 5: cylinder head, 10: intake manifold mounting surface, 11: intake manifold, 12: flange portion, 13: surge tank, 14: branch pipe unit, 14A to 14C: branch pipe, 19: delivery pipe, 20: upstream branch pipe unit, 20A to 20C: upstream branch pipe portion, 21: downstream branch pipe unit, 21A to 21C: downstream branch pipe portion, 24: protection member, 25: cover portion, 25a to 25c: convex portion, 25d, 25e: concave portion, 26: upper boss member, 27: bracket, 28: lower boss member, 32: protruding portion

Claims

1. An engine unit for a vehicle disposed in front of a dash panel, a cylinder head having an intake manifold mounting surface inclined so as to face obliquely upward and rearward; an intake manifold made of resin, the intake manifold having a flange portion joined to a mounting surface of the intake manifold, a surge tank installed above the flange portion, and a plurality of branch pipes connecting the surge tank and the flange portion; a fuel supply pipe disposed in a space between the engine unit and the intake manifold and extending in a vehicle width direction; a protective member having a cover portion disposed between the fuel supply pipe and downstream portions of the plurality of branch pipes, the protective member limiting an area where the plurality of branch pipes break when the intake manifold collides with the dash panel, 2. An engine unit for a vehicle, wherein the protective member has a protrusion connected to a rear portion of the cover portion, protruding upward, and covering a rear portion of the fuel supply pipe.

2. 2. The engine unit for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion has a vehicle width dimension smaller than a vehicle width dimension of the cover portion and is connected to a center portion of the cover portion in the vehicle width direction.

3. the cover portion is formed in a corrugated plate shape having a convex portion located above the branch pipe and a concave portion located between adjacent branch pipes, 3. The engine unit for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is connected to a position of the convex portion.

4. The protective member has a fixing portion for connecting to and fixing the flange portion, The engine unit for a vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the fixing portion is disposed in the recessed portion.

5. 3. The engine unit for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the cover portion and the protrusion portion are integrally formed.

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