Vehicle front part structure

Abstract

To obtain a vehicle front part structure that can reduce costs and save space.SOLUTION: A vehicle front part structure 10 includes: a tank 30 that stores liquid inside, is arranged at a front part of a vehicle 12, and includes an upper tank portion 32 and a lower tank portion 34 that are each formed by dividing the tank in the vertical direction of the vehicle; and a frame member 13 that forms a front end portion of the vehicle 12 and is integrally formed with the lower tank portion 34 by die-casting.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a versatile reserve tank fixing structure that allows the mounting direction to be freely set. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-301504 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the structure described in Patent Document 1 requires parts such as fixing devices, which increases costs, leaving room for improvement in terms of cost. There is also a need to reduce the installation space required for installing the reserve tank.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle front structure that can reduce costs and achieve space saving. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle front structure of the present invention described in claim 1 comprises a tank that stores liquid inside, is arranged at the front of the vehicle, and has an upper tank portion and a lower tank portion that are each formed by dividing them in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and a skeletal member that forms the front end of the vehicle and is integrally formed by die-casting together with the lower tank portion.

[0007] In the vehicle front structure according to the present invention, the frame member forms the front end of the vehicle and is integrally formed with the lower tank by die-casting. This eliminates the welding process required for installing the lower tank, and eliminates the need for brackets and bolts for attaching the lower tank to the body. This reduces the cost of the lower tank, as well as the number of parts and construction processes required for installation, thereby reducing costs. Furthermore, the integration of the lower tank allows for space savings.

[0008] The vehicle front structure of the present invention described in claim 2 is the configuration described in claim 1, wherein the framework member comprises a pair of left and right front side members, an apron member arranged outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the front side members and extending in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, and a suspension tower provided on the vehicle width inward of the apron member, and the lower tank portion is formed using the front side wall of the suspension tower and the wall surface of the apron member.

[0009] In the vehicle front structure of the present invention described in claim 2, the lower tank portion is integrally formed using the front side wall of the suspension tower and the wall surface of the apron member, which can contribute to improving the rigidity of the suspension tower.

[0010] A vehicle front structure according to the present invention as set forth in claim 3 is the configuration as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the upper tank portion and the lower tank portion are fitted together with a packing sandwiched therebetween.

[0011] In the vehicle front structure of the present invention described in claim 3, the upper tank portion and the lower tank portion are fitted together with a gasket in between, so that the gasket can prevent liquid from leaking between the upper tank portion and the lower tank portion.

[0012] A vehicle front structure according to the present invention as set forth in claim 4 is the same as the configuration set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the tank is a reserve tank.

[0013] In the vehicle front structure according to the present invention as set forth in claim 4, the tank is a reserve tank, which is in greater demand than a washer tank that stores washer fluid, in that it is subjected to pressure.

[0014] A vehicle front structure according to the present invention, as set forth in claim 5, is the same as any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the upper tank portion is formed of a transparent member.

[0015] In the vehicle front structure according to the present invention as set forth in claim 5, the upper tank portion is formed of a transparent member, so that the remaining amount of liquid inside the tank can be visually confirmed from the outside. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] As described above, the vehicle front structure according to the present invention has the excellent effect of reducing costs and realizing space saving. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram of a vehicle to which a vehicle front structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, viewed from the left front side, and is a perspective view schematically illustrating an example of a main part of the vehicle front. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the tank of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state in which the tank is cut along the line III-III in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a plan view schematically showing a state in which the lower tank portion is cut along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Hereinafter, a vehicle front structure 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the arrow FR, shown as appropriate 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 LH indicates the left side in the vehicle width direction, and the arrow RH indicates the right side in the vehicle width direction. Hereinafter, when the directions of front-rear, up-down, and left-right are simply used in the description, they refer to front-rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction, up-down in the vehicle vertical direction, and left-right in the vehicle horizontal direction (vehicle width direction), unless otherwise specified.

[0019] Unless otherwise specified in the specification, each element is not limited to one and may be present in plural. Furthermore, in the drawings, substantially identical elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations in the specification will be omitted.

[0020] First, a vehicle 12 to which a vehicle front structure 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described. Examples of the vehicle 12 include an electric vehicle (BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle)) that runs on power generated by a power unit, a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle)), a hybrid vehicle (HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle)), and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle)).

[0021] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle 12 as seen from the diagonally front left side. Fig. 1 schematically shows the main parts of the frame members at the front of the vehicle 12. As shown in Fig. 1, the front of the vehicle 12 is provided with a frame member 13 at the front end, a suspension member (not shown), a tank 30, a bumper reinforcement 40, and the like as the frame members of the vehicle 12.

[0022] The frame member 13 is provided on both sides in the vehicle width direction at the front of the vehicle and includes a pair of left and right front side members 14 extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction. A power unit (not shown) is disposed between the pair of left and right front side members 14. The power unit is supported from below by suspension members (not shown) disposed below the left and right front side members 14.

[0023] Crash boxes 15 capable of absorbing impact energy in the axial direction extend from the ends of the left and right front side members 14 toward the front of the vehicle. Although the front side members 14 and the crash boxes 15 are described here as separate parts, they may also be configured as an integrated unit.

[0024] Furthermore, bumper reinforcements 40, which are framework parts of the front bumper, extend along the vehicle width direction at the front ends of the left and right crash boxes 15. The bumper reinforcements 40 are hollow beam-shaped framework parts that extend along the vehicle width direction. The bumper reinforcements 40 are connected such that their outer ends in the vehicle width direction extend beyond the front ends of the crash boxes 15 and outward in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, the bumper reinforcements 40 are gently curved in a plan view such that their middle parts in the vehicle width direction are convex toward the front of the vehicle.

[0025] On the other hand, wheel houses 16 in which wheels (not shown) are arranged are provided on the rear side of the left and right front side members 14, and the right wheel house 16 and the left wheel house 16 are connected by a cross member 17.

[0026] Furthermore, an apron upper member 18 serving as an apron member is disposed outside the front side members 14 in the vehicle width direction and above them in the vehicle up-down direction. The apron upper member 18 is a skeleton portion that forms the skeleton of the upper lateral portions in the front portion of the vehicle 12. The apron upper member 18 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction along the front side members 14, and its rear end is joined to a front pillar 19. A suspension tower 20 is also formed integrally with the apron upper member 18. In this embodiment, as an example, the apron upper member 18 has an inclined surface that extends inward as its wall surface 18A on the inner side in the vehicle width direction extends downward, and a portion of this inclined surface forms the lower wall of a lower tank portion 34, which will be described later.

[0027] The suspension tower 20 stands upright from the upper surfaces of the pair of front side members 14 and spans between the front side members 14 and the apron upper member 18. The front side members 14, the apron upper member 18, and the suspension tower 20 are integrally formed. The upper end of a shock absorber of a suspension (not shown) is fixed to the suspension tower 20.

[0028] Here, a suspension tower bar 22 is spanned between the pair of suspension towers 20. The suspension tower bar 22 extends in the vehicle width direction, and its end in the vehicle width direction is fixed to the top of the suspension tower 20 via a bracket or the like. In this way, the pair of suspension towers 20 are connected in the vehicle width direction by the suspension tower bar 22.

[0029] A rocker 11 is provided on the rear side of the wheel house 16 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, extending along the vehicle longitudinal direction and constituting the framework of the vehicle body side.

[0030] A tank 30 for storing liquid therein is disposed in front of the pair of suspension towers 20 and on the inner side of the apron upper member 18 in the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, the tank 30 is, for example, a reserve tank. Fig. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the tank 30.

[0031] 2, the tank 30 includes an upper tank portion 32 and a lower tank portion 34, each of which is divided in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The tank 30 is rectangular in top view and tapered downward. That is, as an example, the tank 30 is formed in the shape of a right triangle with a right angle at the upper end on the inner side in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and is formed as a triangular prism as a whole.

[0032] The tank 30 is divided into an upper tank portion 32 and a lower tank portion 34 at approximately the center in the vehicle vertical direction. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the tank cut along line III-III in FIG. 2. The upper tank portion 32 is formed, for example, from a transparent resin member in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, has a hole 32A at its upper end (bottom) on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. A lid portion 36 is attached to the hole 32A. As shown in FIG. 3, the lid portion 36 has an insertion shaft 36A inserted through the hole 32A, and a cylindrical grip portion 36B disposed at the upper end of the insertion shaft 36A, having a diameter larger than that of the insertion shaft 36A, and to be gripped by a user or the like.

[0033] 2, the upper tank portion 32 and the lower tank portion 34 are provided with connection portions 38 on both sides in the vehicle longitudinal direction that connect the upper tank portion 32 and the lower tank portion 34. As an example, the connection portions 38 are formed in a rectangular shape when viewed in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0034] 3, the connection portion 38 includes an upper connection portion 38A provided on the upper tank portion 32 and a lower connection portion 38B provided on the lower tank portion 34. The upper connection portion 38A includes a locking claw portion 32D extending downward at approximately the center in the vehicle width direction of the lower end portions of the front surface 32B and rear surface 32C of the upper tank portion 32. The locking claw portion 32D is flexible and includes a recess 32E in the center in the vehicle up-down direction that locks onto a protrusion 34A, which will be described later.

[0035] The lower connecting portion 38B has a protrusion 34A that protrudes outward at a position corresponding to the recess 32E of the locking claw portion 32D at approximately the center in the vehicle width direction of the upper end of the front surface 34B and the rear surface 34C of the lower tank portion 34. The protrusion 34A is tapered so that it protrudes outward as it extends downward, and its lower end surface is formed to engage with the lower wall that forms the recess 32E described above. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3 , a packing 39, formed of a rubber material as an example, is interposed between the upper end surface of the lower tank portion 34 and the lower end surface of the upper tank portion 32. That is, the upper tank portion 32 and the lower tank portion 34 are removably fitted together with the packing 39 sandwiched therebetween.

[0036] In this embodiment, the lower tank portion 34 is integrally formed by die casting together with the left and right front side members 14, the left and right wheel houses 16, the cross member 17, the apron upper member 18, and the suspension tower 20, which constitute the frame member 13. The frame member 13 is integrally formed by casting, for example, using an aluminum alloy, a magnesium alloy, or the like as a material.

[0037] Each of the lower tank portion 34, front side members 14, left and right wheel houses 16, cross member 17, apron upper member 18, and suspension tower 20 has an open cross section that is open in the mold removal direction during casting. In this embodiment, each of the front side members 14, left and right wheel houses 16, cross member 17, apron upper member 18, and suspension tower 20 can have mold removal directions on one side and the other side in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the cross section of each of these members is an open cross section that is open on at least one side in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, the lower tank portion 34 is formed, for example, using a slide mold that slides in the vehicle up-down direction.

[0038] Fig. 4 is a plan view schematically showing the lower tank portion 34 cut along line IV-IV in Fig. 3. The portion of the lower tank portion 34 below the protrusion 34A is integrally formed as the framework member 13 with the left and right front side members 14, the left and right wheel houses 16, the cross member 17, the apron upper member 18, and the suspension tower 20. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 4, a front wall 34D constituting the front surface 34B of the lower tank portion 34 extends from a wall surface 18A of the apron upper member 18 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, an inner wall 34E of the lower tank portion 34 extends from the front side wall 20A of the suspension tower 20.

[0039] That is, the portion of the lower tank portion 34 below the protrusion 34A is made up of the front wall 34D, the inner wall 34E, the wall surface 18A of the apron upper member 18, and the front side wall 20A of the suspension tower 20, and the lower wall of the lower tank portion 34 is formed by the wall surface 18A of the apron upper member 18. That is, the lower tank portion 34 is formed by utilizing the wall surface 18A of the apron upper member 18 and the front side wall 20A of the suspension tower 20.

[0040] (Action and effect) As described above, in the vehicle front structure 10 according to the above embodiment, the frame member 13 forms the front end of the vehicle 12 and is integrally formed by die-casting together with the lower tank portion 34. This eliminates the need for a welding process when installing the lower tank portion 34, and also eliminates the need for brackets and bolts for attaching the lower tank portion 34 to the body. This reduces the cost of the lower tank portion 34, as well as the number of parts and construction processes required for installation, thereby reducing costs. Furthermore, space savings can be achieved by integrating the lower tank portion 34.

[0041] Furthermore, in the vehicle front structure 10 according to the above embodiment, the lower tank portion 34 is integrally formed using the front side wall 20A of the suspension tower 20 and the wall surface 18A of the apron upper member 18, which can contribute to improving the rigidity of the suspension tower 20.

[0042] Furthermore, in the vehicle front structure 10 according to the above embodiment, the upper tank portion 32 and the lower tank portion 34 are fitted together with a gasket 39 sandwiched therebetween, and the gasket 39 can prevent liquid from leaking between the upper tank portion 32 and the lower tank portion 34.

[0043] Furthermore, in the vehicle front structure 10 according to the above embodiment, the tank 30 is a reserve tank, and there is a greater need for it than a washer tank that stores washer fluid, etc., in that it is subjected to pressure.

[0044] Furthermore, in the vehicle front structure 10 according to the embodiment described above, the upper tank portion 32 is formed of a transparent material, so that the remaining amount of liquid inside the tank 30 can be visually confirmed from the outside.

[0045] [supplementary explanation] In the above-described embodiment, the upper tank portion 32 and the lower tank portion 34 have the shapes described above, but the present invention is not limited to this. The upper tank portion 32 and the lower tank portion 34 may have any shape as long as they have a space inside.

[0046] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the front side member 14, the left and right wheel houses 16, the cross member 17, the apron upper member 18, and the suspension tower 20 are formed integrally, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the front side member 14, the left and right wheel houses 16, the cross member 17, the apron upper member 18, and portions of the suspension tower 20 may be formed as separate parts.

[0047] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the upper tank portion 32 and the lower tank portion 34 are fitted together with the gasket 39 sandwiched therebetween, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any known technology can be used as the connection method.

[0048] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the upper tank portion 32 is formed of a transparent resin material, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it does not have to be a transparent material, and it may be made of metal instead of resin.

[0049] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the upper tank portion 32 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be configured, for example, as a lid that closes the upper end of the lower tank portion 34.

[0050] 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]

[0051] 10 Vehicle front structure 14 Front side member 18 Apron upper member (apron member) 18A Wall 20 Suspension Tower 20A Front side wall 30 Tank 32 Upper tank section 34 Lower tank section 39 Gasket

Claims

1. a tank that stores a liquid therein, is disposed at the front of the vehicle, and has an upper tank portion and a lower tank portion that are each divided in the vertical direction of the vehicle; a frame member that forms a front end portion of the vehicle and is integrally formed with the lower tank portion by die casting; A vehicle front structure comprising:

2. The skeletal member is A pair of left and right front side members; an apron member disposed outward in a vehicle width direction relative to the front side member and extending in a vehicle front-rear direction; a suspension tower provided on the inner side of the apron member in the vehicle width direction, 2. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the lower tank portion is formed by utilizing a front side wall of the suspension tower and a wall surface of the apron member.

3. 2. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the upper tank portion and the lower tank portion are fitted together with a packing therebetween.

4. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the tank is a reserve tank.

5. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 , wherein the upper tank portion is formed of a transparent material.

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