Vehicle front part structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle front part structure that even when a sound generating part is arranged at any one side of a right side in a vehicle width direction and a left side in the vehicle width direction at a front side of a vehicle, can make left and right sound pressure at the front side equal.SOLUTION: A vehicle front part structure 100 according to the present invention comprises a sound generating part 106, arranged at either the right or left side of the center in a vehicle width direction at a front part 104 of a vehicle 102, which outputs a predetermined vehicle-approach notification sound, and a sound transmitting part 108, provided on a front surface 128 of the sound generating part to protrude from the front surface to the front side of the vehicle, which receives the vehicle-approach notification sound to transmit the sound to the front side of the vehicle. A reflection surface 130, which is positioned at the one side of the center in the vehicle width of the sound generating part and reflects the vehicle-approach notification sound to the other side thereof to transmit the sound to the front side of the vehicle, is formed on the sound transmitting part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] A sound generating unit such as a speaker is disposed in the front of a typical vehicle. The sound generating unit outputs a vehicle approach notification sound to notify pedestrians and others of the approach of a vehicle. If the sound generating unit has no directionality, it can be disposed in the center of the front of the vehicle in the width direction to equalize the sound pressure on the left and right sides in the front.

[0003] However, in some vehicle front structures, due to layout constraints, the sound generating unit may be located on either the right or left side of the center in the vehicle width direction at the front of the vehicle. In such cases, the sound pressure level of the vehicle approach notification sound in front of the vehicle differs between the left and right.

[0004] Therefore, in order to notify pedestrians on either side of the vehicle of the approach of the vehicle, the sound pressure level was raised overall so that the lower sound pressure level was above the standard value. As a result, some of the sound with a higher sound pressure level penetrated into the vehicle interior, causing a decrease in quietness inside the vehicle. Furthermore, even if additional speakers were to be installed, it would increase costs and be difficult to secure the space.

[0005] Patent Document 1 describes a vehicle approach warning device that outputs a predetermined vehicle approach warning sound from a speaker. This speaker is located to the left of the left side member of the vehicle, and the vehicle approach warning sound is output toward the intersection of the vehicle's left-right center line and the ground through an opening provided in the undercover through which a towing hook passes.

[0006] The vehicle approach notification device of Patent Document 1 claims that it is possible to reduce the number of sound generating units installed, thereby keeping costs down, while also setting the vehicle approach notification sound so that it has approximately the same sound pressure level on the left and right sides of the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-62958 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, in the vehicle approach notification device of Patent Document 1, although the sound pressure is made equal on the left and right sides, the sound pressure in front of the vehicle is reduced. In addition, since the vehicle approach notification sound from the speaker needs to be reflected on the ground, there is a large loss of sound due to transmission. Furthermore, on rough roads or roads where the ground is not flat, the sound is diffusely reflected, making it impossible to maintain uniformity of sound pressure. In addition, since the speaker is positioned so that the vehicle approach notification sound passes through the opening through which the towing hook passes, the speaker and the towing hook are subject to layout restrictions.

[0009] In view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle front structure that can equalize sound pressure on the left and right sides in the front of the vehicle, even if a sound generating unit is located on either the right side or the left side in the vehicle width direction in the front of the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, a typical configuration of the vehicle front structure of the present invention is a vehicle front structure that includes a sound generating unit that is located on either the right or left side of the vehicle width center at the front of the vehicle and outputs a predetermined vehicle approaching notification sound, the vehicle front structure further including a sound transmitting unit that is provided in front of the sound generating unit and protrudes from the front toward the front of the vehicle, receiving the vehicle approaching notification sound and sending it forward of the vehicle, and the sound transmitting unit is formed with a reflective surface that is located to one side of the sound generating unit's width center and reflects the vehicle approaching notification sound to the other side and sends it forward of the vehicle. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, a vehicle front structure can be provided that can equalize sound pressure on the left and right sides in the front, even if a sound generating unit is located on either the right side or the left side in the vehicle width direction in the front of the vehicle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle front structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 2 is a diagram showing a main part of the vehicle front structure of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 3 is a diagram illustrating a sound generating unit and a sound transmitting unit in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram showing a modification of the sound generating unit and the sound transmitting unit in FIG. [Diagram 5] 5 is a diagram showing a modified example of the sound transmitting unit in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] A typical configuration of a vehicle front structure according to one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle front structure including a sound generating unit located on either the right or left side of the vehicle width center at the front of the vehicle and outputting a predetermined vehicle approaching notification sound, the vehicle front structure further including a sound transmitting unit provided in front of the sound generating unit and protruding from the front toward the front of the vehicle for receiving the vehicle approaching notification sound and sending it forward of the vehicle, the sound transmitting unit being formed with a reflective surface located to one side of the sound generating unit's width center and reflecting the vehicle approaching notification sound to the other side and sending it forward of the vehicle.

[0014] In the above configuration, when the sound generating unit (speaker) that is the sound source that outputs the vehicle approaching notification sound is attached, for example, to the right of the center in the vehicle width direction, the reflection surface of the sound transmitting unit is formed on the right side of the sound generating unit. Therefore, the vehicle approaching notification sound is reflected by the reflection surface of the sound transmitting unit to become a reflected sound, and is transmitted to the other side (left side) in the vehicle width direction that is farther from the sound generating unit and sent to the front of the vehicle. In addition, of the vehicle approaching notification sound, the transmitted sound that passes through the reflection surface of the sound transmitting unit and the diffracted sound that goes around the sound transmitting unit are transmitted to the right side in the vehicle width direction and sent to the front of the vehicle. In this way, the left and right sound pressures in the front of the vehicle can be made equal. Therefore, according to the above configuration, even if the sound generating unit is disposed on either the right side or the left side in the vehicle width direction in the front of the vehicle, the left and right sound pressures in the front can be made equal.

[0015] The reflection surface is a curved surface that is convex on one side. Since the sound transmitting unit has a reflection surface that is a curved surface that is convex on one side, the reflected sound of the vehicle approach notification sound can be widely emitted to the other side in the vehicle width direction that is farther away from the sound generating unit. In addition, since the reflection surface is a curved surface, the variation in the surrounding sound field in front of the vehicle due to reflection can be reduced.

[0016] The above-mentioned reflecting surface is a part of a sphere, and the center of curvature of the radius of curvature is located on the other side of the vehicle width direction center and on the rear side and above the sound generating unit. In this way, the sound transmitting unit can reliably transmit the reflected sound to the other side in the vehicle width direction, which is farther from the sound generating unit, because the center of curvature of the reflecting surface is located on the other side opposite to the one side in the vehicle width direction where the sound generating unit is arranged. In addition, the sound transmitting unit can reflect a part of the sound traveling forward from the sound generating unit to the other side, because the center of curvature of the reflecting surface is located on the rear side of the vehicle compared to the sound generating unit.

[0017] In addition, since the vehicle approaching notification sound needs to be transmitted to pedestrians, there is little need for the reflected sound to travel toward the underside of the vehicle. Therefore, by positioning the center of curvature of the reflective surface of the sound transmitting unit above the sound generating unit, a portion of the sound traveling from the sound generating unit toward the underside of the vehicle can be reflected toward the upper side of the vehicle, thereby reducing the loss of the sound traveling toward the underside of the vehicle. In this way, the sound transmitting unit can equalize the sound pressure on the left and right in front of the vehicle approaching notification sound output from the sound generating unit.

[0018] The reflection surface overlaps with the sound source center of the sound generating unit when viewed from the front. This allows the reflection surface to reflect sound that travels from the sound source center of the sound generating unit to the front or under the vehicle, and transmit the reflected sound to the other side in the vehicle width direction, away from the sound generating unit, thereby making the sound pressure level uniform.

[0019] The above-mentioned vehicle front structure further includes a frame-shaped end upper bumper located between the front bumper of the vehicle and a radiator arranged on the rear side of the front bumper, which takes in air toward the radiator, and the end upper bumper has upper and lower members extending in the vehicle width direction and spaced apart vertically, a pair of vertical members extending in the vertical direction connecting an end of the upper member and an end of the lower member, and a pair of reinforcing members extending in the vertical direction and connecting the upper member and the lower member to the right and left of the center in the vehicle width direction, and the sound transmitting unit is attached to one of the pair of reinforcing members.

[0020] In this way, the sound transmitting unit is not only provided in front of the sound generating unit, but is also attached to the reinforcing member on one side of the end upper bumper. This eliminates the need for a bracket to fix the sound transmitting unit, simplifying the structure. Furthermore, since the bracket does not reflect sound, the sound transmitting unit can reliably transmit sound from the sound generating unit to the other side in the vehicle width direction, which is farther away from the sound generating unit. EXAMPLES

[0021] 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.

[0022] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle front structure 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a front part 104 of a vehicle 102 is shown as viewed from above. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a main part of the vehicle front structure 100 in Fig. 1. In each figure below, the front-rear direction of the vehicle is indicated by arrows Front and Back, the left and right in the vehicle width direction are indicated by arrows Left and Right, and the top-bottom direction of the vehicle is indicated by arrows Up and Down.

[0023] The vehicle front structure 100 includes a sound generating unit 106, a sound transmitting unit 108, and an end upper bumper 110. As shown in Fig. 1, the end upper bumper 110 is located between a front bumper 112 of the vehicle 102 and a radiator 114 disposed behind the front bumper 112. The end upper bumper 110 is formed in a frame shape so as to take in air into the radiator 114 (see Fig. 2).

[0024] 2(a) and 2(b) respectively show the main parts of the vehicle front structure 100 as viewed from diagonally above the left and from the front. The end upper bumper 110 has an upper member 116 and a lower member 118 that extend in the vehicle width direction and are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, a pair of vertical members 120, 122, and a pair of reinforcing members 124, 126.

[0025] The pair of vertical members 120, 122 are members that extend in the vertical direction and are spaced apart in the vehicle width direction, and connect the ends 116a, 116b of the upper member 116 and the ends 118a, 118b of the lower member 118, respectively. The pair of reinforcing members 124, 126 are members that extend in the vertical direction and are spaced apart in the vehicle width direction. The reinforcing member 124 connects the upper member 116 and the lower member 118 to the right of the center in the vehicle width direction. The reinforcing member 126 connects the upper member 116 and the lower member 118 to the left of the center in the vehicle width direction.

[0026] The sound generating unit 106 is a non-directional speaker that outputs a predetermined vehicle approach notification sound, and is positioned on either the right or left side (here, the right side) of the center in the vehicle width direction at the front 104 of the vehicle 102.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 2(a), the sound transmitting unit 108 is provided on a front surface 128 of the sound generating unit 106, protrudes from the front surface 128 toward the front of the vehicle, and receives the vehicle approach notification sound and transmits it toward the front of the vehicle. The sound transmitting unit 108 is attached to the right reinforcing member 124 of the pair of reinforcing members 124, 126. Furthermore, the sound transmitting unit 108 is formed with a reflecting surface 130 as shown in Fig. 2(a). The sound generating unit 106 is attached to a predetermined member located forward of the radiator 114.

[0028] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the sound generating unit 106 and the sound transmitting unit 108 in Fig. 2. Fig. 3(a) shows the sound generating unit 106 and the sound transmitting unit 108 as viewed from diagonally above and to the left. Fig. 3(b) and Fig. 3(c) show the sound generating unit 106 and the sound transmitting unit 108 in Fig. 3(a) as viewed from above and from the front, respectively.

[0029] The sound generating unit 106 is, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped, and the sound transmitting unit 108 is provided on its front surface 128. The sound transmitting unit 108 is, for example, a columnar body that protrudes from the front surface 128 of the sound generating unit 106 toward the front of the vehicle, and a reflecting surface 130 is formed on one side thereof.

[0030] The reflecting surface 130 of the sound transmitting unit 108 is located on one side of the center of the sound generating unit 106 in the vehicle width direction, to the right, and is a curved surface that is convex on one side, for example, being part of a spherical surface 132 shown in Figures 1 and 2(b).

[0031] The reflection surface 130 is also defined by curved ridgelines 134a, 134b, and 134c of the sound transmitting unit 108. The ridgeline 134a is a curved line connecting the front upper left corner 136a and the rear upper right corner 136b of the sound transmitting unit 108. The ridgeline 134b is a curved line connecting the rear upper right corner 136b and the rear lower left corner 136c of the sound transmitting unit 108. The ridgeline 134c is a curved line connecting the front upper left corner 136a and the rear lower left corner 136c of the sound transmitting unit 108.

[0032] Furthermore, the center of curvature A of the radius of curvature of the reflective surface 130 is located on the other side (here, the left side) of the center in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 102 as shown in FIG. 1 and toward the rear of the vehicle than the sound generating unit 106, and furthermore is located above the vehicle than the sound generating unit 106 as shown in FIG. 2(b).

[0033] 3(b), in the sound transmitting unit 108, a part of the vehicle approaching notification sound output from the sound source center B of the sound generating unit 106 is incident on the reflecting surface 130 as an incident sound Pa. The incident sound Pa is then reflected by the reflecting surface 130 as a reflected sound Pb, which is transmitted to the other side (left side) in the vehicle width direction away from the sound generating unit 106 and sent forward of the vehicle.

[0034] Further, a portion of the vehicle approaching notification sound becomes a transmitted sound Pc that passes through the reflecting surface 130. This transmitted sound Pc and a diffracted sound Pd of the vehicle approaching notification sound that goes around the sound transmitting unit 108 are transmitted to the right in the vehicle width direction and sent to the front of the vehicle. In this way, the vehicle front structure 100 can equalize the sound pressure on the left and right in front of the vehicle 102.

[0035] In addition, since the reflective surface 130 of the sound sending unit 108 is a curved surface convex on one side, the reflected sound Pb of the vehicle approach notification sound can be emitted widely to the other side in the vehicle width direction, away from the sound generating unit 106, and the variation in the surrounding sound field in front of the vehicle due to reflection can be reduced.

[0036] In addition, since the center of curvature A of the reflecting surface 130 of the sound transmitting unit 108 is located on the other side opposite to the one side in the vehicle width direction on which the sound generating unit 106 is arranged, the reflected sound can be reliably transmitted to the other side in the vehicle width direction, which is away from the sound generating unit 106.

[0037] Furthermore, since the center of curvature A of the reflecting surface 130 of the sound transmitting unit 108 is located on the vehicle rear side relative to the sound generating unit 106, a part of the sound traveling forward from the sound generating unit 106 can be reflected to the other side.

[0038] Here, since the vehicle approaching notification sound needs to be transmitted to pedestrians, there is little need for the reflected sound to travel toward the underside of the vehicle. Therefore, the sound transmitting unit 108 positions the center of curvature A of the reflecting surface 130 above the sound generating unit 106, thereby reflecting a portion of the sound traveling from the sound generating unit 106 toward the underside of the vehicle toward the upper side of the vehicle, thereby reducing the loss of the sound traveling toward the underside of the vehicle. In this way, the sound transmitting unit 108 can equalize the sound pressure on the left and right in front of the vehicle approaching notification sound output from the sound generating unit 106.

[0039] 3(c), the reflection surface 130 of the sound transmitting unit 108 overlaps with the sound source center B of the sound generating unit 106 in a front view. This allows the reflection surface 130 to reflect sound traveling from the sound source center B of the sound generating unit 106 to the front or under the vehicle, and transmit the reflected sound to the other side in the vehicle width direction away from the sound generating unit 106, thereby making the sound pressure level uniform.

[0040] Furthermore, sound transmitting unit 108 is not only provided on front surface 128 of sound generating unit 106, but is also attached to reinforcing member 124 on one side of end upper bumper 110 shown in Fig. 2. This eliminates the need for a bracket for fixing sound transmitting unit 108, simplifying the structure. This prevents sound from being reflected by the bracket, so sound transmitting unit 108 can reliably transmit the vehicle approach notification sound from sound generating unit 106 to the other side in the vehicle width direction, which is farther away from sound generating unit 106.

[0041] In the above vehicle front structure 100, the sound generating unit 106 is disposed on one side (right side) of the center in the vehicle width direction in the front part 104 of the vehicle 102, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the sound generating unit 106 may be disposed on the other side (left side). In this case, by attaching the sound transmitting unit 108 to the reinforcing member 126 on the other side of the end upper bumper 110 and making the reflecting surface 130 a curved surface that is convex on the other side, the vehicle approach notification sound can be reflected on one side and sent forward of the vehicle.

[0042] Therefore, according to the vehicle front structure 100, even if the sound generating unit 106 is positioned on either the right side or the left side in the vehicle width direction in the front of the vehicle 102, the sound pressure on the left and right sides in the front can be made equal.

[0043] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing modified examples of the sound generating unit 106 and the sound transmitting unit 108 in Fig. 3. The sound generating unit 106A shown in Fig. 4(a) is cylindrical, unlike the rectangular parallelepiped sound generating unit 106 shown in Fig. 4(b).

[0044] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the sound transmitting unit 108A, which is a modified example, is located to one side (here, the right side) of the center of the sound generating units 106, 106A in the vehicle width direction, and further has the same height as the sound generating units 106, 106A.

[0045] Furthermore, the sound transmitting unit 108A is formed with a reflection surface 130A. The reflection surface 130A is defined by curves connecting the end point 138a shown in Fig. 4(c) of the sound transmitting unit 108A with the end points 138b and 138c shown in Fig. 4(a), Fig. 4(b), and Fig. 4(c), respectively, and is a curved surface that is convex on one side.

[0046] Therefore, sound transmitting unit 108A can reflect the vehicle approaching notification sound output from sound generating units 106, 106A to the other side by reflecting surface 130A and transmit it forward of the vehicle, thereby making the sound pressure on the left and right sides in front equal.

[0047] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a modified example of sound transmitting unit 108A in Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 5(a) and Fig. 5(b), sound transmitting unit 108B, which is a modified example, is located to one side (here, the right side) of the center in the vehicle width direction of cylindrical sound generating unit 106A, and further has the same height as sound generating unit 106A.

[0048] Further, the sound transmitting unit 108B is formed with a reflection surface 130B. The reflection surface 130B is defined by a curve connecting the end point 140a shown in Fig. 5(b) of the sound transmitting unit 108B with the end point 140b shown in Fig. 5(a), a curve connecting the end points 140b, 140c, and 140d shown in Fig. 5(a), and a curve connecting the end point 140a shown in Fig. 5(b) with the end point 140d shown in Fig. 5(a), and is a curved surface convex on one side.

[0049] Therefore, sound transmitting unit 108B can reflect the vehicle approaching notification sound output from sound generating unit 106A to the other side by reflecting surface 130B and transmit it forward of the vehicle, thereby making the sound pressure on the left and right sides in front equal.

[0050] 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 such an 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. [Industrial Applicability]

[0051] The present invention can be used in a vehicle front structure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 100...vehicle front structure, 102...vehicle, 104...front of vehicle, 106, 106A...sound generating section, 108, 108A, 108B...sound transmitting section, 110...end upper bumper, 112...front bumper, 114...radiator, 116...upper member, 116a, 116b...end of upper member, 118...lower member, 118a, 118b...end of lower member, 120, 122...vertical member, 124, 126...reinforcing member, 128...sound generating section front surface of the sound transmitting unit, 130, 130A, 130B...reflecting surface, 132...spherical surface, 134a, 134b, 134c...ridge line, 136a...upper left corner in front of the sound transmitting unit, 136b...upper right corner behind the sound transmitting unit, 136c...lower left corner behind the sound transmitting unit, 138a, 138b, 138c, 140a, 140b, 140c, 140d...end points of the sound transmitting unit, A...center of curvature, B...center of sound source, Pa...incident sound, Pb...reflected sound, Pc...transmitted sound, Pd...diffracted sound

Claims

1. In a vehicle front structure including a sound generating unit that is disposed on either the right side or the left side of a center in a vehicle width direction at a front part of the vehicle and outputs a predetermined vehicle approach notification sound, the vehicle front structure further includes: a sound transmitting unit that is provided in front of the sound generating unit and protrudes from the front of the vehicle to receive the vehicle approach notification sound and transmit it to the front of the vehicle; A vehicle front structure characterized in that the sound sending unit is formed with a reflective surface that is located on one side of the vehicle width center of the sound generating unit and reflects the vehicle approach notification sound to the other side and sends it forward of the vehicle.

2. 2. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the reflection surface is a curved surface that is convex toward the one side.

3. 3. The vehicle front structure according to claim 2, characterized in that the reflecting surface is a part of a spherical surface, and the center of curvature of the radius of curvature is located on the other side of the center of the vehicle width direction of the vehicle and rearward and above the sound generating portion.

4. 4. The vehicle front structure according to claim 3, wherein the reflection surface overlaps with a sound source center of the sound generating portion in a front view.

5. The vehicle front structure further includes a frame-shaped end upper bumper that is located between a front bumper of the vehicle and a radiator arranged on the vehicle rear side of the front bumper and takes in air toward the radiator, The end upper bumper is an upper member and a lower member extending in a vehicle width direction and spaced apart from each other vertically; a pair of vertical members extending in the vertical direction and connecting an end of the upper member and an end of the lower member; a pair of reinforcing members extending in the vertical direction and connecting the upper member and the lower member to the right and left of a center in the vehicle width direction, 2. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the sound transmitting portion is attached to one of the pair of reinforcing members.

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