Impact absorption structure of vehicle

Abstract

To provide an impact absorption structure of a vehicle which can promote a deformation of an engine hood when an impact is applied to the engine hood while reducing the vibration of an air cleaner at the normal drive of the vehicle, and can improve the impact absorption performance of the vehicle.SOLUTION: An impact absorption structure of a vehicle comprises: an air cleaner 9 arranged above an engine at a lower part of an engine hood; and a first front-side attachment part 12 for attaching a front part of the air cleaner 9 to the engine, wherein the first front-side attachment part 12 has: an air-cleaner side connection part 12A extending in a vertical direction along a left-side front wall part 11a of the air cleaner 9; and an engine-side attachment part 12C connected to a lower end of the air-cleaner side connection part 12A via a first curved part 12B, and extending ahead of the vehicle from the air cleaner 9. The air cleaner 9 has a recess 11E which is formed by recessing the left-side front wall part 11a backward, and the recess 11E is located behind the first curved part 12B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a shock absorbing structure for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an impact absorbing structure that reduces the impact applied to a pedestrian when the pedestrian collides with a vehicle bonnet (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] This shock absorbing structure removes some or all of the reinforcing ribs of the vehicle mounting bracket used to mount the air cleaner to the vehicle, so that when a force acts on the air cleaner to move it downward, the bracket breaks, causing the air cleaner to move downward. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-230605 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in conventional shock absorbing structures, the reinforcing rib of the vehicle mounting bracket is partially or completely removed, leaving a notched weak portion in the reinforcing rib, which excessively reduces the rigidity of the reinforcing rib and may increase vibration of the air cleaner during normal operation of the vehicle.

[0006] The present invention has been made in response to the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an impact absorbing structure for a vehicle that can reduce the vibration of the air cleaner during normal operation of the vehicle while promoting deformation of the engine hood when an impact is applied to the engine hood, thereby improving the impact absorbing performance of the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention is an impact absorbing structure for a vehicle comprising an air cleaner arranged on top of an engine below an engine hood, and a front mounting portion for mounting a front portion of the air cleaner to the engine, wherein the front mounting portion includes an air cleaner side connection portion extending in an up-down direction along the front wall of the air cleaner, and an engine side mounting portion connected to a lower end of the air cleaner side connection portion via a curved portion and extending from the air cleaner forward in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and wherein the air cleaner has a recess by recessing the front wall toward the rear in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and the recess is located rear of the curved portion in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. Effect of the Invention

[0008] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce vibration of the air cleaner during normal operation of the vehicle while promoting deformation of the engine hood when an impact is applied to the engine hood, thereby improving the impact absorption performance of the vehicle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an engine room of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a left side view of an upper part of an engine according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an upper part of an engine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view of an upper part of an engine according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the lower case of the air cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a left side view of the first front mounting portion of the air cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a right side view of the first front mounting portion and the second mounting portion of the air cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a deformed state of the first front mounting portion of the air cleaner according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] A vehicle impact absorbing structure according to one embodiment of the present invention is an impact absorbing structure for a vehicle comprising an air cleaner arranged on top of the engine below the engine hood, and a front mounting portion for mounting the front portion of the air cleaner to the engine, wherein the front mounting portion includes an air cleaner side connection portion extending in the vertical direction along the front wall of the air cleaner, and an engine side mounting portion that is connected to the lower end of the air cleaner side connection portion via a curved portion and extends from the air cleaner forward in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and the air cleaner has a recess in which the front wall is recessed rearward in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and the recess is located rearward in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle of the curved portion.

[0011] As a result, the vehicle impact absorption structure of one embodiment of the present invention can reduce vibration of the air cleaner during normal operation of the vehicle while promoting deformation of the engine hood when an impact is applied to the engine hood, thereby improving the impact absorption performance of the vehicle. EXAMPLES

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a shock absorbing structure for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 8 are diagrams showing an impact absorbing structure for a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] In Figures 1 to 8, the up, down, front, rear, left and right directions are defined as the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle based on the engine installed in the vehicle, with the side on which the intake manifold is located being the rear and the side opposite the intake manifold being the front.

[0014] The left-right direction of the vehicle (widthwise direction) is defined as the left-right direction, with the chain case side being the right and the side opposite the chain case being the left. The vertical direction of the vehicle is defined as the up-down direction, with the air cleaner side being the up and the side opposite the air cleaner being the down.

[0015] First, the configuration will be described. 1 and 2, an engine room 2 is provided in the front part of a vehicle 1, and the engine room 2 is covered from above by an engine hood 3. An engine 4 serving as an internal combustion engine is provided in the engine room 2.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the engine 4 is disposed below the engine hood 3, and includes a cylinder block 5, a cylinder head 6, and a cylinder head cover .

[0017] Cylinder block 5 is provided with a plurality of cylinders (not shown), which are arranged side by side in the left-right direction of engine 4. Each cylinder houses a piston (not shown), and the pistons are connected to a crankshaft (not shown) via a connecting rod (not shown).

[0018] The pistons reciprocate in the cylinders to rotate the crankshaft via the connecting rods. A chain case 5A is attached to the right end of the cylinder block 5, and the chain case 5A covers a timing chain (not shown) from the right.

[0019] The cylinder head 6 is attached to the upper part of the cylinder block 5, and is formed with a plurality of intake ports (not shown) and a plurality of exhaust ports (not shown).

[0020] The intake port and exhaust port are connected to the cylinders. The intake port introduces intake air into the cylinder, and the exhaust port discharges exhaust gas from the cylinder.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an intake manifold 8 is connected to the cylinder head 6, and the intake manifold 8 is connected to a resin air cleaner 9 via an intake pipe (not shown).

[0022] A cylinder head cover 7 is attached to an upper portion of the cylinder head 6 , and an air cleaner 9 is disposed above the cylinder head cover 7 below the engine hood 3 .

[0023] The air cleaner 9 purifies the intake air and introduces it through an intake pipe into the intake manifold 8. The intake manifold 8 distributes the intake air purified by the air cleaner 9 to each intake port.

[0024] The air cleaner 9 has an upper case 10 and a lower case 11. As shown in Fig. 3, the lower case 11 is formed with an intake inlet pipe portion 11A, and the intake inlet pipe portion 11A takes in intake air into the air cleaner 9.

[0025] 1 and 3, an intake outlet pipe section 10A is formed in the upper case 10. The intake outlet pipe section 10A is connected to an intake pipe, and the intake air purified by the air cleaner 9 is introduced from the intake outlet pipe section 10A into the intake pipe.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 5, a first front mounting portion 12 and a second front mounting portion 13 are attached to the front wall 11B of the lower case 11, and the first front mounting portion 12 and the second front mounting portion 13 are spaced apart in the left-right direction.

[0027] The front wall 11B has a left front wall portion 11a and a right front wall portion 11b. The left front wall portion 11a extends linearly in the left-right direction, and the right front wall portion 11b is inclined linearly from the right end portion of the left front wall portion 11a toward the rear. The first front mounting portion 12 and the second front mounting portion 13 are formed integrally with the front wall 11B.

[0028] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a first front mounting portion 14 and a second front mounting portion 15 are provided on the front wall 7A of the cylinder head cover 7, and the first front mounting portion 14 and the second front mounting portion 15 are spaced apart in the left-right direction and face the first front mounting portion 12 and the second front mounting portion 13, respectively, in the up-down direction.

[0029] 6 and 7, the first front mounting portion 12 has an air cleaner side connecting portion 12A, a first curved portion 12B, and an engine side mounting portion 12C. In this embodiment, the first front mounting portion 12 constitutes a front mounting portion, and the first curved portion 12B constitutes a curved portion.

[0030] The air cleaner side connection portion 12A extends in the vertical direction along the left front wall portion 11a of the lower case 11 and is connected to the left front wall portion 11a.

[0031] The first curved portion 12B is connected to the lower end of the air cleaner side connecting portion 12A, and is curved forward from the lower end of the air cleaner side connecting portion 12A.

[0032] The engine side mounting portion 12C extends forward from the lower end of the first curved portion 12B. That is, the engine side mounting portion 12C is connected to the lower end of the air cleaner side connecting portion 12A via the first curved portion 12B.

[0033] 1 and 4, vibration-isolating bushings 16 made of elastic material are attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the engine-side mounting part 12C. The engine-side mounting part 12C is fastened to the first front mounted part 14 by bolts 17, and the vibration-isolating bushings 16 are provided between the heads of the bolts 17 and the engine-side mounting part 12C.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 7, the second front mounting portion 13 has an air cleaner side connection portion 13A and an engine side mounting portion 13B.

[0035] The air cleaner side connecting portion 13A extends in the vertical direction along the right side front wall portion 11b of the lower case 11 and is connected to the right side front wall portion 11b. The engine side mounting portion 13B extends forward from the air cleaner side connecting portion 13A.

[0036] 3 and 4, vibration-isolating bushings 16 are attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the engine-side mounting part 13B. The engine-side mounting part 13B is fastened to the second front mounted part 15 by bolts 17, and the vibration-isolating bushings 16 are provided between the heads of the bolts 17 and the engine-side mounting part 13B.

[0037] In this manner, the front portion of the air cleaner 9 is attached to the engine 4 by the first front mounting portion 12 and the second front mounting portion 13 .

[0038] As shown in FIG. 5, a first rear mounting portion 18 is provided on the rear wall 11C of the lower case 11, and a second rear mounting portion 19 is provided on the intake inlet pipe portion 11A.

[0039] The first rear mounting portion 18 and the second rear mounting portion 19 are fastened to the upper portion of the intake manifold 8 by vibration-isolating bushings 20 made of an elastic material.

[0040] A bottom wall 11D of the lower case 11 is provided with a central bulge 11e. The central bulge 11e bulges downward from the bottom wall 11D and extends in the front-rear direction of the lower case 11.

[0041] The central bulge 11e is provided with a central attachment portion 21. The central attachment portion 21 protrudes downward from the central bulge 11e, and the central attachment portion 21 is fastened to an upper portion of the cylinder head cover 7.

[0042] As a result, the air cleaner 9 is fixed to the cylinder head cover 7 at three locations, namely, the first front mounting portion 12, the second front mounting portion 13, and the central mounting portion 21, and is fixed to the intake manifold 8 at two locations, namely, the first rear mounting portion 18 and the second rear mounting portion 19.

[0043] In other words, the air cleaner 9 is fixed to the cylinder head cover 7 and the intake manifold 8 at its front, rear and central portion in the front-to-rear direction.

[0044] 4 and 6, a recess 11E is provided in bottom wall 11D of lower case 11. Recess 11E is recessed upward from bottom wall 11D of lower case 11 and recessed rearward from left front wall portion 11a, and is located rearward of first curved portion 12B.

[0045] This allows the air cleaner side connection portion 12A to be connected to the left side front wall portion 11a and the first curved portion 12B to be disconnected from the left side front wall portion 11a, so that the connection rigidity of the air cleaner side connection portion 12A to the left side front wall portion 11a can be increased by the left side front wall portion 11a, and the connection rigidity of the first curved portion 12B to the left side front wall portion 11a can be lower than that of the air cleaner side connection portion 12A.

[0046] 6, the recess 11E has a second curved portion 11c and a bottom wall portion 11d. The second curved portion 11c curves backward from the lower end of the left front wall portion 11a in the opposite direction to the curved direction of the first curved portion 12B.

[0047] The bottom wall portion 11d is connected to the second curved portion 11c and extends rearward from the second curved portion 11c. The bottom wall portion 11d is located higher than the bottom wall 11D of the lower case 11, and the engine side mounting portion 12C is located higher than the bottom wall 11D.

[0048] The second curved portion 11c is located behind the first curved portion 12B, and the first curved portion 12B and the second curved portion 11c face each other in the front-rear direction.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 6, when the air cleaner 9 is mounted on the vehicle 1, the left front wall portion 11a, the front wall 10B of the upper case 10, and the first curved portion 12B are inclined rearward with respect to a vertical plane 30 that extends vertically.

[0050] Next, the effect of the shock absorbing structure of the vehicle 1 according to this embodiment will be described. In Figure 8, the dotted line indicates the state of the air cleaner 9 when no impact is applied to the air cleaner 9, and the solid line indicates the state of the air cleaner 9 deformed from the state shown by the dotted line when an impact is applied to the air cleaner 9 from above.

[0051] The impact absorbing structure of the vehicle 1 in this embodiment includes an air cleaner 9 arranged above the engine 4 below the engine hood 3, and a first front mounting portion 12 for mounting the front portion of the air cleaner 9 to the engine 4.

[0052] The first front mounting portion 12 includes an air cleaner side connection portion 12A extending in the vertical direction along the left front wall portion 11a of the air cleaner 9, and an engine side mounting portion 12C connected to the lower end of the air cleaner side connection portion 12A via a first curved portion 12B and extending forward from the air cleaner 9.

[0053] In addition, the air cleaner 9 has a recess 11E formed by recessing the left front wall portion 11a rearward, and the recess 11E is located rearward of the first curved portion 12B.

[0054] This prevents the first curved portion 12B located at the bottom of the first front mounting portion 12 from being connected to the left side front wall portion 11a, thereby preventing the connection rigidity of the first curved portion 12B to the left side front wall portion 11a from becoming high, and allows the first curved portion 12B to be formed into a structure that is easily deformed.

[0055] 8, when an impact is applied from above to the air cleaner 9 through the engine hood 3 and the engine hood 3 is bent downward, the first curved portion 12B can be deformed so that the angle between the air cleaner side connecting portion 12A and the engine side mounting portion 12C increases. In other words, the first curved portion 12B can be tilted backward relative to the engine side mounting portion 12C.

[0056] In this way, by deforming the first curved portion 12B, it is possible to move the air cleaner 9 downward, and to promote the deformation of the engine hood 3. As a result, it is possible to improve the impact absorbing performance of the vehicle 1.

[0057] Furthermore, the impact absorbing structure of the vehicle 1 in this embodiment is structured so that the first curved portion 12B of the first front mounting portion 12 is deformed by recessing the left side front wall portion 11a of the air cleaner 9, thereby preventing the rigidity of the first front mounting portion 12 from decreasing excessively and reducing vibration of the air cleaner 9 during normal use.

[0058] As described above, the impact absorption structure of the vehicle 1 of this embodiment can reduce vibration of the air cleaner 9 during normal operation of the vehicle 1, while promoting deformation of the engine hood 3 when an impact is applied to the engine hood 3, thereby improving the impact absorption performance of the vehicle 1.

[0059] Therefore, for example, when a pedestrian collides with the engine hood 3, the impact acting on the pedestrian can be reduced.

[0060] Furthermore, according to the impact absorbing structure of the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the recess 11E has a second curved portion 11c that curves toward the rear of the vehicle 1 from the lower end of the left front wall portion 11a, and a bottom wall portion 11d that extends rearward from the second curved portion 11c, and the second curved portion 11c is located rearward of the first curved portion 12B.

[0061] In this way, since the second curved portion 11c of the recess 11E is located behind the first curved portion 12B, when an impact is applied from above to the air cleaner 9 through the engine hood 3, deformation of the first curved portion 12B can be promoted so that the angle between the air cleaner side connection portion 12A and the engine side mounting portion 12C increases.

[0062] In other words, the first curved portion 12B can be curved forward from the air cleaner side connection portion 12A, and the second curved portion 11c can be curved backward from the air cleaner side connection portion 12A, so that a front-to-rear gap can be formed between the first curved portion 12B and the second curved portion 11c at the lower end of the air cleaner side connection portion 12A.

[0063] Therefore, when an impact is applied from above to the air cleaner 9 through the engine hood 3, the deformation of the first curved portion 12B can be promoted so that the angle between the air cleaner side connecting portion 12A and the engine side mounting portion 12C increases.

[0064] Furthermore, according to the shock absorbing structure of the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, when the air cleaner 9 is mounted on the vehicle 1, the left front wall portion 11a and the air cleaner side connection portion 12A are inclined toward the rear of the vehicle 1 with respect to the vertical plane 30.

[0065] As a result, when the air cleaner 9 is mounted on the vehicle 1, if an impact is applied to the air cleaner 9 from above through the engine hood 3, a force is applied that increases the angle between the air cleaner side connection portion 12A and the engine side mounting portion 12C, making it easier to deform the first curved portion 12B, compared to when the left side front wall portion 11a and the air cleaner side connection portion 12A extend vertically or are inclined forward relative to the vertical.

[0066] As a result, the deformation of the engine hood 3 can be promoted more effectively, and the impact absorbing performance of the vehicle 1 can be improved more effectively.

[0067] Although an embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications and equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 3...engine hood, 4...engine, 9...air cleaner, 11B...front wall, 11c...second curved portion, 11d...bottom wall portion, 12...first front mounting portion (front mounting portion), 12A...air cleaner side connection portion, 12B...first curved portion (curved portion), 12C...engine side mounting portion

Claims

1. an air cleaner disposed above the engine and below the engine hood; a front mounting portion for mounting a front portion of the air cleaner to the engine, the front mounting portion includes an air cleaner side connection portion extending in a vertical direction along a front wall of the air cleaner, and an engine side mounting portion connected to a lower end of the air cleaner side connection portion via a curved portion and extending forward from the air cleaner in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, The air cleaner has a recess formed by recessing the front wall rearward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, 13. An impact absorbing structure for a vehicle, comprising: a recessed portion located rearward of the curved portion in a front-to-rear direction of the vehicle;

2. When the curved portion is a first curved portion, the recessed portion includes a second curved portion curved rearward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle from a lower end of the front wall, and a bottom wall portion extending rearward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle from the second curved portion, 2. The shock absorbing structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second curved portion is located rearward of the first curved portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

3. When the air cleaner is mounted on a vehicle, 3. The shock absorbing structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the front wall and the air cleaner side connection portion are inclined rearward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle with respect to a vertical direction.

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