Vehicle front structure

Abstract

To suppress interference between a duct and a structure in a vehicle at the time of collision.SOLUTION: The vehicle front structure includes a duct 12 that is provided at a side portion in a vehicle-width direction of a vehicle front portion, has a front opening on a vehicle-front side, and guides air flowing in from the front opening toward a vehicle-rear side, and a vehicle-interior structure 30 that is disposed adjacent to a vehicle-width-direction inner side portion of the duct 12, and the duct 12 is provided with a through-hole 12d at a portion adjacent to the vehicle-interior structure 30, and a duct cover 12c that covers the through-hole 12d from an inner surface side of the duct 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle front structure having a duct that guides air taken in from the front of the vehicle to the rear. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, ducts are provided on the front sides of vehicles to guide air taken in from the front of the vehicle to the rear. These ducts serve to direct the wind generated by the vehicle's movement rearward and to cool heat source devices such as the battery and radiator located at the rear.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a duct for cooling a sub-battery mounted on a vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-213668 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In gasoline-powered vehicles, the front compartment located at the front of the vehicle is called the engine compartment, and its main purpose is to house the engine and its related components. With the trend toward electrification of vehicles, the front compartment is increasingly housing many components, such as the motor and its control devices. Therefore, various interior vehicle structures are sometimes located adjacent to the ducts in the front compartment. In such an arrangement, there is a risk that the interior vehicle structures may come into contact with the deformed ducts and be damaged during a vehicle collision. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle front structure of the present disclosure includes a duct provided on a side of the front of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction, having a forward opening on the front side of the vehicle, and guiding air flowing in from the forward opening to the rear of the vehicle, and an interior vehicle structure arranged adjacent to the inner side of the duct in the vehicle width direction, wherein the duct is provided with a through hole in a portion adjacent to the interior vehicle structure, and a duct cover that covers the through hole from the inner surface side of the duct.

[0007] The duct may be divided into a front duct and a rear duct, and the through hole may be provided in the front duct.

[0008] The duct cover may be detachably attached to the periphery of the through hole of the duct.

[0009] The duct may have a rear opening, and air discharged from the rear opening may be directed toward an object to be cooled mounted on the vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the vehicle front structure of the present disclosure, the duct cover can be retracted, which can prevent damage to interior vehicle structures due to contact with a deformed duct during a vehicle collision. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a main part of a vehicle front structure including a right front portion of a front compartment. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a corner pendulum test of a vehicle front structure employing a duct of a comparative example. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a corner pendulum test performed on the vehicle front structure according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing a part of the duct cut away. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the present disclosure, and configurations formed by selectively combining multiple examples are also included in the present disclosure.

[0013] "Schematic configuration of main parts" FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of a main part of a vehicle front structure 100 including the front right portion of a front compartment.

[0014] The bumper 10 is disposed at the lower front end of the vehicle so as to extend in the vehicle width direction with a predetermined width in the vertical direction, and is attached to a vehicle body member such as the body or chassis. In the drawing, the outline of the bumper 10 is indicated by a thick solid line.

[0015] An opening 10a is provided on the front side of the bumper 10 as the forward opening of the duct 12. The opening 10a is formed as a hole inside the bumper 10, and the bumper 10 is positioned around it. The periphery of the opening 10a of the bumper 10 is bent rearward to form an introduction portion 10b to the duct 12. Normally, the openings 10a are provided on both the left and right sides of the bumper 10.

[0016] A front duct 12a is disposed opposite the introduction portion 10b in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The inlet of the front duct 12a is larger than that of the introduction portion 10b, and is designed to directly take in air from the introduction portion 10b. The front duct 12a is formed by a wall that surrounds the interior space as a duct extending in the longitudinal direction following the introduction portion 10b. The front duct 12a is attached to a vehicle-side member separately from the bumper 10.

[0017] A rear duct 12b is disposed behind the front duct 12a and constitutes a pipe line extending rearward from the front duct 12a. The rear duct 12b is a member independent of the front duct 12a and is attached to a vehicle-side member separately from the front duct 12a.

[0018] Furthermore, the rear duct 12b has a larger diameter than the front duct 12a, and the rear end of the front duct 12a terminates inside the inlet of the rear duct 12b. Therefore, the air flowing through the front duct 12a continues to flow through the rear duct 12b in the same direction, making it difficult for it to flow out of the gap between the two. However, if the gap between the two is wide, air will leak through this gap, so it is a good idea to insert a deformable caulking sponge or similar into the gap.

[0019] The rear end of rear duct 12b opens toward object to be cooled 20, forming a rear opening. Object to be cooled 20 is a radiator for motor cooling water, but may be another member. Object to be cooled 20 is also separately attached to a vehicle-side member.

[0020] With this configuration, the wind taken in from the opening 10a provided in the bumper 10 is directed toward the object 20 to be cooled, thereby cooling the object 20.

[0021] An interior vehicle structure 30 is disposed adjacent to the front duct 12a of the duct 12 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. This interior vehicle structure 30 is also separately attached to a vehicle-side member. An example of the interior vehicle structure 30 is a washer tank that stores window washer fluid, but various other structures may be used.

[0022] A through hole 12d covered by a duct cover 12c is provided at a position of the front duct 12a closest to the vehicle interior structure 30, i.e., at a portion of the front duct 12a adjacent to the vehicle interior structure 30, where the front duct 12a is likely to collide if it moves during a vehicle collision. In this example, the duct cover 12c is provided so as to cover the through hole 12d from the inner surface side of the duct 12.

[0023] In the illustrated example, the vehicle interior structure 30 has a protruding portion toward the duct 12. This protruding portion is a seating surface for the wire harness provided on the side wall of the washer tank. The washer tank is cylindrical and has the same length as the duct 12 in the vertical direction, but the seating surface for the wire harness has approximately the same size in both length and width, and can pass through the through-hole 12d provided in the duct 12.

[0024] In this example, the peripheral edge of the duct cover 12c is fixed to the peripheral edge of the through-hole 12d. This fixation is not very strong, but is fixed to the extent that if the interior vehicle structure 30 collides with the duct cover 12c, the fixation is released and the duct cover 12c is detached from the duct 12. In other words, the duct cover 12c is retractable so that the interior vehicle structure 30 is not destroyed when the interior vehicle structure 30 collides. Possible fixing methods include adhesive, welding, screwing, and fastening by hooking onto the other object.

[0025] Furthermore, as will be described later, the duct cover 12c may be made openable and closable like a door. For example, one side of the duct cover 12c may be attached to the duct 12 using a hinge, and the other side of the duct cover 12c may be provided with an engaging hook that can be engaged with a protrusion or recess on the duct 12 to fix the cover. In this way, when the vehicle interior structure 30 collides, the hook deforms and disengages, allowing the duct cover 12c to open like a door.

[0026] The duct 12 is divided into a front duct 12a and a rear duct 12b, which correspond to each other at a predetermined distance. Therefore, even if the front duct 12a moves, it does not affect the rear duct 12b until it collides with it.

[0027] "Corner pendulum test" One of the bumper evaluations (Part 581) in North American light collision regulations is the corner pendulum test. In this corner pendulum test, a vehicle is collided with the corner of the pendulum bumper, and the condition for passing is that there is "no damage to the body or functional parts, and no detachment or breakage of the fastening points of parts other than the bumper cover assembly."

[0028] Here, an air guide duct, which is also fixed to the body, may be set facing the opening of the front bumper to send cooling air to objects placed in front of the tires and fixed to the body. In this case, during a corner pendulum test, the pendulum may enter and push against the bumper, which may then push against the air guide duct, causing deformation. If an interior vehicle structure 30 fastened to the body is located behind the duct, strong interference may occur between the air guide duct and the interior vehicle structure 30, which may cause the fastening points of the interior vehicle structure 30, which is a part other than the bumper cover assembly, to become loose or break.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a corner pendulum test performed on a vehicle front structure 100 employing a duct 12 of a comparative example. In this figure, the solid line indicates the state before the collision, and the dotted line indicates the state after the collision. In this comparative example, the duct 12 has a single tubular configuration and guides the flow of air from the opening 10a of the bumper toward the object to be cooled 20 on the rear side. Note that the state after the collision shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the movement due to the collision, and in reality, each component undergoes various deformations depending on the collision situation.

[0030] In this way, as the pendulum 40 moves toward the rear of the vehicle, the bumper 10 is dented rearward and collides with the duct 12. This causes the duct 12 to deform and collide with the interior vehicle structure 30. This can cause the fastening points between the duct 12 and the vehicle body member to come loose, or can damage the interior vehicle structure 30, which is a functional part.

[0031] "State at the time of collision in the embodiment" FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a situation in which a corner pendulum test is performed on the vehicle front structure 100 according to the embodiment.

[0032] In this way, as the pendulum 40 collides, the bumper 10 moves rearward, causing the front duct 12a to move rearward. The front duct 12a collides with the protruding portion of the interior vehicle structure 30, but the portion of the front duct 12a that collides has a through-hole 12d covered by a duct cover 12c. Therefore, the duct cover 12c of the front duct 12a collides with the protruding portion of the interior vehicle structure 30, and the duct cover 12c comes off from the front duct 12a. As a result, the protruding portion of the interior vehicle structure 30 protrudes from the through-hole 12d into the interior of the duct 12. However, detachment of the fastening points of the interior vehicle structure 30, etc., is avoided.

[0033] "Duct configuration" FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing a cutaway portion of the duct 12. This view shows the wall 120 on the vehicle interior side of the front duct 12a and the hole 50 in the front-to-rear direction. The wall 120 is the wall facing the vehicle interior structure 30, and the upper portion of the wall 120 corresponding to the vehicle interior structure 30 is raised toward the inside of the duct, with a hole provided therein, which is covered from the inside of the duct by a duct cover 12c. The rear side of the front duct 12a has a hole 50 through which air from the front is guided. In the view, the hole 50 is indicated by a crosshatched line.

[0034] In this example, the duct 12 is fixed to the bumper 10 by bolts or the like, but the front duct 12a is fixed separately from the rear duct 12b. By adopting this structure, damage to the body and functional parts can be prevented in the event of a collision, while also reducing the gap with rear objects such as the vehicle interior structure 30. This makes it possible to enlarge the opening at the entrance of the duct 12, which also contributes to increasing the amount of cooling airflow.

[0035] 1 shows the shape of a portion of a duct 12 in a comparative example that is not separated into front and rear sections. As shown, in the comparative example, the duct 12 bulges inward as indicated by the dashed line in the figure to avoid interference with the vehicle interior structure 30 during a collision. Therefore, in the comparative example, the inner diameter of the inlet of the duct 12 is W0. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the duct cover 12c can be provided close to the vehicle interior structure 30, so the inner diameter of the duct 12 can be set to W1, which is larger than W0.

[0036] In this example, a notch 120a recessed inward in the vehicle width direction is provided in the lower portion of the wall 120. Providing such a notch can prevent interference with other parts of the duct 12 in the event of a collision. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 10 bumper, 10a opening, 10b introduction part, 12 duct, 12a front duct, 12b rear duct, 12c duct cover, 12d through hole, 20 cooling object, 30 vehicle interior structure, 40 pendulum, 50 hole, 100 vehicle front structure, 120 wall, 120a notch.

Claims

1. a duct provided on a side portion of a front portion of the vehicle in a vehicle width direction, the duct having a front opening on the front side of the vehicle, and guiding air flowing in from the front opening to the rear of the vehicle; an interior vehicle structure disposed adjacent to an inner side portion of the duct in the vehicle width direction; Including, The duct is provided with a through-hole in a portion adjacent to the vehicle interior structure, and a duct cover that covers the through-hole from the inner surface side of the duct. Vehicle front structure.

2. 2. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, The duct is divided into a front duct and a rear duct, and the through hole is provided in the front duct. Vehicle front structure.

3. 3. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 or 2, The duct cover is detachably attached to the periphery of the through hole of the duct. Vehicle front structure.

4. 3. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 or 2, The duct has a rear opening, and air discharged from the rear opening is directed toward an object to be cooled mounted on the vehicle. Vehicle front structure.

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