Vehicle front part structure

Abstract

To obtain a vehicle front part structure that can avoid a heat exchanger from being damaged.SOLUTION: A vehicle front part structure 10 includes: a heat exchanger 30; front side members 20 extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction on both left and right sides in a vehicle width direction at a vehicle front part; support portions 40 each provided at an intermediate portion of the pair of left and right front side members 20 in a vehicle front-rear within a power unit room 14 at the vehicle front part, supporting an intermediate portion of the heat exchanger 30 in a vehicle vertical direction, and having a weak portion provided at a portion on a vehicle rear side; and a fixing portion 50 fixing a vehicle front side portion of the heat exchanger 30 to a vehicle body 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle in which a radiator is disposed at an angle so that the upper side in the vehicle vertical direction is located at the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-362171 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, mounting radiators at an angle has been considered in order to ensure that the entire radiator is properly ventilated. In the event of a frontal collision, the front side member is compressed axially to absorb the impact, but if the radiator is mounted at an angle, the bottom end of the radiator protrudes forward, which could cause the radiator to come into contact with a colliding object and be damaged while it is absorbing the impact. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the radiator mounting structure.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a vehicle front structure that can avoid damage to a heat exchanger. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle front structure of the present invention described in claim 1 comprises a heat exchanger, front side members extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle on both the left and right sides of the vehicle width direction at the front of the vehicle, support portions each provided at the middle portion of the pair of left and right front side members in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle within a power unit room at the front of the vehicle, supporting the middle portion of the heat exchanger in the up-and-down direction of the vehicle and having a weak portion provided at a portion on the rear side of the vehicle, and a fixing portion fixing the front side portion of the heat exchanger to the vehicle body.

[0007] In the vehicle front structure according to the present invention, a support portion is provided in a vehicle longitudinal intermediate portion of the front side member, the support portion supporting a vehicle vertical intermediate portion of the heat exchanger and having a weak portion in a vehicle rearward portion, and a fixing portion is provided for fixing the vehicle front portion of the heat exchanger to the vehicle body. Therefore, when a colliding object comes into contact with the heat exchanger while absorbing impact through axial compression of the front side member during a frontal collision, the fixing portion releases the vehicle front portion of the heat exchanger, destroying the weak portion in the vehicle rearward portion and causing the heat exchanger to detach from the support portion toward the vehicle rearward. This allows the load applied to the heat exchanger to be released, thereby preventing damage to the heat exchanger.

[0008] A vehicle front structure according to the present invention as set forth in claim 2 is the same as the structure set forth in claim 1, in which the weakened portion is formed by a groove portion.

[0009] In the vehicle front structure of the present invention described in claim 2, the weak portion is constituted by a groove portion, so that by changing the depth and width of the groove portion, the required strength can be easily achieved depending on the vehicle type, etc.

[0010] The vehicle front structure of the present invention described in claim 3 is a configuration described in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the heat exchanger has a protruding portion in the middle portion that protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction, and the support portion supports the protruding portion.

[0011] In the vehicle front structure of the present invention described in claim 3, the support portion supports the protruding portion that protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction at the middle portion of the heat exchanger in the vehicle's vertical direction, so that when the weak portion provided in the portion on the rear side of the support portion is destroyed, the protruding portion can be detached from the destroyed portion.

[0012] The vehicle front structure of the present invention described in claim 4 is the configuration described in claim 3, in which the support portion has a mounting portion on the outer side in the vehicle width direction that is elastic and through which the protrusion portion is inserted.

[0013] In the vehicle front structure of the present invention described in claim 4, the support portion has a mounting portion on its outer side in the vehicle width direction, which is elastic and through which the protrusion of the heat exchanger is inserted, so that the mounting portion can suppress wobbling of the protrusion.

[0014] The vehicle front structure of the present invention described in claim 5, in the configuration described in any one of claims 1 to 4, includes a cross member that is arranged on the front side of the heat exchanger and extends in the vehicle width direction, and the fixing portion fixes the front side portion of the heat exchanger to the cross member.

[0015] In the vehicle front structure according to the present invention, the fastening portion fastens the front portion of the heat exchanger to the cross member, so that the front portion of the heat exchanger to which a load is applied more quickly in the event of a frontal collision is fastened to the cross member, and therefore the fastening of the heat exchanger by the fastening portion can be released more quickly. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] As described above, the vehicle front structure according to the present invention can prevent damage to the heat exchanger. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a left side view schematically showing an example of a vehicle front structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing an example of the vehicle front structure of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a support portion. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a left side view schematically showing the vicinity of the fixed portion. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a left side view schematically showing a modified example of a method for fixing the shaft portion. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 5 is a left side view corresponding to FIG. 4, schematically showing a modified example. [Figure 8] FIG. 6 is a left side view schematically showing an example of a vehicle front structure relating to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] A vehicle front structure according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. The arrow FR, appropriately indicated in each drawing, indicates the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the arrow UP indicates the upper side in the vehicle vertical direction. The arrow IN indicates the inside in the vehicle width direction. Hereinafter, when the terms "front-rear," "up-down," and "left-right" are used in the description, they refer to the front and rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the up and down in the vehicle vertical direction, and the left and right in the vehicle horizontal direction (vehicle width direction), unless otherwise specified.

[0019] (Vehicle front structure configuration) First, the configuration of a vehicle front structure 10 will be described as an example of a vehicle front structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figures 1 and 2 schematically show the vehicle front structure 10 of a vehicle 12. In this embodiment, the vehicle 12 is, for example, a battery-powered electric vehicle equipped with a battery and a motor as a drive source.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1 , a power unit room 14 is disposed behind a front bumper (not shown) of a vehicle 12. A power unit 16 is housed inside the power unit room 14. In this embodiment, since the vehicle 12 is an electric vehicle, the power unit 16 is a drive unit and incorporates an electric motor that generates driving force for rotating the drive wheels (not shown) of the vehicle. A battery stack 18 serving as a battery is disposed directly above the power unit 16. The battery stack 18 is formed by stacking a large number of battery cells (not shown) in a predetermined direction. Each battery cell stores electric power for rotating the electric motor of the power unit 16.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , a vehicle front structure 10 includes a pair of left and right front side members 20, which are front frame members of a vehicle body 11 of a vehicle 12 and are arranged on both sides of the front of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction. The front side members 20 are vehicle body frame members that extend in the vehicle longitudinal direction and are formed, for example, with a closed cross-sectional structure. The front end portions of the front side members 20 are connected to a front bumper reinforcement 22 (hereinafter referred to as "bumper reinforcement 22") that is arranged along the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, as an example, the front side members 20 have crash boxes 24 as energy absorbing members at their front end portions connected to the bumper reinforcement 22. The front side members 20 are fixed coaxially to the crash boxes 24 so as to reduce a collision load from the front of the vehicle body 11. Note that in this embodiment, the crash boxes 24 are described as separate parts from the bumper reinforcement 22, but the two may be configured as an integrated structure.

[0022] A radiator 30 serving as a heat exchanger is disposed inside the power unit compartment 14, further forward of the power unit 16. As shown in Fig. 1, the radiator 30 of this embodiment is disposed at an angle so that the upper portion of the radiator 30 is positioned toward the rear of the vehicle. Although not shown, a cylindrical fan shroud, an electric fan, and the like are disposed behind the radiator 30 to guide the air introduced from the radiator 30 toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0023] The radiator 30 is, for example, formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape when viewed in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and is a flat structure in the vehicle longitudinal direction. For example, the radiator 30 is provided with a refrigerant pipe (not shown) that snakes back and forth multiple times in the vehicle width direction. The refrigerant pipe is equipped with a number of fins (not shown). While the vehicle 12 is traveling, air introduced into the power unit compartment 14 through the front grille (not shown) passes through the fins and cools the refrigerant inside the refrigerant pipe. The refrigerant pipe circulates with the flow paths inside the power unit 16 and the battery stack 18. Refrigerant pumped by a pump (not shown) circulates through the refrigerant pipe inside the power unit 16 and the battery stack 18, exchanging heat. This cools the power unit 16 and the battery stack 18.

[0024] Although not shown in the figure, tanks that store refrigerant inside are attached to both ends of the radiator 30 in the vehicle width direction, for example. Pipes that connect to flow paths inside the power unit 16 and the battery stack 18 are inserted inside the pair of left and right tanks.

[0025] 2, the radiator 30 is supported on the vehicle body 11 by radiator supports 32 fixed to both ends in the vehicle width direction. The radiator support 32 is a hollow member formed to have a substantially rectangular horizontal cross section, and is configured by side members extending longitudinally in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The radiator support 32 may further include an upper support member (not shown) and a lower support member (not shown) that each extend in the vehicle width direction above and below the radiator 30.

[0026] In this embodiment, as an example, the vehicle width direction outer end of each radiator support 32, which is a side member, is supported by a front side member 20, which serves as a skeletal frame of the body 11 of the vehicle 12. Specifically, each radiator support 32 has a rectangular prism-shaped shaft portion 34 that protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction on an outer surface 32A on the outer side of the vehicle width direction. Note that this shaft portion 34 corresponds to the protrusion of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2 , the shaft portion 34 is provided in a middle portion in the vehicle vertical direction, and in this embodiment, as an example, it is provided above the center in the vehicle vertical direction. Here, the middle portion in the vehicle vertical direction refers to a range excluding the upper and lower ends in the vehicle vertical direction. Note that in this embodiment, as an example, the shaft portion 34 is formed of resin.

[0027] The shaft portion 34 may be inserted into a shaft hole (not shown) provided in the outer surface 32A of the radiator support 32 and fixed with a screw or the like, or a flange may be provided on one end of the shaft portion 34 and attached to the outer surface 32A with a screw or the like. Any known technique may be used as the fixing method.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the shaft 34 is supported with its axial direction extending in the vehicle width direction by support portions 40 provided in the middle of the pair of left and right front side members 20 in the vehicle longitudinal direction within the power unit compartment 14.

[0029] 3, the support portion 40 includes a support base 42 and a bearing portion 44. The support base 42 and the bearing portion 44 may be formed integrally or separately. The support base 42 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the top-bottom direction, and is fastened to the upper surface of the front side member 20 by, for example, bolts B or the like at two locations with a gap therebetween in the vehicle longitudinal direction, for example.

[0030] The bearing portion 44 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and includes a recess 44A that is open at the top and located in the center in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The bearing portion 44 also has a groove 46 that extends across the entire vehicle width direction in the lower part of the rear surface 44B. As an example, the groove 46 is formed so that its tip is sharp. The groove 46 is an example of a fragile portion of the present invention.

[0031] The bearing portion 44 also has a mount portion 48 formed of a rectangular rubber member on its outer surface in the vehicle width direction. The mount portion 48 has a rectangular insertion hole 49 in its approximate center, through which the shaft portion 34 provided on the radiator support 32 is inserted. The bottom surface of the recess 44A described above is formed to be positioned higher than the upper surface of this insertion hole 49, and a rectangular shaft hole (not shown), through which the shaft portion 34 is inserted, is provided in a portion below the recess 44A. Note that in this embodiment, the mount portion 48 is formed with enough strength to break when a rearward load is applied to the shaft portion 34.

[0032] The bearing portion 44 is disposed on the upper surface 42A of the support base 42 so that the axial direction of the insertion hole 49 is the vehicle width direction. The bearing portion 44 supports the shaft portion 34 with the vehicle width direction as its axis. In other words, the support portion 40 supports the shaft portion 34 from the vehicle width direction side.

[0033] 1 and 2, the vehicle front structure 10 includes a cross member 26 that is disposed forward of the radiator 30 and extends in the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, the cross member 26 is, for example, a lower absorber. The lower absorber has the function of absorbing and reducing impact energy in the event of a frontal collision with a pedestrian, and is made of a foamed resin material, a plastic resin material, or the like. As an example, the front portion of the cross member 26 in the vehicle longitudinal direction is fixed to the bottom of a front bumper cover (not shown) by a fixing means such as bolt fastening.

[0034] In this embodiment, as an example, a lower end portion of the radiator 30, which is a portion on the vehicle front side, is fixed to the cross member 26, which is the vehicle body 11, by a fixing portion 50. FIG. 4 is a left side view schematically showing the vicinity of the fixing portion 50. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, as an example, the fixing portion 50 includes a bracket 56. The bracket 56 is formed of a plate member, for example, having a bent portion that is convex toward the vehicle front side, approximately in the center of the vehicle in the up-down direction. This bracket 56 fixes the boundary between the cross member 26 and the radiator support 32 from the vehicle rear side with a screw or the like, thereby fixing the vehicle front side portion of the radiator 30 to the cross member 26 via the radiator support 32. Note that, as shown in FIG. 4, because the vehicle front side of the cross member 26 is located further forward than the radiator support 32, a load is applied to the cross member 26 before the radiator support 32 during a frontal collision. When a load is applied to the cross member 26 from the front side of the vehicle, the bracket 56 is pressed toward the rear side of the vehicle together with the cross member 26. In this embodiment, the bracket 56 and the radiator support 32 are fixed to such an extent that they come apart when the bracket 56 is pressed toward the rear side of the vehicle.

[0035] (Actions and Effects of the First Embodiment) Next, the effects of the first embodiment will be described.

[0036] In the vehicle front structure 10 of the first embodiment, a support portion 40 is provided in a vehicle longitudinal intermediate portion of the front side member 20. The support portion 40 supports a vehicle vertical intermediate portion of the radiator 30 so as to be rotatable about the vehicle width direction. A fixing portion 50 is also provided to fix a vehicle front portion of the radiator 30 to the vehicle body 11. Therefore, if a colliding object contacts the radiator 30 while the front side member 20 is absorbing impact through axial compression during a front collision, the radiator 30 is released from the fixing portion 50 provided on the vehicle front side. As a result, the radiator 30 moves toward the vehicle, and a load is applied to the bearing portion 44 via the shaft portion 34. The bearing portion 44 is broken at a groove portion 46, which serves as a weakened portion provided in a vehicle rear portion, and the mount portion 48 is also torn. The radiator 30 then moves away from the broken bearing portion 44 toward the vehicle rear. This allows the load applied to the radiator 30 to be released, thereby preventing damage to the radiator 30.

[0037] The vehicle front structure 10 of the first embodiment is applied to a vehicle 12 that includes a battery stack 18 as a battery and a power unit 16 incorporating an electric motor as a drive source. Because the vehicle 12 is a battery-powered electric vehicle, the position of the front grille is low. Therefore, the radiator 30 is mounted at an angle to allow air to be directed across the entire radiator 30. Normally, impact is absorbed during a front collision by axially compressing the front side members 20. However, if the radiator 30 is mounted at an angle, the lower end of the radiator 30 protrudes forward, which could result in a colliding object coming into contact with the radiator 30 during impact absorption due to axial compression of the front side members 20 during a front collision, causing damage to the radiator 30. In the vehicle front structure 10 of the first embodiment, if a colliding object comes into contact with the radiator 30 during impact absorption due to axial compression of the front side members 20, the radiator 30 is released from its fixed position by the fixing portion 50 provided on the front side of the vehicle, and moves toward the rear side of the vehicle, destroying the bearing portion 44 and the mount portion 48. Then, the radiator 30 is released toward the rear of the vehicle from the broken bearing portion 44. This allows the load applied to the radiator 30 to be released, which is more effective in a vehicle equipped with a battery and a motor as a drive source.

[0038] Furthermore, in the vehicle front structure 10 of the first embodiment, the radiator 30 is disposed at an angle such that the upper side in the vehicle vertical direction is located rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1 , an empty space A, indicated by a dotted rectangle, is created at the lower part of the vehicle vertical direction behind the radiator 30 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Therefore, this empty space A can be used as a space for the radiator 30 to move. Furthermore, by disposing the radiator 30 at an angle, the height of the radiator 30 in the vertical direction can be made lower compared to when the radiator 30 is disposed vertically. As a result, an empty space for pedestrian protection can be easily secured between the vehicle body 11 and the radiator 30, as indicated by arrow D in FIG. 1 .

[0039] Furthermore, in the vehicle front structure 10 of the first embodiment, the weak portion is formed by the groove portion 46, and therefore, by changing the depth and groove width of the groove portion 46, the required strength can be easily achieved depending on the vehicle model, etc.

[0040] Furthermore, in the vehicle front structure 10 of the first embodiment, the support portion 40 supports the shaft portion 34 as a protruding portion that protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction at the middle portion of the radiator 30 in the vehicle vertical direction, so that when the groove portion 46 as a weak portion provided in the portion on the rear side of the shaft portion 34 of the vehicle is destroyed, the shaft portion 34 can be detached from this destroyed portion.

[0041] Furthermore, in the vehicle front structure 10 of the first embodiment, the support portion 40 has a mount portion 48 on its outer side in the vehicle width direction, which has elasticity and through which the shaft portion 34 of the radiator 30 is inserted, so that the mount portion 48 can suppress wobbling of the shaft portion 34.

[0042] Furthermore, in the vehicle front structure 10 of the first embodiment, the bracket 56 of the fixing portion 50 fixes the front portion of the radiator 30 to the cross member 26. This means that the front portion of the radiator 30, which receives a load earlier during a frontal collision, is fixed to the cross member 26. This allows the radiator 30 to be released from fixation by the bracket 56 more quickly. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 , the front side of the cross member 26 is located further forward than the radiator support 32. This means that the load is applied to the cross member 26 before the radiator support 32 during a frontal collision. When a load is applied to the cross member 26 from the front of the vehicle, the bracket 56 is pressed toward the rear of the vehicle together with the cross member 26. The fixation between the bracket 56 and the radiator support 32 is set to such an extent that it will come off when the bracket 56 is pressed toward the rear of the vehicle. This means that it will come off when a load is applied to the cross member 26 from the front of the vehicle.

[0043] Furthermore, in the vehicle front structure 10 of the first embodiment, the support portion 40 supports the shaft portion 34 of the radiator 30 from the vehicle width direction side, which makes it possible to better prevent damage to the support portion 40 due to a collision with a colliding object compared to when the support is from the front side of the vehicle. This makes it possible to more reliably avoid damage to the radiator 30.

[0044] Furthermore, in the vehicle front structure 10 of the first embodiment, the shaft portion 34 is formed from resin, so the weight of the vehicle 12 can be reduced.

[0045] (Variation 1) In the first embodiment, the support portion 40 supports the shaft portion 34 of the radiator 30 from the vehicle width direction side, but the present invention is not limited to this. In Modification 1, as shown in Fig. 5 , the shaft portion 34 is fixed to the rear surface 32B of the radiator support 32 on the vehicle rear side, rather than to the outer surface 32A of the radiator support 32. Specifically, as an example, the shaft portion 34 is disposed so that one end of the shaft portion 34 protrudes horizontally from the radiator support 32 in the vehicle width direction on the rear surface 32B, and is fixed to the rear surface 32B of the radiator support 32 by the support portion 40. As an example, the support portion 40 is fixed to the radiator support 32 by screws or the like. The shaft portion 34 protruding from the radiator support 32 is supported by the support portion 40 in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0046] In the first modification, the support portion 40 supports the shaft portion 34 of the radiator 30 from the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction, which makes it possible to better prevent damage to the support portion 40 due to a collision with a colliding object compared to when the support portion 40 is supported from the front side of the vehicle. This makes it possible to more reliably avoid damage to the radiator 30.

[0047] (Variation 2) In the above embodiment, the radiator 30 is fixed to the cross member 26 via a bracket 56 serving as the fixing portion 50, but the present invention is not limited to this. In Modification 2, as shown in FIG. 6, a notch portion 52 is provided in the cross member 26. The notch portion 52 includes a substantially circular hole 52A and a cutout portion 52B connected to the hole 52A and extending to the rear end of the cross member 26. The hole 52A is formed slightly larger than a pin portion 54 (described later). The cutout portion 52B extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and its width in the vehicle width direction is slightly smaller than that of the pin portion 54 (described later). As shown in FIG. 7, the radiator support 32 includes a pin portion 54 formed as a cylinder extending substantially vertically downward from the lower end surface in the vehicle vertical direction. In Modification 2, the notch portion 52 and the pin portion 54 form the fixing portion 50.

[0048] In the second modification, when a colliding object comes into contact with the radiator support 32 during a frontal collision, the pin portion 54 moves within the cutout portion 52B while pressing in the vehicle width direction, and falls off the notch portion 52, i.e., the cross member 26. This releases the radiator 30 from the fixing portion 50, and the radiator 30 moves toward the rear of the vehicle. As a result, similar to the first embodiment, the load applied to the radiator 30 can be released in the second modification, and damage to the radiator 30 can be avoided.

[0049] Next, a vehicle front structure 10A according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in Fig. 8, the vehicle front structure 10A according to the second embodiment differs from the radiator according to the first embodiment in the way in which the radiator 30A is disposed. While the radiator 30 according to the first embodiment is disposed at an angle, the radiator 30A according to the second embodiment is disposed so as to stand along the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0050] Radiator 30A also includes a bracket 33 disposed at its lower end in the vehicle vertical direction so as to protrude toward the front of the vehicle. Bracket 33 is formed in a generally inverted L-shape in side view, with one end fixed to radiator support 32 of radiator 30 and the other end fixed to vehicle body 11. Bracket 33 and radiator support 32 are fastened together, for example, by screws or the like.

[0051] A generally cylindrical pin 33A that protrudes downward is provided on the underside of the other half of the bracket 33. Also, a notch portion 58 is provided in the vehicle body 11. The notch portion 58 has the same configuration as the notch portion 52 shown in FIG. 5. The pin 33A is fitted into the notch portion 58, thereby fixing the radiator support 32 to the vehicle body 11 via the bracket 33. In this embodiment, the notch portion 58 and the pin 33A form a fixing portion 50A.

[0052] (Actions and Effects of the Second Embodiment) Next, the effects of the second embodiment will be described.

[0053] In the vehicle front structure 10A of the second embodiment, the radiator 30A is disposed so as to stand along the vehicle vertical direction, so that damage to the radiator 30A can be avoided even in vehicles other than electric vehicles.

[0054] Furthermore, in the vehicle front structure 10A of the second embodiment, the fixing portion 50A fixes the radiator 30A to the vehicle body 11 via the bracket 33 disposed so as to protrude forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction, so that in the event of a frontal collision, a collision load can be applied to the bracket 33 before the radiator 30A. This allows the fixing of the radiator 30A by the fixing portion 50A to be released more quickly. The vehicle front structure 10A of the second embodiment can also achieve the same effects as the first embodiment described above, except for the effect related to the radiator 30 being disposed at an angle.

[0055] [remarks] In the above-described embodiment, the radiator 30 is of a horizontal flow type in which the refrigerant flows horizontally, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the radiator 30 may have an upper tank and a lower tank instead of a pair of left and right tanks, and may be of a vertical flow type in which the refrigerant flows from top to bottom. Any known device can be used for the radiator 30.

[0056] In the above-described embodiment, the cross member 26 is a lower absorber, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be any member that is pushed when a collision load is applied from the front. Furthermore, the fixing portion 50 may fix the radiator 30 to the vehicle body 11 other than the cross member 26 using, for example, a bracket, instead of fixing the radiator 30 to the cross member 26. In this case, the vehicle body 11 used for fixing is a member that is pushed when a collision load is applied from the front.

[0057] In the above-described embodiment, a radiator has been described as an example of a heat exchanger, but the heat exchanger of the present invention is not limited to a radiator. The heat exchanger may be, for example, a condenser or a heat exchanger for vehicle air conditioning.

[0058] In the above-described embodiment, the groove 46 is described as an example of the fragile portion, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the fragile portion may be formed such that the thickness of the entire portion of the bearing portion 44 that is rearward of the recess 44A in the vehicle longitudinal direction is thinner than the thickness of the entire portion of the bearing portion 44 that is forward of the recess 44A. As another example, the fragile portion may be formed by providing a plurality of notches extending forward from the rear surface 44B.

[0059] In the first embodiment described above, the bracket 56 is fixed to the boundary between the cross member 26 and the radiator support 32 from the rear of the vehicle using screws or the like, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the bracket 56 may be fixed from the front of the vehicle. In this case, the bracket 56 is formed with a strength sufficient to be broken when a load is applied from the front of the vehicle.

[0060] Furthermore, the configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the configuration can be changed as appropriate as long as the problem can be solved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 10, 10A Vehicle front structure (vehicle front structure) 11, 11A body 12, 12A vehicles 14 Power unit room 16 Power unit (drive source) 18 Battery stack (battery) 20 Front side member 26 Cross member 30, 30A Radiator (Heat Exchanger) 36 Bracket (fixed part) 34 Shaft (protrusion) 40 Support part 44 Bearing section 46 Groove (weak part) 48 Mounting section 50, 50A fixed part 52 Notch part (fixed part) 54 Pin part (fixed part)

Claims

1. A heat exchanger; front side members extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle on both left and right sides in a vehicle width direction at a front portion of the vehicle; a support portion provided in a vehicle front-rear direction intermediate portion of each of the pair of left and right front side members in a power unit compartment at the front of the vehicle, the support portion supporting an intermediate portion of the heat exchanger in the vehicle up-down direction, the support portion having a weak portion provided at a portion on a vehicle rear side; a fixing portion that fixes a portion of the heat exchanger on a front side of the vehicle to a vehicle body; A vehicle front structure comprising:

2. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 , wherein the weakened portion is formed by a groove.

3. The heat exchanger includes a protruding portion at the intermediate portion that protrudes outward in a vehicle width direction, The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 , wherein the support portion supports the protrusion.

4. The vehicle front structure according to claim 3 , wherein the support portion includes a mount portion on a side surface on an outer side in the vehicle width direction, the mount portion having elasticity and through which the protrusion is inserted.

5. a cross member disposed on a vehicle front side of the heat exchanger and extending in a vehicle width direction; The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing portion fixes a portion of the heat exchanger on a front side of the vehicle to the cross member.

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