Vehicle front structure

Abstract

The design allows for the placement of electrical components in a narrow space around the front end of the front side member while absorbing the impact of a frontal collision. [Solution] The vehicle front structure 100 includes a dash panel 10, a front bumper 20, a front side member 30, a dash side frame 40 located outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the front side member 30 and extending toward the front bumper 20 from above the front wheel T, and a front panel 70 that connects the front end 30a of the front side member 30 and the front end 40a of the dash side frame 40 and faces forward of the vehicle. The front panel 70 has a storage section 71 that forms an area S inside for housing at least the rear portion of an electrical component E attached to the front bumper 20 and protruding rearward from the front bumper 20. The front side member 30 and the dash side frame 40 are joined to the front panel 70, spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a vehicle front structure. In the structure of this example, the front end of a front side frame (hereinafter referred to as a front side member) extending forward from the lower part of a dash panel and a member (hereinafter referred to as a dash side frame) composed of an upper member and a lower member located outside the vehicle width direction with respect to the front side member are welded to a mounting plate. Further, the front side member is also welded to the inner part in the vehicle width direction of the dash side frame by an extended portion provided outside the vehicle width direction of the front side member. And in the structure of this example, when a vehicle is obliquely collided, the front side member is bent by an impact load input through the mounting plate) to absorb the impact.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in a vehicle front structure, electrical components such as fog lamps may be attached to a portion outside the vehicle width direction of a front bumper so as to protrude rearward from the front bumper. And in, for example, a small vehicle, due to the limitation of the vehicle's front - rear dimension, the position in the vehicle's front - rear direction of the location where the electrical component is disposed may have to be set near the front end of the front side member.

[0005] Here, if we were to apply the structure described in Patent Document 1 to, for example, the front structure of a small vehicle where space at the front of the vehicle may be limited, the bumper extension is attached to the front surface of the mounting plate, and furthermore, the front end of the front side member and the front end of the lower member are adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction on the mounting plate side and joined to each other, it may become difficult to reconcile the arrangement of electrical components around the front end of the front side member with the construction of an impact absorption structure.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle front structure that can absorb the impact of a frontal collision while arranging electrical components in a narrow space around the front end of the front side member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, according to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle front structure is provided, comprising: a dash panel provided at the front of the vehicle; a front bumper provided in front of the dash panel and extending in the vehicle width direction; a front side member extending from the lower part of the dash panel on the outer side in the vehicle width direction toward the front bumper; and a dash side frame located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction relative to the front side member and extending from above the front wheels toward the front bumper. This vehicle front structure includes a front panel that connects the front end of the front side member and the front end of the dash side frame and faces the front of the vehicle, the front panel having a storage portion that forms an area inside for housing at least the rear of electrical components attached to the front bumper and protruding rearward from the front bumper, and the front side member and the dash side frame are joined to the front panel, spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle front structure that can absorb the impact of a frontal collision while arranging electrical components in a narrow space near the front end of the front side member. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a partial front view of the front structure of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a side view of the front structure of the aforementioned vehicle. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the main part of the aforementioned front structure of the vehicle, as seen from the front of the vehicle. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the main part of the aforementioned front structure of the vehicle, as seen from the underside and rear of the vehicle. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of the main part of the aforementioned front structure of the vehicle, as seen from the upper and rear of the vehicle. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view illustrating the structure of the front side member of the aforementioned vehicle front structure. [Figure 7] This is a front view of the main part of the front structure of the aforementioned vehicle. [Figure 8] This is a top view of the main part of the front structure of the vehicle. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Figures 1 to 3 are diagrams illustrating a vehicle front structure 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 is a partial front view of the vehicle front structure 100, Figure 2 is a side view of the vehicle front structure 100, and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the main part of the vehicle front structure 100 as seen from the front of the vehicle. In the figures, the direction of arrow Fr indicates the front in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, the direction of arrow O indicates the outward direction of the vehicle in the vehicle's width direction, and the direction of arrow U indicates the upward direction of the vehicle in the vehicle's vertical direction. In the following description, "front" and "rear" correspond to the front and rear in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, "up" and "down" correspond to the up and down in the vehicle's vertical direction, and "left" and "right" correspond to the left and right in the vehicle's width direction when the occupants inside the vehicle are facing forward.

[0011] The vehicle front structure 100 of this embodiment is mainly applied to the front of a vehicle, as shown in Figures 1 to 3. Although not particularly limited, the vehicle to which the vehicle front structure 100 is applied in this embodiment is a small vehicle with a relatively short longitudinal dimension of the front of the vehicle (specifically, the portion from the dash panel 10 to the front bumper 20, as described later). Note that each figure shows the portion of the vehicle front structure 100 that includes the left front wheel T of the vehicle. The portion of the vehicle front structure 100 that includes the right front wheel has the same structure as the portion that includes the left front wheel T, except that it is symmetrical to the portion that includes the left front wheel T.

[0012] In this embodiment, the vehicle to which the vehicle front structure 100 is applied is an electric vehicle. This vehicle is equipped with, for example, an electric motor for vehicle propulsion (not shown), which is powered by electricity supplied from a battery.

[0013] Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the vehicle front structure 100 of this embodiment includes a dash panel 10, a front bumper 20, a front side member 30, a dash side frame 40, a bumper member 50, a support brace 60, and a front panel 70.

[0014] The dash panel 10 is located at the front of the vehicle. The dash panel 10 is, for example, a panel material that separates the power compartment P from the passenger compartment, and generally extends in the vehicle width direction and the vehicle vertical direction. The power compartment P houses drive devices such as an engine and an electric motor (in this embodiment, an electric motor). The power compartment P is also called the power unit room and is mainly formed by the dash panel 10, the front bumper 20, and a front hood (not shown) that extends from the upper end of the dash panel 10 to the upper end of the front bumper. Referring to Figure 2, a dash side panel 11, which is a panel material that extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction, is joined to the upper part of the outer side of the dash panel 10 in the vehicle width direction.

[0015] The front bumper 20 is a member provided in front of the dash panel 10 and extending in the vehicle width direction, and is located at the front end of the vehicle. An electrical component E is attached to the outer portion of the front bumper 20 in the vehicle width direction so as to protrude rearward from the rear surface of the front bumper 20. Although not particularly limited, in the illustrated example, the electrical component E is a fog lamp.

[0016] The vehicle to which the vehicle front structure 100 of the present embodiment is applied is a vehicle in which the distance between the front end of the front wheel T and the front bumper 20 is significantly short. Therefore, among small vehicles with a narrow space in the front-rear direction and vehicle width direction of the power chamber P, this vehicle is a small vehicle in which the space between the front bumper 20 and the front wheel T is significantly narrow.

[0017] The front side member 30 is a highly rigid member that forms part of the vehicle body structure member (vehicle body skeleton) at the bottom of the vehicle body. The front side member 30 extends from the outer portion of the lower part of the dash panel 10 in the vehicle width direction toward the front bumper 20 (forward). In other words, the front side member 30 extends forward from the outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle floor panel 12 (see FIG. 2) of the vehicle.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main part of the vehicle front structure 100 viewed from below and rearward of the vehicle, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the main part of the vehicle front structure 100 viewed from above and rearward of the vehicle. FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining the structure of the front side member 30. In FIG. 5, the front bumper 20 and the electrical component E are removed, and in FIG. 6, members (such as the support brace 60, front panel 70, connection plate 90, etc.) arranged in front of the front side member 30 are removed.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6, in the illustrated example, the front side member 30 has a side member main body 30A and a side member reinforcement 30B. The side member main body 30A has a hat-shaped cross-sectional shape that is open to the outside in the vehicle width direction in a cross-sectional view orthogonal to its extending direction (the vehicle front-rear direction, the longitudinal direction), and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction. The side opening of the side member main body 30A is closed by the side member reinforcement 30B being joined to the lower flange 31 and the upper flange 32 of the side member main body 30A by means such as spot welding. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, in a cross-sectional view orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the front side member 30, a substantially rectangular (in other words, square tubular) closed cross-sectional structure is formed.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, in the illustrated example, a lower side member 80 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction below the front side member 30. Specifically, the lower side member 80 is a highly rigid member. The lower side member 80 extends from a portion outside the vehicle width direction of a front cross member (not shown) that extends in the vehicle width direction below the dash panel 10 toward the front bumper 20 (forward). The portions of the left and right front side members 30 on the dash panel 10 side are connected to the portions outside the vehicle width direction of the front cross member. And the front end position of the lower side member 80 is aligned with the front end position of the front side member 30.

[0021] The dash side frame 40 is a member that is located outside the vehicle width direction with respect to the front side member 30 and extends from above the front wheel T toward the front bumper 20. In the illustrated example, the dash side frame 40 extends from the outside in the vehicle width direction at the upper part of the dash panel 10, specifically, from the dash side panel 11 (see FIG. 2) toward the front of the vehicle, and is disposed above the portion outside the vehicle width direction of a wheel house (not shown) that covers the front wheel T. Further, the dash side frame 40 extends generally downward and forward from the upper part of the dash side panel 11 to a position spaced apart from the front end of the front side member 30 outside the vehicle width direction.

[0022] Referring to Figure 2, the dash side frame 40 extends generally in a straight line, sloping downwards towards the front, from the dash panel 10 to a predetermined midpoint in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. In the illustrated example, the position of the midpoint in the vehicle's longitudinal direction is set at a predetermined longitudinal position between the radial center of the front wheel T and the front end of the front wheel T. The dash side frame 40 then curves downwards towards the front bumper 20 from the midpoint, extending in an arc shape. The lower end of the dash side frame 40 is positioned in the vehicle's vertical direction to match the height of the lower end of the outer corner in the vehicle width direction of the front bumper 20.

[0023] The dash side frame 40 extends linearly in the vertical direction of the vehicle at its lower end, and at this lower end, it has a front portion 40a that faces forward and is opposite the rear surface of the front bumper 20. The front portion 40a constitutes the front end of the dash side frame 40. The front portion 40a is located between the rear surface (back surface) of the front bumper 20 and the front end of the front wheel T in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and is located within the tire width of the front wheel T in the vehicle width direction.

[0024] In the illustrated example, the dash side frame 40 has a frame body 40A and a lower frame 40B, which are joined to each other. In the illustrated example, the rear end of the frame body 40A is located behind the rear end of the lower frame 40B, and the rear half of the lower frame 40B is positioned to overlap the front half of the frame body 40A from the outside in the vehicle width direction. In other words, the frame body 40A and the lower frame 40B overlap in part and are offset from each other in the longitudinal direction of the frame, and the lower end of the lower frame 40B protrudes (is extended) below the lower end (front end) of the frame body 40A.

[0025] Specifically, the frame body 40A extends from the rear end of the dash side frame 40 to the upper end of the front portion 40a. The frame body 40A extends with a generally crank-shaped cross-section when viewed in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to its own extension direction (longitudinal direction). More specifically, the frame body 40A consists of an upper wall 41 having surfaces facing upward and forward, a vertical wall 42 extending downward and rearward from the inner part of the upper wall 41 in the vehicle width direction, and a lower frame flange 43 extending inward in the vehicle width direction from the lower edge of the vertical wall 42.

[0026] The lower frame 40B extends with a roughly hat-shaped cross-section (see Figure 4) that is open to the upper and front of the vehicle in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to its own extension direction (longitudinal direction). In the area where the main frame 40A and the lower frame 40B overlap, the upward opening of the lower frame 40B is closed by joining the main frame 40A (the outer part of the upper wall 41 in the vehicle width direction, the lower frame flange 43) to the left flange 44 (the flange on the outer side in the vehicle width direction) and the right flange 45 (the flange on the inner side in the vehicle width direction) of the lower frame 40B by spot welding or the like. As a result, in the area where the main frame 40A and the lower frame 40B overlap, a closed cross-sectional structure with a roughly rectangular shape (in other words, a rectangular tube shape) is formed in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the dash side frame 40.

[0027] The bumper member 50 is a member that supports the front bumper 20 from the rear side and extends in the vehicle width direction along the rear surface of the front bumper 20. The outer portion 50a of the bumper member 50 in the vehicle width direction is connected to the front end portion 30a of the front side member 30. In the illustrated example, the outer portion 50a of the bumper member 50 in the vehicle width direction is connected to the front end portion 30a of the front side member 30 by fastening to the front extension portion 62a of a support brace 60, which will be described later and welded to the front end portion 30a of the front side member 30, by fastening with a fastening member (bolt 51 in the illustrated example).

[0028] The support brace 60 is a member that supports the front part of the front side member 30 from below. Referring to Figures 3 to 5, in the illustrated example, the support brace 60 has a brace body portion 61 and a brace extension portion 62.

[0029] The support brace 60 is positioned on the upper surface of the front end of the lower side member 80 and is supported from below by the lower side member 80. The support brace 60 connects the front end 30a of the front side member 30 to the front end of the lower side member 80.

[0030] The brace body 61 has a groove-shaped cross-section that is open outward in the width direction of the vehicle, for example, and extends from the upper surface of the lower side member 80 to the lower surface of the side member body 30A of the front side member 30. In other words, in the illustrated example, the brace body 61 has a front wall 61a, a rear wall 61b, an inner wall 61c, and a bottom wall 61d. The lower end of the brace body 61 (i.e., the bottom wall 61d) is attached to the lower side member 80 by a fastening member (bolt 63 in the illustrated example). The front wall 61a of the brace body 61 is joined to the front lower flange 33a (see Figure 6) that extends downward from the front end of the lower wall 33 of the front side member 30 by spot welding or the like, and the upper end of the rear wall 61b of the brace body 61 is joined to the lower wall 33 of the front side member 30 by spot welding or the like. In this way, the support brace 60 connects the front side member 30 and the lower side member 80.

[0031] The brace extension 62 has a front extension 62a that extends upward in continuity with the front wall 61a, and a side extension 62b that extends upward in continuity with the inner wall 61c. In the illustrated example, the brace extension 62 protrudes upward from the upper wall 34 of the front side member 30. The front extension 62a is positioned to cover most of the front end opening of the front side member 30. The front extension 62a is joined to the front end upper flange 34a that extends upward from the front end of the upper wall 34 of the front side member 30 by spot welding or the like. The side extension 62b is joined to the member vertical wall 35 of the front side member 30 by spot welding or the like.

[0032] In the illustrated example, the upper outer portion of the brace extension 62 in the vehicle width direction is cut out. The portion of the front end opening of the front side member 30 corresponding to the cut-out portion of the brace extension 62 is closed by the connecting plate 90. A towing nut N is provided on the connecting plate 90. The towing nut N is a nut used when towing other vehicles, etc., and is joined to the connecting plate 90. The rear of this towing nut N is located inside the closed structure of the front side member 30.

[0033] In the illustrated example, a brace reinforcement 64 is attached to the support brace 60. The brace reinforcement 64 is a member that reinforces the outer portion of the front wall 61a of the support brace 60 in the vehicle width direction from the rear, and is attached to the brace body 61 by spot welding or the like so as to close the side opening of the brace body 61. The brace body 61 and the brace reinforcement 64 form a roughly rectangular cylindrical column that extends in the vertical direction.

[0034] The front panel 70 is a panel that connects the front end 30a of the front side member 30 and the front end (front portion 40a) of the dash side frame 40 and faces the front of the vehicle. The front panel 70 extends from the front end 30a of the front side member 30 to the front end (front portion 40a) of the dash side frame 40 and has a front facing the front of the vehicle, and is joined to the front side member 30 and the dash side frame 40.

[0035] The front panel 70 has a larger area than the area of ​​the front end 30a of the front side member 30 and the front end (front portion 40a) of the dash side frame 40 when viewed from the front of the vehicle in a plan view. In the illustrated example, the front panel 70 extends in the vehicle width direction and the vehicle vertical direction and is formed as a panel with a generally rectangular outer shape. In this way, a large area plane facing the front of the vehicle is easily formed by the front surface of the front panel 70 between the front end 30a of the high-strength front side member 30 and the front end (front portion 40a) of the dash side frame 40. As a result, in the vehicle front structure 100, in the event of a collision such as a frontal collision, the impact load input to the front of the vehicle is efficiently transmitted to the front side member 30 and the dash side frame 40 through the front panel 70, causing the front side member 30 and the dash side frame 40 to deform, and consequently, the impact energy of the frontal collision is effectively absorbed as deformation energy. In this way, the vehicle front structure 100 has an impact absorbing structure that can absorb the impact of a frontal collision. The detailed shape of the front panel 70 will be described later.

[0036] Here, for example, in a small vehicle where the space at the front of the vehicle may be constrained, as in this embodiment, the position of electrical components E such as fog lamps in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle may have to be set near the front end of the front side member 30. In this case, it may become difficult to reconcile the placement of electrical components E around the front end 30a of the front side member 30 with the construction of an impact absorption structure. In response to this, the vehicle front structure 100 according to this embodiment has the following structure in order to provide a vehicle front structure that can absorb the impact of a frontal collision while arranging electrical components E in a narrow space around the front end 30a of the front side member 30.

[0037] Next, the main parts of the vehicle front structure 100 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 1 to 5, 7 and 8. Figures 7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating the main parts of the vehicle front structure 100, with Figure 7 being a front view and Figure 8 being a top view.

[0038] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the vehicle to which the vehicle front structure 100 of this embodiment is applied is a small vehicle in which the space between the front bumper 20 and the front wheel T is particularly narrow. Therefore, in the vehicle front structure 100, as shown in Figure 2, the placement of the front panel 70 must be set in the narrow space between the front bumper 20 and the front wheel T. Consequently, the front panel 70, which is part of the impact absorption structure, is close to and facing the outer portion of the rear surface of the front bumper 20 in the vehicle width direction. In other words, the front end 30a of the front side member 30 (and the front end of the dash side frame 40) is located near the rear surface of the front bumper 20. The outer portion of the rear surface of the front bumper 20 in the vehicle width direction is set as the placement location (mounting location) for the electrical component E. That is, the position of the placement location for the electrical component E in the vehicle longitudinal direction is set near the front end of the front side member 30.

[0039] Referring to Figures 1 to 5, 7 and 8, the front vehicle structure 100 has the following structure in order to achieve the above-mentioned arrangement (layout) of the electrical components E. In the front vehicle structure 100, (1) the front panel 70 has a storage section 71 that forms an area S (hereinafter referred to as the storage area S) inside which houses at least the rear portion of the electrical components E that are attached to the front bumper 20 and protrude rearward from the front bumper 20, and (2) the front side member 30 and the dash side frame 40 are joined to the front panel 70, spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction. In other words, the front side member 30 and the dash side frame 40 are not directly joined to each other on the front panel 70 side, but are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, and a space is provided between the front side member 30 and the dash side frame 40.

[0040] Specifically, the front panel 70 has a large front surface facing the front of the vehicle and opposite the rear surface of the front bumper 20. The storage area S inside the storage compartment 71 of the front panel 70 is provided as an area larger than the outer shape of the electrical component E when viewed from one side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. In the illustrated example, the storage area S is a horizontally elongated area when viewed from one side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The front panel 70 closes the gap between the front end 30a of the front side member 30 and the support brace 60 and the front end (front portion 40a) of the dash side frame 40. The inner part of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction is joined to the front end 30a of the front side member 30 and the support brace 60 from the front by spot welding or the like, and the outer part of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction is joined to the front end of the dash side frame 40 from the front by spot welding or the like.

[0041] Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the front end (front portion 40a) of the dash side frame 40 is offset rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction relative to the front end 30a of the front side member 30. The portion of the front panel 70 between the front side member 30 and the dash side frame 40 is inclined so that it moves further rearward relative to the front end 30a of the front side member 30 in the vehicle longitudinal direction as it moves from the inside in the vehicle width direction to the outside in the vehicle width direction.

[0042] In this embodiment, the storage section 71 has a plate-shaped annular plate portion 71a that surrounds the rear of the electrical component E. Referring to Figure 8, the rear of the electrical component E is positioned in a region that overlaps with the position of the annular plate portion 71a in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The electrical component E is positioned between the front wheel T and the front side member 30 in the vehicle width direction, with its rear end protruding further rearward than the rear surface of the annular plate portion 71a. Specifically, the storage area S is provided in the vehicle width direction from a position near the outer virtual plane V1 along the inner surface of the front wheel T in the vehicle width direction to a position near the inner virtual plane V2 along the outer surface of the front side member 30 in the vehicle width direction. In the illustrated example, the position of the inner surface of the dash side frame 40 in the vehicle width direction coincides with or substantially coincides with the position of the inner surface of the front wheel T in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the outer virtual plane V1 also coincides with the inner surface of the dash side frame 40 in the vehicle width direction.

[0043] In this embodiment, the storage section 71 has a cylindrical portion 71b that protrudes toward the rear of the vehicle from the inner edge 71a1 of the annular plate portion 71a, and is open in the front-rear direction of the vehicle on the inside of the cylindrical portion 71b. In other words, a hole is made through the front panel 70 in the portion of the front panel 70 corresponding to the storage area S, and the area around the hole is the annular plate portion 71a. The cylindrical portion 71b is formed by burring the inner edge of the annular plate portion 71a. The cylindrical portion 71b of the storage section 71 does not have a bottom and is open toward the rear.

[0044] In this embodiment, the front panel 70 has a lateral reinforcing portion 72 extending in the vehicle width direction and a vertical reinforcing portion 73 extending in the vehicle vertical direction along the front end (front portion 40a) of the dash side frame 40.

[0045] Specifically, the lateral reinforcement portion 72 is provided at both the upper and lower positions of the storage portion 71. The lateral reinforcement portion 72 consists of a bead that bulges forward of the vehicle and extends in the vehicle width direction. In the illustrated example, the lateral reinforcement portion 72 extends from the inner end of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction to the front position of the front portion 40a of the dash side frame 40, and is tapered in height on the front side member 30 side.

[0046] In the illustrated example, the vertical reinforcement portion 73 extends continuously with the upper and lower horizontal reinforcement portions 72 and, like the horizontal reinforcement portions 72, consists of a bead that bulges forward of the vehicle. The vertical reinforcement portion 73 extends from the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the upper horizontal reinforcement portion 72 to the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the lower horizontal reinforcement portion 72. Therefore, the bead consisting of the pair of upper and lower horizontal reinforcement portions 72 and the vertical reinforcement portion 73 is a U-shaped bead that is generally open inward in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front. This U-shaped bead is arranged to surround the storage portion 71 when viewed from the front.

[0047] In this embodiment, a projection 74 is provided at the lower part of the front panel 70, extending in the vehicle width direction and projecting forward of the vehicle. The projection 74 extends outwards on both sides in the vehicle width direction relative to the storage compartment 71. In the illustrated example, the projection 74 is a separate component from the front panel 70 and is joined to the front panel 70 by spot welding or the like. Specifically, the projection 74 extends along the lower edge of the front panel 70. The projection 74 is located at the height of the radial center (central axis) of the front wheel T. Although not particularly limited, in the illustrated example, the projection 74 consists of a joining flange 74a along the front panel 70, a main body portion 74b projecting forward from the joining flange 74a, and an upper projection 74c extending upward from the front end of the main body portion 74b.

[0048] The protruding portion 74 extends in accordance with the inclined shape of the front panel 70. In the illustrated example, the protruding portion 74 extends outward in the vehicle width direction to a position in front of the front end (front portion 40a) of the dash side frame 40, and inward in the vehicle width direction to a position near the inner virtual plane V2 that is along the outer surface of the front side member 30 in the vehicle width direction.

[0049] In this embodiment, the front end of the protrusion 74 protrudes forward of the front end of the electrical component E. The rear end of the electrical component E protrudes rearward of the rear surface of the annular plate portion 71a of the front panel 70, as described above. More specifically, the rear end of the electrical component E protrudes rearward of the rear end of the cylindrical portion 71b. The front end of the electrical component E protrudes forward of the front end (bead top) of the lateral reinforcement portion 72 of the front panel 70. In other words, the front end of the electrical component E is located between the front end of the front panel 70 and the front end of the protrusion 74 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0050] The vehicle front structure 100 according to this embodiment has a front panel 70 that is attached to the front bumper 20 and has a storage section 71 that forms a storage area S inside for storing at least the rear portion of electrical components E that protrude rearward from the front bumper 20, and the front side member 30 and the dash side frame 40 are joined to the front panel 70, spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, during normal use, at least the rear end of the electrical components E can be stored in the storage section 71 of the front panel 70 and placed in the space between the front side member 30 and the dash side frame 40. As a result, even if the front bumper 20 and the front panel 70 are close to each other, the position of the electrical components E in the vehicle longitudinal direction can be set near the front end of the front side member 30, and the electrical components E can be placed in the narrow space around the front end 30a of the front side member 30.

[0051] In the vehicle front structure 100 according to this embodiment, in the event of a frontal collision, the electrical component E retracts and is housed in the storage compartment 71, moving towards the rear of the vehicle together with the front panel 70. At this time, the vehicle front structure 100 efficiently receives the impact load input from the front of the vehicle with the front panel 70 and efficiently transmits it to the front side member 30 and the dash side frame 40, and by deforming the front side member 30 and the dash side frame 40, the impact energy can be effectively absorbed.

[0052] As described above, the vehicle front structure 100 of this embodiment is a vehicle front structure that can absorb the impact of a frontal collision while arranging electrical components E in a narrow space around the front end portion 30a of the front side member 30. In other words, the storage section 71 enables the layout of electrical components E in a narrow space, while the front panel 70 promotes impact absorption.

[0053] In this embodiment, the annular plate portion 71a of the storage section 71 surrounds the rear of the electrical component E, and the rear end of the electrical component E protrudes further rearward than the rear surface of the annular plate portion 71a, allowing the electrical component E to be positioned between the front wheel T and the front side member 30 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the annular plate portion 71a prevents the electrical component E from moving in all directions (up and down and left and right) due to the impact of a frontal collision, thus preventing contact between the electrical component E and the front wheel T, and preventing unintended contact of the component with the front wheel T.

[0054] In this embodiment, the storage section 71 has a cylindrical portion 71b that protrudes toward the rear of the vehicle from the inner edge 71a1 of the annular plate portion 71a, and is open toward the rear of the vehicle on the inside of the cylindrical portion 71b. As a result, even if a hole is formed that penetrates from front to back on the inside of the storage section 71 of the front panel 70, the shape of the storage section 71 is maintained by the cylindrical portion 71b during a minor collision, and the rigidity of the front panel 70 is ensured. As a result, the impact absorption performance can be maintained even in the event of a severe frontal collision (severe collision) after a minor collision.

[0055] In this embodiment, the rigidity of the front panel 70 can be improved by the lateral reinforcement portion 72 and the vertical reinforcement portion 73, thereby improving the impact absorption performance. In the illustrated example, during a frontal collision, the deformation of the inclined portion of the front panel 70 is suppressed by the lateral reinforcement portion 72. Furthermore, during a frontal collision, the deformation of the portion of the front panel 70 located in front of the front end portion (front part 40a) of the dash side frame 40 is suppressed by the vertical reinforcement portion 73, so that the front end portion (front part 40a) of the dash side frame 40 makes firm contact with the front of the front wheel T over a wide area. As a result, impact energy is effectively absorbed by the dash side frame 40 and the front wheel T, improving the impact absorption performance.

[0056] In this embodiment, the lower part of the front panel 70 is provided with a projection 74 that extends in the vehicle width direction and protrudes forward of the vehicle, and this projection 74 extends outwards on both sides in the vehicle width direction relative to the storage compartment 71. This further improves the rigidity of the front panel 70, and in the event of a frontal collision, the impact load is efficiently transmitted to the front end (front portion 40a) of the dash side frame 40. As a result, the rearward deformation of the dash side frame 40 is promoted, and impact absorption is made more effective. In addition, the projection 74 can also help maintain the shape of the opening in the storage compartment 71. Furthermore, in the event of a frontal collision, the projection 74 can strike the lower part of the object being hit, causing the lower part of the object to be thrown forward and guide the obstacle onto the front hood, which is advantageous, for example, from the viewpoint of pedestrian protection.

[0057] In this embodiment, the front end of the protrusion 74 protrudes further forward than the front end of the electrical component E. This protects the electrical component E in the event of a minor collision and prevents damage to the electrical component E. Furthermore, it ensures that obstacles are more reliably deflected during a frontal collision, thus providing more reliable protection for pedestrians, for example.

[0058] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and modifications and changes can be made based on the technical concept of the present invention.

[0059] For example, the cylindrical portion 71b of the storage compartment 71 may have a bottom and may not be open to the rear. Also, the storage compartment 71 may not have a cylindrical portion 71b. The lateral reinforcement portion 72, the vertical reinforcement portion 73, and the protruding portion 74 may have at least one of them, or none of them may be provided. Furthermore, the protruding portion 74 may be formed integrally with the front panel 70. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 10. Dashboard 11. Dash side panel 12 Floor Panels 20 Front Bumper 30 Front side member 30a Front end 30A Side Member Body 30B Side Member Reinforcement 31 Lower flange 32 Upper flange 33 Lower wall 33a Front lower flange 34 Upper wall 34a Front upper flange 35 Member vertical wall 40 Dash Side Frame 40a Front part (front end) 40A Frame Body 40B Lower Frame 41 Upper wall 42 Vertical walls 43 Lower frame flange 44 Left flange 45 Right flange 50 Bumper Members 50a Outer part in the vehicle width direction 51 volts 60 Support Brace 61 Brace body 61a front wall 61b Back wall 61c Inner wall 61d Bottom wall 62 Brace extension 62a Front extension 62b Side extension 63 volts 64 Brace Reinforcement 70 Front Panel 71 Storage compartment 71a Annular plate section 71a1 Inner edge 71b Cylindrical part 72 Lateral reinforcement section 73 Vertical reinforcement section 74 Protrusion 74a Joining flange 74b Main body 74c Upper protrusion 80 Lower side member 90 Connecting Plates 100 Vehicle front structure E Electrical components N Towing Nut P power room S Storage area (area) T front wheel V1 outer virtual plane V2 Inner virtual plane

Claims

1. The dashboard panel located at the front of the vehicle, A front bumper is provided in front of the aforementioned dashboard panel and extends in the vehicle width direction, A front side member extending from the lower part of the dash panel on the outer side in the vehicle width direction toward the front bumper, A dash side frame is located outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the front side member and extends from above the front wheels toward the front bumper, A vehicle front structure including, The front panel, which connects the front end of the front side member and the front end of the dash side frame and faces the front of the vehicle, is included. The front panel has a storage area that forms an internal area for housing at least the rear portion of electrical components that are attached to the front bumper and protrude rearward from the front bumper. The front vehicle structure is characterized in that the front side member and the dash side frame are joined to the front panel at a distance from each other in the vehicle width direction.

2. The storage section has a plate-shaped annular plate portion that surrounds the rear of the electrical component, The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical component is positioned between the front wheel and the front side member in the vehicle width direction, with the rear end of the electrical component protruding rearward from the rear surface of the annular plate portion.

3. The vehicle front structure according to claim 2, characterized in that the storage section has a cylindrical portion that protrudes from the inner edge of the annular plate portion toward the rear of the vehicle, and is open toward the rear of the vehicle inside the cylindrical portion.

4. The front vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the front panel has a lateral reinforcing portion extending in the vehicle width direction.

5. The front vehicle structure according to claim 4, wherein the front panel has a longitudinal reinforcing portion that extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle along the front end of the dash side frame.

6. The lower part of the aforementioned front panel is provided with a projection that extends in the vehicle width direction and protrudes forward of the vehicle. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion extends outwards on both sides in the vehicle width direction relative to the storage portion.

7. The front end of the protruding portion protrudes further forward than the front end of the electrical component, as described in claim 6.

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