Vehicle front bumper structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle front bumper structure which can prevent damage of an appearance of a vehicle while securing an effect of reducing air resistance by an air duct.SOLUTION: A vehicle front bumper structure 100 includes: a front bumper 102; and an air duct 110 which is configured to take air through an opening 104 provided on a front surface of the front bumper 102 and guides the air to a wheel house 106 behind the opening 104. The front bumper 102 has a first bumper member 102A forming an area below the opening 104. The first bumper member 102A is inserted into the air duct 110 and spaced apart from a bottom surface 110C of the air duct 110. The bottom surface 110C of the air duct 110 inclines so as to lower gradually in a forward direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] When a vehicle is traveling, air resistance (pressure) is generated at the end of the front bumper due to air flowing from the center of the front surface of the front bumper to the end (corner) in the vehicle width direction. Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, an air duct is provided in front of the front tires, and air is taken into the air duct from an opening provided in the front surface of the front bumper and released to the outside of the front tires inside the wheel house, changing the air flow and reducing air resistance to prevent deterioration of fuel economy / electricity efficiency. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-6216 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, by providing such an air duct, muddy water stirred up by the tires in the wheel house can seep into the air duct from the rear and then flow forward through the air duct and out the front of the vehicle through the opening in the front bumper, potentially damaging the vehicle's appearance.

[0005] In view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle front bumper structure that can ensure the effect of reducing air resistance by an air duct while preventing damage to the appearance of the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a representative configuration of the present invention is a vehicle front bumper structure including a front bumper of a vehicle and an air duct that takes in air from an opening provided on the front side of the front bumper and guides it to a wheel house at the rear, the front bumper having a first bumper member that forms the area below the opening, the first bumper member being inserted into the air duct and spaced apart from a bottom surface of the air duct, and the bottom surface of the air duct is inclined so as to descend as it moves forward. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle front bumper structure that can ensure the effect of reducing air resistance by the air duct while preventing the appearance of the vehicle from being marred. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a vehicle to which an embodiment of a vehicle front bumper structure according to the present invention is applied. [Diagram 2] 2 is a side view of the vehicle front bumper structure of FIG. 1 as viewed from the left side of the vehicle. [Diagram 3] 3 is a view of the vehicle front bumper structure of FIG. 2 taken along the arrow Z. [Figure 4] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle front bumper structure shown in FIG. 1 along the line AA. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the bottom surface of the air duct of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a BB end view of the air duct of FIG. 2. [Figure 7] FIG. 3 is a side view of the vehicle front bumper structure as seen from the left side of the vehicle, similar to FIG. 2. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along CC of the air duct in FIG. 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] One embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle front bumper structure including a front bumper of a vehicle and an air duct that takes in air through an opening provided on the front side of the front bumper and guides it to a wheel house at the rear, wherein the front bumper has a first bumper member that forms the area below the opening, the first bumper member being inserted into the air duct and spaced apart from a bottom surface of the air duct, and the bottom surface of the air duct is inclined so as to descend as it proceeds forward.

[0010] According to the present invention, the bottom surface of the air duct is inclined downward toward the front, which intentionally allows muddy water that has entered the air duct from the rear to flow forward. The muddy water that flows forward in the air duct passes through the gap between the first bumper member and the bottom surface of the air duct and flows under the first bumper member. Since the first bumper member forms the lower area of ​​the opening, the muddy water that flows under the first bumper member flows to the inside (rear side) of the front bumper and does not appear on the outside (front side) of the front bumper. Therefore, the appearance of the vehicle is not impaired.

[0011] The vehicle front bumper structure may further include a wheel arch molding located on the outer side of the air duct in the vehicle width direction and constituting a wheel house, a first eave extending from the wheel arch molding toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and a second eave extending upward from the upper end of the air duct toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction and reaching below the first eave so as to overlap with the first eave when viewed from above.

[0012] According to the above configuration, water flowing along the inner side of the wheel arch molding in the vehicle width direction is guided further inward in the vehicle width direction by the first overhang. Water spilling down from the first overhang is received by the second overhang and further guided inward in the vehicle width direction, and flows down over the upper end of the air duct to the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the air duct.

[0013] If water flows from above the air duct along the inside of the wheel arch molding that constitutes the wheel house (design surface) in the vehicle width direction, it may appear on the design surface of the vehicle when the wheel arch molding ends, damaging the appearance of the vehicle if it continues to flow. However, according to the present invention, as described above, such water is guided to the inside of the air duct in the vehicle width direction, preventing the vehicle appearance from being damaged.

[0014] The above-mentioned front bumper further has a second bumper member forming an area on the outer side of the opening in the vehicle width direction, and the first bumper member and the second bumper member form a joint that extends toward the gap between the wheel arch molding and the air duct and overlap each other in the gap, and the vehicle front bumper structure further includes a rib that protrudes from the wheel arch molding into the gap and extends above the joint to a position further inward in the vehicle width direction than the joint.

[0015] According to the above rib, water that flows along the inside of the wheel arch molding in the vehicle width direction above the air duct, avoiding the guidance by the first and second overhangs, is guided again to the inside of the vehicle width direction at the bottom of the air duct. This water flows over the upper end of the joint of the first and second bumper members and falls between the joint and the air duct. The reason water is guided here is because if water were to get on the joint, it would flow between the joint and the wheel arch molding, and would end up appearing on the design surface of the vehicle where the wheel arch molding ends, damaging the vehicle's appearance. Therefore, by providing a rib in addition to the first and second overhangs, such problems are more thoroughly prevented.

[0016] It is preferable that a recess be formed on an outer side of the air duct in the vehicle width direction, the recess being recessed inward in the vehicle width direction, and the rib reach the recess.

[0017] The recessed portion expands the flow path of the water guided by the rib, and the water can more reliably flow down between the joint and the air duct, thereby more completely preventing water from getting on the joint and damaging the appearance of the vehicle. EXAMPLES

[0018] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific values ​​shown in the embodiments are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are given the same reference numerals to avoid repeated explanations, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0019] Fig. 1 is a front view of a vehicle to which an embodiment of a vehicle front bumper structure according to the present invention is applied. In Fig. 1 and all other drawings, the front-rear direction of the vehicle is indicated by arrows F (Forward) and B (Backward), the left and right in the vehicle width direction are indicated by arrows L (Leftward) and R (Rightward), and the up-down direction is indicated by arrows U (Upward) and D (Downward).

[0020] 1 shows the left end of the front surface of a vehicle, and the vehicle front bumper structure 100 includes a front bumper 102. An opening 104 is provided on the front side of the front bumper 102. This opening 104 is located in front of the left front tire (not shown), and has a shape that is elongated in the vertical direction.

[0021] Since the vehicle front bumper structure 100 is symmetrical, the following description will be given by taking as a representative the configuration of the left side of the vehicle front bumper structure 100, that is, the configuration in the vicinity of the left front tire.

[0022] Fig. 2 is a side view of the vehicle front bumper structure 100 of Fig. 1, seen from the left side of the vehicle. The vehicle front bumper structure 100 is equipped with an air duct 110 that takes in air from the opening 104 shown in Fig. 1 and guides it to a rear wheel house 106. In Fig. 2, the air duct 110 is shown by a dashed line because it does not appear on the design surface of the vehicle.

[0023] The air duct 110 guides the air as described above, and changes the airflow by directing the air to the outside of the left front tire inside the wheel house 106, thereby reducing air resistance and preventing a deterioration in fuel economy / electricity efficiency.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front bumper 102 has a first bumper member 102A that forms the area below the opening 104, and a second bumper member 102B that forms the area on the outer side (left side) of the opening 104 in the vehicle width direction.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, a wheel arch molding 112 that constitutes the edge of the wheel house 106 is disposed on the outer side (left side) of the air duct 110 in the vehicle width direction.

[0026] Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line Z of the vehicle front bumper structure 100 of Fig. 2. That is, Fig. 3 is a view taken from the left front tire (not shown) toward the front of the wheel house 106.

[0027] 3, the edge of the wheel house 106 is formed by the above-mentioned wheel arch molding 112, and the inner surface of the wheel house 106 is formed by a wheel house lining 114. The air that passes through the air duct 110 flows into the wheel house 106 from three air outlets 116A, 116B, and 116C provided in the wheel arch molding 112.

[0028] In this way, the opening 104, the air duct 110, and the air duct outlets 116A, 116B, and 116C penetrate from the front surface of the front bumper 102 to the wheel house 106. Therefore, there is a risk that muddy water stirred up by the left front tire (not shown) inside the wheel house 106 will seep into the air duct 110 from the outlets 116A, 116B, and 116C, that is, from the rear.

[0029] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the vehicle front bumper structure 100 in Fig. 1. The air duct 110 is a tubular member having an inner wall 110A and an outer wall 110B (Fig. 6) joined at the top and bottom ends, allowing air to pass in the front-rear direction.

[0030] Since Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, the air duct 110 is viewed from the same direction as Fig. 2, but the second bumper member 102B, the wheel arch molding 112, and the outer wall 110B (Fig. 6) of the air duct 110 on the near side of Fig. 2, i.e., on the left side of the vehicle in Fig. 1, are excluded from Fig. 4. In other words, the inside of the air duct 110 is exposed in Fig. 4.

[0031] In addition, in Fig. 4, a part of the first bumper member 102A on the left side of the vehicle in Fig. 1 is removed, but a part of the right side of the vehicle in Fig. 1 appears in Fig. 4. This is indicated by reference numeral 102A.

[0032] Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the bottom surface 110C of the air duct 110 in Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 5, the first bumper member 102A extends rearward and is inserted into the air duct 110, overlapping with the bottom surface 110C of the air duct 110 in the front-rear direction. The first bumper member 102A is spaced apart from the bottom surface 110C of the air duct 110. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 4, the air duct 110 is tapered toward the rear, and is formed so that the cross-sectional area becomes smaller. This is because the bottom surface 110C of the air duct 110 is inclined downward toward the front, as shown in Fig. 5.

[0033] According to this embodiment, the bottom surface 110C of the air duct 110 is inclined downward toward the front, so that the muddy water that has entered the air duct 110 from the rear through the outlets 116A, 116B, and 116C is made to flow forward. The muddy water that has flowed forward in the air duct 110 passes through the gap between the first bumper member 102A and the bottom surface 110C of the air duct 110, as shown by the arrow 120 in FIG. 5, and flows under the first bumper member 102A. Since the first bumper member 102A forms the area below the opening 104, the muddy water 120 that has flowed under the first bumper member 102A flows to the inside (rear side) of the front bumper 102, and does not appear on the outside (front side) of the front bumper 102. Therefore, the appearance of the vehicle is not impaired.

[0034] As shown in Fig. 5, a major feature of this embodiment is that the first bumper member 102A is spaced from the bottom surface 110C of the air duct 110. If, unlike this embodiment, the first bumper member 102A were in contact with the bottom surface 110C of the air duct 110, muddy water would flow as shown by arrow 122 in Fig. 5. The muddy water that flows in this way would appear on the outside (front side) of the first bumper member 102A, marring the appearance of the vehicle.

[0035] Fig. 6 is a BB end view of the air duct 110 in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 6, the vehicle front bumper structure 100 includes a first overhang 124 extending from the wheel arch molding 112 toward the inside in the vehicle width direction (the right side of the vehicle). The vehicle front bumper structure 100 also includes a second overhang 126 that is continuous with the inner wall 110A of the air duct 110 and extends upward from the upper end of the air duct 110 toward the outside in the vehicle width direction (the left side of the vehicle). The second overhang 126 reaches below the first overhang 124 so as to overlap with the first overhang 124 when viewed from above.

[0036] With this configuration, as shown by arrow 128 in Fig. 6, water that flows along the inside in the vehicle width direction of the wheel arch molding 112 (right side of the vehicle) is guided further inward in the vehicle width direction by the first eaves 124. Water that spills down from the first eaves 124 is received by the second eaves 126. Because the second eaves 126 is inclined so that the left side of the vehicle rises, the water is guided further inward in the vehicle width direction as shown by arrow 130, and flows down over the upper end of the air duct 110 to the inside of the air duct 110 in the vehicle width direction.

[0037] In this way, if water that has flowed from above the air duct 110 along the inside of the wheel arch molding 112 in the vehicle width direction continues to flow, it may appear on the outside of the wheel arch molding 112 (the vehicle's design surface) when the wheel arch molding 112 terminates, damaging the appearance of the vehicle. However, according to this embodiment, as described above, such water is guided to the inside of the air duct 110 in the vehicle width direction, as shown by arrow 130, preventing the appearance of the vehicle from being damaged.

[0038] Fig. 7 is a side view of the vehicle front bumper structure 100 as seen from the left side of the vehicle, similar to Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the air duct 110 of Fig. 7 taken along line CC. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the first bumper member 102A and the second bumper member 102B have portions 102C and 102D, respectively. These portions 102C and 102D extend toward the gap between the wheel arch molding 112 and the air duct 110, and form a mating portion 140 (Fig. 8) that overlaps with each other in the gap.

[0039] The arrangement order of the members shown in Fig. 7 along the vehicle width direction will be described with reference to Fig. 8. In order from the outer side in the vehicle width direction (the left side of the vehicle), the wheel arch molding 112, the portion 102C of the first bumper member 102A, the portion 102D of the second bumper member 102B, the outer wall 110B of the air duct 110, and the inner wall 110A of the air duct 110 are arranged.

[0040] In this embodiment, the first bumper member 102A has a portion 102C on the outer side in the vehicle width direction (left side of the vehicle) and the second bumper member 102B has a portion 102D on the inner side in the vehicle width direction (right side of the vehicle), but this may be reversed.

[0041] 8, the vehicle front bumper structure 100 includes a rib 150 that protrudes into the gap from the wheel arch molding 112. The rib 150 extends above the mating portion 140 to a position inward in the vehicle width direction (to the right side of the vehicle) relative to the mating portion 140.

[0042] According to the rib 150, water that has flowed along the inside of the wheel arch molding 112 in the vehicle width direction above the air duct 110, avoiding being guided by the first and second overhangs 124 and 126, is guided again toward the inside in the vehicle width direction at the bottom of the air duct 110, as shown by arrow 152. This water flows over the upper end of the joint 140 of the first and second bumper members 102A and 102B, and flows down between the joint 140 and the air duct 110, as shown by arrow 154.

[0043] If the rib 150 were not present, water would get on the joint 140 and flow between the joint 140 and the wheel arch molding 112 as shown by arrow 156. Eventually, water would appear on the outside of the first bumper member 102A (the decorative surface of the vehicle) when the wheel arch molding 112 terminates, which could damage the appearance of the vehicle.

[0044] In this embodiment, therefore, by providing a rib 150 in addition to the first overhanging portion 124 and the second overhanging portion 126, such problems are prevented more completely.

[0045] 8, a recess 160 recessed toward the inside in the vehicle width direction (the right side of the vehicle) is formed on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the air duct 110, i.e., on the outside wall 110B.

[0046] The recess 160 widens the flow path of the water guided by the rib 150, so that the water can more reliably flow down between the joint 140 and the air duct 110 as shown by the arrows 152 and 154. This more completely prevents water from splashing on the joint 140 and damaging the appearance of the vehicle.

[0047] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can think of various modifications or alterations within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0048] Furthermore, the present invention can be implemented by freely combining the inventions described in the claims and examples, regardless of the dependent relationships of the claims. [Industrial Applicability]

[0049] The present invention can be used in a vehicle front bumper structure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 100...Front bumper structure for vehicle 102 ... Front bumper 102A … First bumper member 102B ... Second bumper member 104…Aperture 106 ... Wheelhouse 110 ... Air duct 110A…Inner wall of air duct 110B …Outer wall of air duct 110C … Bottom of air duct 112 ... Wheel arch molding 114 ... Wheelhouse lining 124 ... First eaves 126 ... 2nd eaves 140 ... Joint 150 ... Ribs 160 ... Recess

Claims

1. A front bumper of the vehicle; an air duct that takes in air from an opening provided on a front surface of the front bumper and guides the air to a wheel house at the rear, the front bumper has a first bumper member that defines a lower area of ​​the opening, the first bumper member being inserted into the air duct and spaced apart from a bottom surface of the air duct; A vehicle front bumper structure, wherein a bottom surface of the air duct is inclined downward as it goes forward.

2. The vehicle front bumper structure further comprises: a wheel arch molding that is located on an outer side of the air duct in a vehicle width direction and that constitutes the wheel house; A first eaves extending from the wheel arch molding toward an inner side in a vehicle width direction; 2. The vehicle front bumper structure according to claim 1, further comprising a second eave extending upward from an upper end of the air duct toward the outside in the vehicle width direction and reaching below the first eave so as to overlap with the first eave when viewed from above.

3. The front bumper further includes a second bumper member that defines an area on an outer side of the opening in a vehicle width direction, the first bumper member and the second bumper member form a joint portion that extends toward a gap between the wheel arch molding and the air duct and overlaps with each other in the gap, The vehicle front bumper structure as described in claim 2, further comprising a rib protruding from the wheel arch molding into the gap, the rib extending above the joint to a position inward in the vehicle width direction than the joint.

4. A recess is formed on an outer side of the air duct in the vehicle width direction, the recess being recessed inward in the vehicle width direction, 4. The vehicle front bumper structure according to claim 3, wherein the rib reaches the recess.

Images