Front end module

Abstract

To provide a front end module making it possible to adopt a novel layout of onboard components.SOLUTION: A front end module to be mounted in a region in front of a compartment in a vehicle includes a frame body 2 having a top column part 20 extending in a vehicle width direction, a first side column part 21 extending downward from one end of the top column part 20, a second side column part 22 extending downward from the other end of the top column part 20, a first reinforcement column part 31 laid between the top column part 20 and the first side column part 21, and a second reinforcement column part 32 laid between the top column part 20 and the second side column part 22, and a liquid utilization device 4 having a liquid tank 40 accommodated and retained in a first retention area 2f defined by the top column part 20, the first side column part 21, and the first reinforcement column part 31 and / or a second retention area 2s defined by the top column part 20, the second side column part 22, and the second reinforcement column part 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a front end module mounted in a region in front of a passenger compartment in a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, a front end module has been proposed in which a plurality of vehicle-mounted products disposed in a region in front of a passenger compartment in a vehicle are modularized together with a frame. The region in front of the passenger compartment in a vehicle means a region called a so-called engine room, a motor room, etc. located under the bonnet. Examples of the vehicle-mounted products included in the front end module include various devices and members typified by a radiator, a fan shroud that covers the radiator, a lamp, a front grille, a bumper, and the like.

[0003] Patent Document 1 introduces a front end module in which a radiator is attached to a radiator support that reinforces a vehicle skeleton, and a lamp body is further attached to the radiator support.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The radiator support introduced in Patent Document 1 has a substantially rectangular frame formed of an upper support member, a lower support member, and a cross member. The frame has a relatively large accommodation space that opens in a substantially rectangular shape forward and backward. The radiator support accommodates and holds a radiator in the accommodation space.

[0006] By the way, in recent years, electric vehicles (so-called EVs), which have become prominent, are significantly different in terms of vehicle structure and vehicle-mounted components compared to conventional engine vehicles equipped with an internal combustion engine as a power source. In particular, the difference is prominent in the area in front of the passenger compartment in the vehicle.

[0007] Therefore, in order to cope with such changes in vehicle structure and vehicle-mounted components, it is desirable to review the layout of various vehicle-mounted components in the area in front of the passenger compartment in the vehicle.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object to be solved is to provide a front-end module that can make the layout of vehicle-mounted components in the area in front of the passenger compartment in the vehicle a new one different from the conventional one.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] The front-end module of the present invention for solving the above problems is a front-end module mounted in an area in front of the passenger compartment in the vehicle, a frame body having a top support column portion extending in the vehicle width direction, a first side support column portion extending downward from one end portion of the top support column portion, a second side support column portion extending downward from the other end portion of the top support column portion, a first reinforcing support column portion bridged between the top support column portion and the first side support column portion, and a second reinforcing support column portion bridged between the top support column portion and the second side support column portion, and a liquid utilization device having a liquid tank housed and held in a first holding area defined by the top support column portion, the first side support column portion, and the first reinforcing support column portion and / or a second holding area defined by the top support column portion, the second side support column portion, and the second reinforcing support column portion.

Effects of the Invention

[0010] According to the front-end module of the present invention, it is possible to make the layout of vehicle-mounted components in the area in front of the passenger compartment in the vehicle a new one different from the conventional one.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, the front-end module of the present invention will be described with specific examples. Unless otherwise specified, when simply referring to the front side, it means the front side in the vehicle traveling direction, and when simply referring to the rear side, it means the rear side in the vehicle traveling direction.

[0013] Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the numerical range “x~y” described in this specification includes the lower limit x and the upper limit y within that range. And by arbitrarily combining these upper limit values, lower limit values, and the numerical values listed in the embodiments, a numerical range can be constituted. Furthermore, a numerical value arbitrarily selected from within the numerical range can be used as the upper limit and lower limit numerical values.

[0014] The front-end module of the present invention is a front-end module mounted in a region in front of the passenger compartment in a vehicle, that is, in the engine room, motor room, etc. of the vehicle. Hereinafter, for convenience, the "region in front of the passenger compartment in the vehicle" may be referred to as the engine room.

[0015] The front-end module of the present invention includes a frame body and a liquid utilization device.

[0016] Among these, the frame body has a top support column portion extending in the vehicle width direction, a first side support column portion extending downward from one end portion of the top support column portion, a second side support column portion extending downward from the other end portion of the top support column portion, a first reinforcing support column portion bridging the top support column portion and the first side support column portion, and a second reinforcing support column portion bridging the top support column portion and the second side support column portion, and can also be referred to as a frame body for holding vehicle-mounted items.

[0017] The frame body in the front-end module of the present invention has a region (i.e., the first holding region) defined by the top support column portion, the first side support column portion, and the first reinforcing support column portion, and a region (i.e., the second holding region) defined by the top support column portion, the second side support column portion, and the second reinforcing support column portion. And the liquid tank of the liquid utilization device is housed and held in the first holding region and / or the second holding region.

[0018] By the way, in a conventional front-end module, generally, the frame body is used as a radiator support for housing and holding a radiator.

[0019] For example, in the front-end module introduced in Patent Document 1, a relatively large accommodation space that opens in a substantially rectangular shape is provided in the frame body, that is, the radiator support. And the radiator is housed and held in the accommodation space.

[0020] In such a conventional front-end module, it is common for vehicle-mounted items other than the radiator to be attached outside the frame body, for example, outside the vehicle width direction or above the frame body.

[0021] For example, the front-end module introduced in Patent Document 1 has a lamp body in addition to a radiator. More specifically, in the front-end module introduced in Patent Document 1, a light attachment member for accommodating and holding the lamp body is attached to the radiator support, and the lamp body is supported outside the accommodation space in the radiator support.

[0022] It is difficult to say that such a conventional front-end module stably supports a liquid utilization device having a liquid tank.

[0023] The liquid tank in the liquid utilization device is for accommodating liquid inside. In such a liquid tank, when the vehicle starts or suddenly brakes when stopping, the liquid in the liquid tank moves greatly relative to the liquid tank, and a large force acts on the liquid tank and the frame that accommodates and holds the liquid tank.

[0024] In addition, various path parts are attached to a general liquid tank. Specific path parts include an infusion tube and an infusion pump as a path for the liquid to exchange with various devices outside the liquid tank, and a wire harness as an electrical path for connecting the infusion pump to a power source. When these path parts are attached to the liquid tank, that is, when the liquid utilization device has these path parts, the mass of the liquid utilization device further increases. Therefore, in this case, the force acting on the liquid utilization device and the frame during sudden braking or the like becomes even greater.

[0025] In the front-end module of the present invention, the liquid tank in such a liquid utilization device is accommodated and held in the first holding region and / or the second holding region in the frame. The constituent elements of the frame body are roughly classified into an inverted U-shaped frame portion formed by a top support column portion, a first side support column portion, and a second side support column portion, and reinforcing members for reinforcing the frame portion inside the frame portion, that is, a first reinforcing support column portion and a second reinforcing support column portion. The frame body in the front end module of the present invention configured in this way can be said to have a robust arch-shaped structure as a whole.

[0026] And the frame body can stably support the liquid tank in order to hold the liquid tank by a first holding region and a second holding region on the inner side thereof. That is, the front end module of the present invention has a different layout of vehicle-mounted products in the engine room of the vehicle compared to the above-described conventional front end module. And thereby, the front end module of the present invention can be said to be functionally suitable as a front end module including a liquid utilization device having a liquid tank.

[0027] Hereinafter, the front end module of the present invention will be described for each of its constituent elements.

[0028] The front end module of the present invention includes a frame body and a liquid utilization device.

[0029] Among these, the frame body has a top support column portion extending in the vehicle width direction, a first side support column portion extending downward from one end portion of the top support column portion, a second side support column portion extending downward from the other end portion of the top support column portion, a first reinforcing support column portion bridging the top support column portion and the first side support column portion, and a second reinforcing support column portion bridging the top support column portion and the second side support column portion.

[0030] Such a frame body can be said to be generally in an inverted U shape as a whole. In addition, a first reinforcing support portion is bridged over the top support portion and the first side support portion of the frame body, and a second reinforcing support portion is bridged over the top support portion and the second side support portion. Therefore, the frame body has a substantially triangular region (i.e., the first holding region) defined by the top support portion, the first side support portion, and the first reinforcing support portion, and a substantially triangular region (i.e., the second holding region) defined by the top support portion, the second side support portion, and the second reinforcing support portion.

[0031] The frame body forms a substantially arch shape by being reinforced by the first reinforcing support portion and the second reinforcing support portion as described above. As a result, the frame body can exhibit relatively high strength and rigidity. It can be said that the frame body has a function of supporting the front side of the vehicle at the front end of the vehicle and under the bonnet, and is also referred to as a front face support.

[0032] Note that the frame body may be composed only of the top support portion, the first side support portion, the second side support portion, the first reinforcing support portion, and the second reinforcing support portion, or may include other elements. In addition, in the front end module of the present invention, the orientation of the frame body when disposed in the engine room is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to direct the top support portion upward.

[0033] The frame body houses and holds the liquid tank of the liquid utilization device in the first holding region and / or the second holding region described above. The first holding region and the second holding region are defined by the first reinforcing support portion or the second reinforcing support portion and are excellent in rigidity. By housing and holding the liquid tank in such a first holding region and / or second holding region, it is possible to stably support the liquid tank in the front end module of the present invention.

[0034] Note that the frame body may house and hold the entire liquid tank in the first holding region and / or the second holding region, or may house and hold only a part of the liquid tank in the first holding region and / or the second holding region. Furthermore, a part of the liquid tank may be placed on the floor of the engine room.

[0035] However, in order to stably support the liquid tank with the frame body, it is preferable that 50% or more, 70% or more, or 80% or more of the liquid tank is accommodated in the first holding region and / or the second holding region, and it is particularly preferable that 90% or more of the liquid tank is accommodated in the first holding region and / or the second holding region.

[0036] In such a case, most of the liquid tank is accommodated in the first holding region and / or the second holding region, and the region below the liquid tank in the engine room becomes empty. Therefore, in this case, it becomes possible to arrange parts other than the liquid tank in the liquid utilization device or vehicle-mounted items other than the liquid utilization device in this empty region, and there is an advantage that the space in the engine room can be effectively utilized.

[0037] Note that the percentage of the liquid tank here means the area percentage of the projected area of the liquid tank when the projected area of the first holding region or the second holding region in which the liquid tank is accommodated and held in the projection view obtained by projecting the front end module from the rear side to the front side is taken as 100%.

[0038] In addition, in the front end module of the present invention, parts other than the liquid tank in the liquid utilization device do not have to be held by the frame body, or may be held in a region of the frame body other than the first holding region and the second holding region. Furthermore, not only the liquid tank but also the entire liquid utilization device may be accommodated and held in the first holding region and / or the second holding region.

[0039] Note that the front end module of the present invention may be arranged at any position in the engine room, but it is preferably arranged on the foremost end side in the engine room, for example, on the rear side of the bumper and on the front side of the radiator. The front end module of the present invention may be mounted not only on electric vehicles but also on engine vehicles and hybrid vehicles having internal combustion engines.

[0040] The liquid utilization device in the front-end module of the present invention is a device having a liquid tank. The liquid tank of the liquid utilization device refers to a relatively small tank such as a washer tank for storing washer fluid or various reservoir tanks. Examples of the reservoir tank include a reservoir tank for coolant flowing through the radiator body. In some cases, a clutch reservoir tank for storing oil used in a hydraulic clutch or a brake reservoir tank for brake oil may also be used as the liquid tank. For reference, if the liquid tank is a washer tank, the liquid utilization device is a window washer; if the liquid tank is a reservoir tank for coolant, the liquid utilization device is a radiator; if the liquid tank is a clutch reservoir tank, the liquid utilization device is a clutch; and if the liquid tank is a brake reservoir tank, the liquid utilization device is a brake.

[0041] The liquid tank and the liquid utilization device are not limited to the above, but considering the size and arrangement of the engine room, for example, the capacity of the liquid tank is preferably in the range of 2000 to 5000 ml. In the front-end module of the present invention, even when the capacity of the liquid tank is relatively large, in the range of 3000 to 5000 ml, and the mass of the liquid tank including the liquid is large, the liquid tank can be stably accommodated and held by the first holding region and / or the second holding region of the frame body. That is, the front-end module of the present invention is more suitable as a front-end module having a liquid tank with a large capacity.

[0042] In the front-end module of the present invention, the shapes of the top support portion, the first side support portion, and the second side support portion are not particularly limited. For example, each of the top support portion, the first side support portion, and the second side support portion may be straight or curved. Also, each of the top support portion, the first side support portion, and the second side support portion may be columnar or plate-shaped.

[0043] The end of the top support column part may be butted against the ends of the first side support column part and the second side support column part, or may extend beyond the ends of the first side support column part and / or the second side support column part. Similarly, the ends of the first side support column part and the second side support column part may extend beyond the end of the top support column part.

[0044] The shapes of the first reinforcing support column part and the second reinforcing support column part are also not particularly limited, and each of the first reinforcing support column part and the second reinforcing support column part may be straight or may have a curved shape. Each of the first reinforcing support column part and the second reinforcing support column part may be columnar or may be plate-shaped.

[0045] Hereinafter, as necessary, the end of the top support column part on the first side support column part side may be referred to as the first end, and the end of the top support column part on the second side support column part side may be referred to as the second end.

[0046] Also, the end of the first side support column part on the top support column part side may be referred to as the upper end, and the end on the side opposite to the upper end may be referred to as the lower end. Similarly, the end of the second side support column part on the top support column part side may be referred to as the upper end, and the end on the side opposite to the upper end may be referred to as the lower end.

[0047] In addition, the end of the first reinforcing support column part on the top support column part side may be referred to as the upper end, and the end on the side opposite to the upper end may be referred to as the lower end. The end of the second reinforcing support column part on the top support column part side may be referred to as the upper end, and the end on the side opposite to the upper end may be referred to as the lower end. Note that in this specification, the names of these ends have no particular relation to the orientation of the frame when arranged in the engine room.

[0048] The end of the first reinforcing support column part may be butted against the top support column part and the first side support column part, or may extend beyond the top support column part and / or the first side support column part. Similarly, the end of the second reinforcing support column part may be butted against the top support column part and the second side support column part, or may extend beyond the top support column part and / or the second side support column part.

[0049] The positions of the upper end portion of the first reinforcing support portion with respect to the top support portion, the positions of the lower end portion of the first reinforcing support portion with respect to the first side support portion, the positions of the upper end portion of the second reinforcing support portion with respect to the top support portion, and the positions of the lower end portion of the second reinforcing support portion with respect to the second side support portion are not particularly limited either. These may be appropriately set according to the size of the liquid utilization device to be accommodated and held in the first holding region or the second holding region and the like.

[0050] However, in order to equalize the strength of the entire frame body, it is preferable that the upper end portions of the first reinforcing support portion and the second reinforcing support portion are in the 1 / 3 central region of the top support portion, and more preferably in the 1 / 5 central region of the top support portion. Note that the 1 / 3 central region of the top support portion means the region located at the center when the top support portion is divided into three equal parts in the first end - second end direction. Also, the 1 / 5 central region of the top support portion means the region located at the center when the top support portion is divided into five equal parts in the first end - second end direction.

[0051] The material of the frame body is not particularly limited, but for convenience of mounting on a vehicle, it is preferable to select a resin material that can achieve weight reduction. Examples of the resin material used for the frame body include polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acrylonitrile - butadiene - styrene copolymer synthetic resin (ABS), and polycarbonate (PC). Also, when selecting a resin material as the material of the frame body, additives may be added for reinforcement of the frame body. Examples of the additive include at least one selected from talc, inorganic fillers, glass fiber (GF), carbon fiber (CF), and fibrous magnesium compounds derived from magnesium hydroxide. A particularly preferred embodiment of the resin material used for the frame body can include a fiber - reinforced resin material in which 30 to 60% by mass of GF is blended with PP or PA.

[0052] Note that although the frame in the front-end module of the present invention has a shape capable of exhibiting sufficient strength and rigidity, when the frame functions as a reinforcement for the vehicle body, it is also useful to form a part of the frame with a metal material such as stainless steel or FRP (fiber-reinforced plastic) and the remaining part with a resin material.

[0053] Each part of the frame, namely, the top support part, the first side support part, the second side support part, the first reinforcement support part, and the second reinforcement support part, may be molded separately and assembled with each other to be integrated, or two or more of these may be integrally molded. Considering the weight reduction of the frame, it is preferable to integrally mold two or more parts of the frame, and it is more preferable to integrally mold the entire frame.

[0054] By the way, the liquid utilization device in the front-end module of the present invention has a function of exchanging the liquid stored in the liquid tank with various devices outside the liquid tank. Therefore, the liquid utilization device in the front-end module of the present invention may have the various path parts described above.

[0055] The liquid utilization device may have various path parts as described above. The path part functions as a flow path for liquid or electricity. Among the path parts, in particular, the infusion tube and the wire harness are flexible and bulky, so they are inferior in handleability.

[0056] In the front-end module of the present invention, for the convenience of accommodating and holding the liquid tank of the liquid utilization device in the first holding region and / or the second holding region of the frame, the above path parts also exist near the frame. Therefore, in the front-end module of the present invention, it is preferable to hold the path part on the frame.

[0057] As a method of holding the path portion by the frame body, any method may be adopted. For example, it is preferable to integrally provide a holding portion for holding the path portion on the frame body. When at least a part of the frame body is made of resin, if the resin portion of the frame body and the holding portion are integrally molded, there is an advantage that the number of parts of the frame body can be reduced and the weight of the frame body can be reduced despite providing the holding portion on the frame body.

[0058] The shape of the holding portion may be any shape such as a groove shape or a claw shape. However, since the path portion, that is, the infusion tube or the wire harness, is a long member, in order to reduce the size of the entire front end module and to reduce the external force acting on the front end module when the vehicle makes an emergency stop, etc., it is preferable to align the path portion along the frame body.

[0059] From the viewpoint of protecting the path portion from foreign matters such as rainwater entering from the front of the vehicle and collisions of the vehicle, etc., at least a part of the path portion is preferably disposed on the rear side of the frame body, that is, the rear side in the vehicle traveling direction, and at least a part of the holding portion for holding the path portion is also preferably formed on the rear side of the frame body. It is particularly preferable to form the entire holding portion on the rear side of the frame body.

[0060] In addition, considering the weight reduction of the frame body, it is preferable that the path portion is provided not on the entire frame body but only on the necessary portions of the frame body. When the frame body is resin molded, since the degree of freedom of the shape of the frame body is high, it is easy to provide the path portion only on a part of the frame body.

[0061] Specifically, the holding portion preferably forms a groove shape that continuously or discontinuously extends along the frame body. The groove-shaped holding portion is referred to as a groove-shaped holding portion. Considering the moldability of the groove-shaped holding portion, the groove-shaped holding portion preferably has a C-shaped cross section that opens toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0062] The groove-shaped holding portion is preferably integrally provided on the inside of the frame body, that is, at least a part of the top support portion, the first side support portion, the second side support portion, the first reinforcement support portion, or the second reinforcement support portion of the frame body.

[0063] Furthermore, considering the maintainability of vehicle-mounted products included in a front-end module including a liquid utilization device, it is preferable that the holding portion detachably holds the path portion. When the holding portion is a groove-shaped holding portion, if it has a C-shaped cross-section, it is possible to detachably hold the path portion by the groove-shaped holding portion.

[0064] Examples of vehicle-mounted products other than the liquid utilization device that the front-end module of the present invention may include include, for example, lamp bodies such as headlamps, hood latches that engage with hood strikers, horns, bumpers, intake ducts, vehicle ECUs (electronic control units or engine control units), etc., but are not limited thereto. These various vehicle-mounted products can also be held by the frame body. Hereinafter, as necessary, vehicle-mounted products held by the frame body other than the liquid utilization device are referred to as functional components.

[0065] The attachment position of the functional component to the frame body is not particularly limited. For example, the functional component may be accommodated and held in an empty area among the first holding area and / or the second holding area in the frame body, or the functional component may be held in other areas of the frame body. When the functional component has a wire harness, it is preferable that the holding portion of the frame body holds the wire harness, and it is more preferable that the holding portion detachably holds the wire harness. Furthermore, it is particularly preferable that the holding portion is the groove-shaped holding portion described above.

[0066] Among the functional components that may be included in the front-end module, there are those that output light or sound to the outside, such as lamp bodies and horns. When the front-end module includes this type of functional component, it is preferable to hold the functional component on the front side of the frame body and hold the liquid tank involved in maintaining the functions of the vehicle on the rear side of the frame body.

[0067] By the way, when the frame holds the wire harness of the functional component described above in the groove-shaped holding portion, the groove-shaped holding portion may hold only the wire harness of the functional component and not the path portion of the liquid utilization device. Considering the relationship between such a groove-shaped holding portion and the wire harness of the functional component, the present invention can also be regarded as a front-end module including a frame and a functional component.

[0068] Further, when the front-end module of the present invention has vehicle-mounted components other than the liquid utilization device, that is, functional components, it is possible to perform the work of mounting a plurality of functional components on the vehicle simultaneously and with a small number of man-hours. That is, in this case, a plurality of functional components including the liquid utilization device are assembled in advance to the frame to form a front-end module, and the front-end module is mounted on the vehicle. Thereby, it is possible to perform the work of mounting a plurality of functional components on the vehicle simultaneously and with a small number of man-hours. Normally, the work of mounting a plurality of functional components on a vehicle is very complicated because it is performed in a narrow engine room. However, since the front-end module of the present invention can be performed at a work site instead of the engine room, the mounting work becomes much simpler.

[0069] Further, when the frame has a groove-shaped holding portion, infusion tubes, wire harnesses, etc. of various functional components can be collectively held by the groove-shaped holding portion, so that the bulkiness of the functional components can be reduced, and there is an advantage that the work of mounting a plurality of functional components on the vehicle becomes even simpler.

[0070] Considering the above advantages in the assembly workability, the present invention can also be regarded as an invention related to the following method of mounting a plurality of vehicle-mounted components (that is, a liquid utilization device and at least one functional component) on a vehicle.

[0071] A method of mounting a plurality of vehicle-mounted components including a liquid utilization device having a liquid tank in an engine room of a vehicle, comprising: A top support portion extending in the vehicle width direction, a first side support portion extending downward from one end of the top support portion, a second side support portion extending downward from the other end of the top support portion, a first reinforcing support portion bridging the top support portion and the first side support portion, and a second reinforcing support portion bridging the top support portion and the second side support portion. An assembling step of assembling each of the plurality of vehicle-mounted products to the frame to form a front-end module. A mounting step of mounting the front-end module in the engine room. In the assembling step, the liquid tank of the liquid utilization device is housed and held in a first holding area defined by the top support portion, the first side support portion, and the first reinforcing support portion and / or a second holding area defined by the top support portion, the second side support portion, and the second reinforcing support portion. A mounting method for vehicle-mounted products.

[0072] Hereinafter, the front-end module of the present invention will be described with specific examples.

[0073] (Example 1) The front-end module of Example 1 includes a hood latch, a horn, and a lamp body as other functional parts in addition to a window washer as a liquid utilization device.

[0074] FIG. 1 shows an explanatory diagram schematically showing the front-end module of Example 1 as viewed from above, and FIG. 2 shows an explanatory diagram schematically showing the front-end module of Example 1 as viewed from the front. FIG. 3 shows an explanatory diagram schematically explaining the state of the front-end module of Example 1 cut at the A-A position in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 shows an explanatory diagram schematically explaining the state of the front-end module of Example 1 cut at the B-B position in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 shows an explanatory diagram schematically explaining the state of the front-end module of Example 1 cut at the C-C position in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 shows an explanatory diagram schematically explaining the liquid utilization device in the front-end module of Example 1.

[0075] Hereinafter, "front", "rear", "left", "right", "top", and "bottom" shall mean the front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom shown in each figure. Note that the front-rear direction means the front-rear direction in the vehicle traveling direction, and the left-right direction means the vehicle width direction.

[0076] The front-end module 1 of the first embodiment is mounted in the engine room (not shown) of the vehicle, and as shown in FIG. 2, it includes a frame body 2, a liquid utilization device 4, and a lamp body 6, a horn 7, and a hood latch 8 as other functional components.

[0077] The frame body 2 is made of PP resin, and the top support column portion 20, the first side support column portion 21, the second side support column portion 22, the first reinforcing support column portion 31, and the second reinforcing support column portion 32 are integrally formed.

[0078] Among these, the top support column portion 20 has a substantially columnar shape and extends substantially in an arc shape in the vehicle width direction, that is, the left-right direction as shown in FIG. 1. The right end portion of the top support column portion 20 is referred to as the first end portion 20f, and the left end portion of the top support column portion 20 is referred to as the second end portion 20s.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 2, the first side support column portion 21 extends substantially straight downward from the first end portion 20f of the top support column portion 20. The upper portion of the first side support column portion 21 has a substantially columnar shape, and its upper end portion 21u is butted against the first end portion 20f of the top support column portion 20. The lower portion of the first side support column portion 21 has a substantially plate-like shape with a thickness in the front-rear direction thinner than the thickness in the left-right direction.

[0080] The second side support column portion 22 extends substantially straight downward from the second end portion 20s of the top support column portion 20. The upper portion of the second side support column portion 22 has a substantially columnar shape, and its upper end portion 22u is butted against the second end portion 20s of the top support column portion 20. The second side support column portion 22 and the first side support column portion 21 have a bilaterally symmetric shape.

[0081] The first reinforcing strut portion 31 has a substantially columnar shape. The upper end portion 31u of the first reinforcing strut portion 31 is integrated with the central portion in the left - right direction of the top strut portion 20. The lower end portion 31l of the first reinforcing strut portion 31 is integrated with the substantially central portion in the up - down direction of the first side strut portion 21. Therefore, the first reinforcing strut portion 31 bridges the top strut portion 20 and the first side strut portion 21.

[0082] The second reinforcing strut portion 32 also has a substantially columnar shape. The upper end portion 32u of the second reinforcing strut portion 32 is integrated with the central portion in the left - right direction of the top strut portion 20. The lower end portion 32l of the second reinforcing strut portion 32 is integrated with the substantially central portion in the up - down direction of the second side strut portion 22. Therefore, the second reinforcing strut portion 32 bridges the top strut portion 20 and the second side strut portion 22.

[0083] The first holding region 2f is defined by the top strut portion 20, the upper portion of the first side strut portion 21, and the first reinforcing strut portion 31. Also, the second holding region 2s is defined by the top strut portion 20, the upper portion of the second side strut portion 22, and the second reinforcing strut portion 32.

[0084] Note that the upper end portion 31u of the first reinforcing strut portion 31 and the upper end portion 32u of the second reinforcing strut portion 32 are in the 1 / 5 central region of the top strut portion 20. The lower end portion 31l of the first reinforcing strut portion 31 is in the 1 / 5 central region of the first side strut portion 21, and the lower end portion 32l of the second reinforcing strut portion 32 is in the 1 / 5 central region of the second side strut portion 22.

[0085] An attachment portion 26 is provided at the corner where the top strut portion 20 and the first reinforcing strut portion 31 intersect. The attachment portion 26 has a substantially triangular plate - like shape bridging the top strut portion 20 and the first reinforcing strut portion 31. Similarly, an attachment portion 27 having a shape substantially symmetric to the attachment portion 26 is provided at the corner where the top strut portion 20 and the second reinforcing strut portion 32 intersect. The attachment portion 26 and the attachment portion 27 are integrally formed with the frame body 2.

[0086] In addition, an attachment portion 28 is provided at the corner where the top support column portion 20 and the first side support column portion 21 intersect. The attachment portion 28 has a substantially triangular plate shape spanning the top support column portion 20 and the first side support column portion 21. Similarly, at the corner where the top support column portion 20 and the second side support column portion 22 intersect, an attachment portion 29 having a shape substantially symmetric to the attachment portion 28 is provided. The attachment portion 28 and the attachment portion 29 are integrally formed with the frame body 2.

[0087] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, groove-shaped holding portions 25 that are recessed forward and open rearward are continuously provided on the top support column portion 20, the first reinforcing support column portion 31, the second reinforcing support column portion 32, the upper portion of the first side support column portion 21, and the upper portion of the second side support column portion 22.

[0088] The liquid utilization device 4 is a window washer and has a washer tank as a liquid tank 40 and a path portion 41 as shown in FIG. 6. The capacity of the liquid tank 40 is about 2000 ml. The path portion 41 has an infusion tube 42 connected to the liquid tank 40 and a washer pump 43 connected to the infusion tube 42. Although not shown in FIG. 6, the infusion tube 42 extends further from the washer pump 43, and a nozzle portion for spraying onto the front glass of the vehicle is provided at its tip. Further, the liquid utilization device 4 has a wire harness 44 (FIG. 4) that communicates between the washer pump 43 and the power source.

[0089] The liquid utilization device 4 is fixed to the frame body 2, and among them, the liquid tank 40 is housed and held in the first holding region 2f. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the wire harness 44 is detachably held in the groove-shaped holding portion 25. The liquid tank 40 is provided with a tank-side attachment portion (not shown), and the liquid tank 40 is screwed to the attachment portion 28 of the frame body 2 at the tank-side attachment portion. More than 90% of the liquid tank 40 is housed in the first holding region 2f.

[0090] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the hood latch 8 is held by the top support portion 20. The hood latch 8 is fixed to the frame body 2 by being screwed to the top support portion 20.

[0091] The two lamp bodies 6 are symmetric in shape. One lamp body 6 is held by the first end portion 20f of the top support portion 20. The other lamp body 6 is held by the second end portion 20s of the top support portion 20. Each lamp body 6 is fixed to the frame body 2 by being screwed to the top support portion 20. A part of each lamp body 6 is inside the frame body 2, and the remainder is outside the frame body 2 in the vehicle width direction. Although not shown, the wire harness of the lamp body 6 is detachably held by a groove-shaped holding portion 25 provided in the frame body 2.

[0092] One horn 7 is held by a mounting portion 26 near the upper end portion 31u of the first reinforcing support portion 31. The other horn 7 is held by a mounting portion 27 near the upper end portion 32u of the second reinforcing support portion 32. Each horn 7 is fixed to the frame body 2 by being screwed to the mounting portion 26 and the mounting portion 27. The whole of each horn 7 is inside the frame body 2. Although not shown, the wire harness of the horn 7 is detachably held by a groove-shaped holding portion 25 provided in the frame body 2.

[0093] The liquid utilization device 4 is disposed on the rear side of the frame body 2 as a whole. The hood latch 8 is disposed on the rear side of the frame body 2, and the lamp body 6 and the horn 7 are disposed on the front side of the frame body 2.

[0094] The front end module 1 of the first embodiment holds the liquid tank 40 in the first holding region 2f inside the frame body 2, and is different in the layout of the vehicle-mounted items in the engine room of the vehicle compared to a conventional front end module 1 as introduced in Patent Document 1, for example. In addition, since the front end module 1 of the embodiment holds a plurality of vehicle-mounted items including the liquid utilization device 4 having the liquid tank 40 inside the frame body 2, it is possible to stably support these vehicle-mounted items.

[0095] The front-end module 1 of the first embodiment accommodates and holds the liquid tank 40 of the liquid utilization device 4 in the first holding region 2f of the frame body 2, and other vehicle-mounted components, such as a radiator body, can be arranged in the space below the frame body 2.

[0096] The front-end module 1 of the first embodiment is manufactured by assembling a plurality of vehicle-mounted components 6 to 8 including the liquid utilization device 4 to the frame body 2. Then, by mounting the front-end module 1, which is an integrated product of the frame body 2 and the plurality of vehicle-mounted components, in the engine room of the vehicle, the plurality of vehicle-mounted components can be mounted on the vehicle simultaneously. Thus, according to the front-end module 1 of the first embodiment, the work of mounting a plurality of vehicle-mounted components on the vehicle can be easily performed.

[0097] Furthermore, the frame body 2 in the front-end module 1 of the first embodiment has attachment portions 26 and 27. The attachment portions 26 and 27 function as attachment portions for horn 7 and other functional components, and also function as a reinforcement structure of the frame body 2. Furthermore, the frame body 2 in the front-end module 1 of the first embodiment has attachment portions 28 and 29. The attachment portions 28 and 29 function as attachment portions for the liquid tank 40 and other functional components, and also function as a reinforcement structure of the frame body 2.

[0098] In the front-end module 1 of the first embodiment, the shape of the frame body 2 is maintained by the attachment portions 28 and 29, and the shapes of the first holding region 2f and the second holding region 2s are also maintained. Thereby, there is an advantage that the liquid tank 40 and other functional components can be stably accommodated and held in the first holding region 2f and the second holding region 2s. In addition, in the front-end module 1 of the first embodiment, the positions of the attachment portions 28 and 29 are offset in the thickness direction of the frame body 2, that is, in the front-rear direction. More specifically, the positions of the attachment portions 28 and 29 are offset toward the front side. As a result, an operator can easily distinguish between the front surface and the rear surface of the frame body 2, and there is also an advantage that the workability of attaching functional components such as the liquid utilization device 4 and the horn 7 to the frame body 2 is improved. The same applies to the attachment portions 26 and 27 described above.

[0099] Although the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the like, and it is possible to appropriately extract and combine the elements described in the above-described embodiments and the like, and to make various changes without departing from the gist of the present invention. In addition, the specification of the present invention discloses a technical idea in which the matters described in each claim are appropriately combined, not limited to the citation relationship of each claim at the time of filing.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0100] 1: Front-end module 2: Frame body 20: Top support column portion 21: First side support column portion 22: Second side support column portion 31: First reinforcing support column portion 32: Second reinforcing support column portion 2f: First holding region 2s: Second holding region 25: Groove-shaped holding portion 4: Liquid utilization device 40: Liquid tank 41: Path portion 42: Infusion tube 44: Wire harness

Claims

1. A front end module disposed in a region in front of the passenger compartment in a vehicle, having a top support portion extending in the vehicle width direction, a first side support portion extending downward from one end of the top support portion, a second side support portion extending downward from the other end of the top support portion, a first reinforcing support portion bridging the top support portion and the first side support portion, and a second reinforcing support portion bridging the top support portion and the second side support portion; and a liquid utilization device having a liquid tank housed and held in a first holding region defined by the top support portion, the first side support portion, and the first reinforcing support portion and / or a second holding region defined by the top support portion, the second side support portion, and the second reinforcing support portion.

2. The liquid utilization device has a path portion that is at least one of an infusion tube and a wire harness, and the path portion is held by the frame body. The front end module according to claim 1.

3. The path portion is held in a groove-shaped holding portion integrally provided on at least a part of the top support portion, the first side support portion, the second side support portion, the first reinforcing support portion, or the second reinforcing support portion. The front end module according to claim 2.

4. The groove-shaped holding portion detachably holds the path portion. The front end module according to claim 3.

5. A front end module disposed in a region in front of the passenger compartment in a vehicle, having a top support portion extending in the vehicle width direction, a first side support portion extending downward from one end of the top support portion, a second side support portion extending downward from the other end of the top support portion, a first reinforcing support portion bridging the top support portion and the first side support portion, and a second reinforcing support portion bridging the top support portion and the second side support portion; and functional components having a wire harness and attached to the frame body. The front-end module, wherein the wire harness is held in a groove-shaped holding portion integrally provided on at least a part of the top support portion, the first side support portion, the second side support portion, the first reinforcing support portion, or the second reinforcing support portion.

6. The front-end module according to claim 5, wherein the groove-shaped holding portion detachably holds the wire harness.

7. Furthermore, a liquid utilization device having a liquid tank housed and held in a first holding region defined by the top support portion, the first side support portion, and the first reinforcing support portion and / or a second holding region defined by the top support portion, the second side support portion, and the second reinforcing support portion is provided. The front-end module according to claim 5 or claim 6.

Images