Vehicle front structure

Abstract

Even when the space between the front end of the front side member and the front bumper is narrow, impact absorption performance can be easily ensured. [Solution] The vehicle front structure 100 includes a front side member 30, a dash side frame 40, 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 the front of the vehicle. The front end 40a of the dash side frame 40 is located rearward relative to the front end 30a of the front side member 30, 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. The intermediate panel portion 70m of the front panel 70 is inclined so that it moves further rearward relative to the front end 30a of the front side member 30 in the vehicle front-rear direction as it moves from the inside in the vehicle width direction to the outside 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 the rear surface of a mounting plate, a bending point is set on the front side member, and a bumper beam extension is attached to the front surface of the mounting plate. In the structure of this example, during an offset collision such as a diagonal collision of the vehicle, the bumper beam extension is crushed and the front side member is bent starting from the bending point 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] Here, in vehicles such as small vehicles where the space at the front of the vehicle may be restricted, the dimension in the vehicle front-rear direction between the front bumper and the front end of the front side member may also be restricted. In such vehicles, it may be impossible to attach the bumper beam extension in the impact absorption structure described in Patent Document 1 to the front surface of the mounting plate, and it may become difficult to ensure the impact absorption performance.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle front structure that can easily ensure impact absorption performance even when the space between the front end of the front side member and the front bumper is narrow. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above objective, according to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle front structure is provided, which includes 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, wherein the front end of the dash side frame is located rearward relative to the front end of the front side member in the vehicle longitudinal direction, 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, and the intermediate panel portion of the front panel between the front side member and the dash side frame is inclined so that it moves further rearward relative to the front end of the front side member in the vehicle longitudinal direction as it moves from the inside in the vehicle width direction to the outside in the vehicle width direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle front structure that can easily ensure impact absorption performance even when the space between the front end of the front side member and the front bumper is narrow. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [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 illustrating the structure of the front side member. [Figure 8] This is a front view of the main part of the front structure of the aforementioned vehicle. [Figure 9] This is a top view of the main part of the front structure of the vehicle. [Figure 10] This is a partially enlarged front view of the vehicle's front structure, including the connecting plate. [Figure 11] This is an enlarged top view taken from direction A in Figure 10. [Figure 12] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view along line BB. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] 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.

[0010] 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.

[0011] 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.

[0012] 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.

[0013] 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.

[0014] 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 project 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.

[0015] 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 remarkably short. Therefore, among small vehicles with a narrow space in the front-rear direction and vehicle width direction of the engine room P, this vehicle is a small vehicle in which the space between the front bumper 20 and the front wheel T is remarkably narrow.

[0016] The front side member 30 is a highly rigid member that forms a 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 floor panel 12 (see FIG. 2) of the vehicle. And, in relation to the front side member 30, the vehicle to which the vehicle front structure 100 of the present embodiment is applied is also a vehicle in which the space between the front end of the front side member 30 and the front bumper 20 is remarkably narrow.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main part of the vehicle front structure 100 viewed from the lower side and rear of the vehicle, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the main part of the vehicle front structure 100 viewed from the upper side and rear of the vehicle. FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrams for explaining the internal structure of the front side member 30, FIG. 6 is a perspective view, and FIG. 7 is a front view. In FIG. 5, the front bumper 20 and the electrical component E are removed, and in FIGS. 6 and 7, members (support brace 60, front panel 70, connecting plate 90 to be described later, etc.) arranged in front of the front side member 30 are removed, and in FIG. 7, the outer shape of the connecting plate 90 to be described later is shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0018] Referring to Figures 3 to 7, the front side member 30, in the illustrated example, has a side member body 30A and a side member reinforcement 30B. The side member body 30A extends in the vehicle's longitudinal direction with a hat-shaped cross-section that is open to the outside in the vehicle's width direction when viewed in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to its own extension direction (vehicle longitudinal direction, longitudinal direction). The side opening of the side member body 30A is closed by the side member reinforcement 30B being joined to the lower flange 31 and upper flange 32 of the side member body 30A by spot welding or the like. As a result, as shown in Figure 6, a closed cross-sectional structure with a roughly rectangular shape (in other words, a rectangular tube shape) is formed when viewed in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the front side member 30. In other words, the side member body 30A (front side member 30) has a lower wall 33, an upper wall 34 located above the lower wall 33, a member vertical wall 35 connecting the inner end of the lower wall 33 in the vehicle width direction and the inner end of the upper wall 34 in the vehicle width direction, a lower flange 31 extending downward from the outer end of the lower wall 33 in the vehicle width direction, and an upper flange 32 extending upward from the outer end of the upper wall 34 in the vehicle width direction.

[0019] Referring to Figures 1 to 4, in the illustrated example, a lower side member 80 extends in the vehicle's longitudinal direction below the front side member 30. Specifically, the lower side member 80 is a highly rigid member. The lower side member 80 extends toward the front bumper 20 (forward) from the outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the front cross member (not shown), which extends in the vehicle width direction below the dash panel 10. The portions of the left and right front side members 30 on the dash panel 10 side are connected to the outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the front cross member. The front end position of the lower side member 80 is aligned with the front end position of the front side member 30.

[0020] The dash side frame 40 is located outward in the vehicle width direction relative 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 outward in the vehicle width direction from the upper part of the dash panel 10, more specifically from the dash side panel 11 (see Figure 2) toward the front of the vehicle, and is positioned above the outer part in the vehicle width direction of the wheel well (not shown) that covers the front wheel T. Furthermore, the dash side frame 40 extends generally downward in the front direction from the upper part of the dash side panel 11 to a position spaced outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the front end of the front side member 30.

[0021] 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. Specifically, the dash side frame 40 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.

[0022] The dash side frame 40 extends linearly in the vertical direction of the vehicle at the lower front end portion of the dash side frame 40, and at the lower front end portion, 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] The bumper member 50 is a component 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 bumper member 50 is supported by the left front side member 30 and the right front side member 30.

[0027] 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 and Figure 7, in the illustrated example, the support brace 60 has a brace body portion 61 and a brace extension portion 62.

[0028] 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, and the front part of the front side member 30 is supported by the lower side member 80 via the support brace 60.

[0029] The brace body 61 has a groove-shaped cross-section that is open outward in the width direction of the vehicle, 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 (a bolt 63 in the illustrated example).

[0030] The brace extension 62 has a front extension 62a that extends upward in conjunction with the front wall 61a, and a side extension 62b that extends upward in conjunction 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] The front panel 70, which is part of the impact absorption structure, is located 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 location (mounting location) for the electrical component E. That is, the position of the location for the electrical component E in the vehicle longitudinal direction is set near the front end of the front side member 30.

[0034] Next, the main parts of the vehicle front structure 100 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 12. Figures 8 to 12 are diagrams illustrating the main parts of the vehicle front structure 100. Figure 8 is a front view of the main part, Figure 9 is a top view of the main part, Figure 10 is a partially enlarged front view of the part of the vehicle front structure 100 including the connecting plate 90 which will be described later, Figure 11 is an enlarged top view seen from direction A in Figure 10, and Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 10 along line BB.

[0035] Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 9, the front end (front portion 40a) of the dash side frame 40 is positioned rearward (offset) relative to the front end 30a of the front side member 30 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The front side member 30 and the dash side frame 40 are joined to the front panel 70, separated from each other in the vehicle's 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 separated from each other in the vehicle's width direction, and a space is provided between the front side member 30 and the dash side frame 40. Furthermore, the intermediate panel portion 70m 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's longitudinal direction as it moves from the inside in the vehicle's width direction to the outside in the vehicle's width direction. The inner portion 70a and outer portion 70b of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction each extend linearly in the vehicle width direction and parallel to each other, and the intermediate panel portion 70m connects the inner portion 70a and the outer portion 70b in the vehicle width direction.

[0036] In this embodiment, the dash side frame 40 has a curved portion 40b that curves to follow the contour of the front wheel T. The curved portion 40b is the part of the dash side frame 40 that faces the front wheel T. In other words, as shown in Figure 2, the part of the dash side frame 40 that faces the front wheel T (the curved portion 40b) is curved to follow the contour of the front wheel T. Furthermore, the outer portion 70b of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction and the curved portion 40b of the dash side frame 40 are positioned to overlap with the front wheel T when viewed from one side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle (in other words, within the tire width range of the front wheel T).

[0037] Referring to Figures 1 to 5, 8 and 9, in this embodiment, in order to achieve the above-described arrangement (layout) of the electrical components E, the front panel 70 has a storage section 71 that forms an internal area S (hereinafter referred to as the storage area S) for housing 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.

[0038] 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 front panel 70 fills 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 portion 70a 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 portion 70b of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction is joined to the front end (front portion 40a) of the dash side frame 40 from the front by spot welding or the like.

[0039] In the illustrated example, the storage section 71 has a plate-shaped annular plate portion 71a that surrounds the rear of the electrical component E. Referring to Figure 9, 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 longitudinal direction of the vehicle. 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 approximately 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.

[0040] In the illustrated example, 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 has no bottom and is open toward the rear.

[0041] In this embodiment, the front panel 70 has a lateral reinforcing portion 72 extending in the vehicle width direction and a longitudinal reinforcing portion 73 extending in the vehicle vertical direction along the front end (front portion 40a) of the dash side frame 40. Specifically, the lateral reinforcing portion 72 is provided at both the upper and lower positions of the storage portion 71. The lateral reinforcing 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 reinforcing 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 formed to taper in the vertical width on the front side member 30 side. In the illustrated example, the longitudinal reinforcing portion 73 extends continuously with the upper and lower lateral reinforcing portions 72 and, like the lateral reinforcing portion 72, consists of a bead that bulges forward of the vehicle. The longitudinal reinforcing portion 73 extends from the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the upper lateral reinforcing portion 72 to the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the lower lateral reinforcing portion 72. Therefore, the bead, consisting of a pair of upper and lower lateral reinforcing sections 72 and a vertical reinforcing section 73, is a U-shaped bead that is generally open inward in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front. The U-shaped bead is arranged to surround the storage section 71 when viewed from the front.

[0042] 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.

[0043] In this embodiment, the protrusion 74 extends in accordance with the inclined shape of the intermediate panel portion 70m of the front panel 70. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the protrusion 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 follows the outer surface of the front side member 30 in the vehicle width direction.

[0044] In the illustrated example, 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. Furthermore, 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.

[0045] In this embodiment, referring to Figure 4, the width in the vehicle width direction of the curved portion 40b of the dash side frame 40 narrows from the top to the bottom. In other words, the frame width, which is the width in the vehicle width direction of the curved portion 40b of the dash side frame 40 that faces the front wheel T, narrows towards the bottom of the frame. Specifically, the frame width of the curved portion 40b narrows towards the bottom of the frame in the range from near the top to the bottom of the outer portion 70b of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction, and widens from the bottom of the frame upwards. In other words, the dash side frame 40 is formed to taper in the vehicle width direction, at least in the range that overlaps with the outer portion 70b of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction.

[0046] In this embodiment, referring to Figures 2 and 4, the front part of the dash side frame 40 has a bead portion 40c that bulges toward the front wheel T. The bead portion 40c is a bead that extends along the rear surface of the outer portion 70b in the vehicle width direction of the front panel 70. The bulge height h of the bead portion 40c decreases (becomes lower) from the top to the bottom. Specifically, the bead portion 40c is formed on the lower frame 40B of the dash side frame 40, and a left flange 44 and a right flange 45 are formed on both sides of the bead portion 40c. In the area where the lower frame 40B of the dash side frame 40 overlaps with the outer portion 70b in the vehicle width direction of the front panel 70, it cooperates with the front panel 70 to form a front closed cross-sectional structure, which is a closed cross-sectional structure with a roughly rectangular shape (in other words, a rectangular tube shape) in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the vertical direction of the vehicle. In the illustrated example, the bead portion 40c extends continuously to the portion of the lower frame 40B above the front panel 70. The portion of the lower frame 40B above the front panel 70 overlaps with the frame body 40A as described above and works in cooperation with the frame body 40A to form a closed cross-sectional structure, and this closed cross-sectional structure is continuous with the front closed cross-sectional structure portion.

[0047] Referring to Figures 7 to 9, the vehicle front structure 100 includes a connecting plate 90 in addition to the members described above. The connecting plate 90 is made of a thin metal plate. As described above, many members such as the bumper member 50, support brace 60, and front panel 70 must be arranged around the front end 30a of the front side member 30. The vehicle front structure 100 according to this embodiment has a connecting plate 90 in order to efficiently arrange multiple members around the front end of the front side member 30 while absorbing the impact during a frontal collision. The connecting plate 90 is an element that functions as a hub for connecting multiple members to the front end 30a of the front side member 30.

[0048] The connecting plate 90 is located between the front side member 30 and the front bumper 20 and is connected to the front end portion 30a of the front side member 30. The connecting plate 90 is joined to the outer portion 50a in the vehicle width direction of the bumper member 50, the upper part of the support brace 60, and the inner portion 70a in the vehicle width direction of the front panel 70. In other words, multiple components (front side member 30, bumper member 50, support brace 60, and front panel 70) are joined to the connecting plate 90, and the connecting plate 90 connects these multiple components to each other, allowing these multiple components to be positioned in the narrow space around the front end portion of the front side member 30.

[0049] Specifically, in relation to the front side member 30, the front wall 61a of the brace body 61 of the support brace 60 is joined to the front lower flange 33a (see Figure 6) extending downward from the front end of the lower wall 33 of the front side member 30 by spot welding, etc., and the upper end of the rear wall 61b (see Figure 4) of the brace body 61 is joined to the lower wall 33 of the front side member 30 by spot welding, etc. In this way, the support brace 60 connects the front side member 30 and the lower side member 80. 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 upper flange 34a (see Figures 6 and 7) extending upward from the front end of the upper wall 34 of the front side member 30 by spot welding, etc. The side extension 62b is joined to the member vertical wall 35 of the front side member 30 by spot welding, etc. In other words, in the illustrated example, the support brace 60 (brace extension 62) has a side extension 62b that is joined to the side wall (member vertical wall 35) of the front side member 30.

[0050] In this embodiment, 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.

[0051] In this embodiment, the front side member 30 has a side member outer flange 36 (see Figures 4-7, 9, and 11-12) that extends outward in the vehicle width direction from the front end of the front side member 30. In the illustrated example, the side member outer flange 36 extends outward in the vehicle width direction from the front end of the side member reinforcement 30B. Referring to Figure 4, the side member outer flange 36 extends in a continuous manner with the brace outer flange 64a that extends outward in the vehicle width direction from the front end of the brace reinforcement 64 that closes the side opening of the brace body portion 61 of the support brace 60. The brace reinforcement 64 is bent in the vehicle width direction in the middle portion such that the lower part is located inward in the vehicle width direction than the upper part, and the brace outer flange 64a is similarly bent. The upper end of the brace outer flange 64a overlaps with the rear surface of the lower end of the side member outer flange 36 and is joined by spot welding or the like. Furthermore, the outer portion of the front extension 62a of the support brace 60 in the vehicle width direction is joined to the outer flange 36 of the side member by spot welding or the like, and the outer portion of the front wall 61a of the support brace 60 in the vehicle width direction is joined to the outer flange 64a of the brace by spot welding or the like. Therefore, the front wall 61a and the front extension 62a of the support brace 60 are supported from the rear by the front lower flange 33a, front upper flange 34a and outer flange 36 of the front side member 30, and the outer flange 64a of the brace reinforcement 64.

[0052] Referring to Figure 7, the upper outer portion of the brace extension 62 (front extension 62a) of the support brace 60 in the vehicle width direction is cut out. When the support brace 60 is joined to the front end 30a (front lower flange 33a, front upper flange 34a, etc.) of the front side member 30, the portion of the front end opening of the front side member 30 corresponding to the cut-out portion of the brace extension 62 remains open. The connecting plate 90 is provided to close the portion of the front end opening of the front side member 30 corresponding to the cut-out portion of the brace extension 62.

[0053] Specifically, as shown in Figures 7 to 12, the connecting plate 90 is superimposed on the front extension 62a of the support brace 60 and the front upper flange 34a and side member outer flange 36 of the front side member 30, so as to close off the area around the upper left corner of the front end opening of the front side member 30 from the front. The front extension 62a of the support brace 60 is sandwiched between the front upper flange 34a and the connecting plate 90. In this state, in this embodiment, the connecting plate 90 is joined to at least the side member outer flange 36 by spot welding or the like. More specifically, in the illustrated example, the connecting plate 90 is connected to the front end 30a of the front side member 30 by being joined to the side member outer flange 36 and front upper flange 34a of the front side member 30 by spot welding or the like.

[0054] In this embodiment, a towing nut N is provided on the connecting plate 90. The towing nut N is a nut used when towing other vehicles, and is welded to the connecting plate 90 while penetrating it. The rear part of the towing nut N is located inside the closed structure of the front side member 30. The rear part of the towing nut N is joined to the side of the front side member 30 in the vehicle width direction. In the illustrated example, a bulging portion 30B1 is formed in the part of the side member reinforcement 30B of the front side member 30 that corresponds to the towing nut N, bulging outward in the vehicle width direction. The rear part of the towing nut N extends along the inner surface of the bulging portion 30B1 of the side member reinforcement 30B of the front side member 30 and is joined to the inner surface of the bulging portion 30B1.

[0055] Referring to Figures 8 to 12, 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 the support brace 60, which is 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).

[0056] Specifically, referring to Figure 11, the front extension 62a and the inner part of the connecting plate 90 in the vehicle width direction are positioned between the inner part of the front upper flange 34a of the front side member 30 in the vehicle width direction and the outer part 50a of the bumper member 50 in the vehicle width direction, with the connecting plate 90 sandwiched between the front extension 62a and the outer part 50a of the bumper member 50 in the vehicle width direction. Referring to Figure 12, the outer part 50a of the bumper member 50 in the vehicle width direction is fastened to the connecting plate 90 and the front extension 62a by two upper and lower bolts 51, with the inner part of the connecting plate 90 in the vehicle width direction sandwiched between the outer part 50a and the front extension 62a. In other words, the outer part 50a of the bumper member 50 in the vehicle width direction and the upper part of the support brace 60 (front extension 62a) are joined to the connecting plate 90 by bolt fastening.

[0057] More specifically, the bolt 51 is inserted through the bolt insertion holes formed in the bumper member 50 and the connecting plate 90, and through the bolt insertion hole 62a1 formed in the front extension 62a. The end of the bolt 51 is then screwed into a weld nut 62a2 welded to the rear surface of the front extension 62a, thereby connecting the bumper member 50 and the connecting plate 90 to the front end 30a of the front side member 30 via the front extension 62a of the support brace 60.

[0058] In the illustrated example, when viewed from the front of the vehicle, the upper end of the connecting plate 90 is aligned with the upper end of the front upper flange 34a of the front side member 30, the inner end of the connecting plate 90 in the vehicle width direction is aligned with the inner end of the support brace 60 in the vehicle width direction and does not protrude inward in the vehicle width direction beyond the side extension 62b, and the outer part of the plate 90a, which is the outer part of the connecting plate 90 in the vehicle width direction, protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction beyond the outer end of the support brace 60 in the vehicle width direction and the outer end of the side member outer flange 36 of the front side member 30 in the vehicle width direction. The outer part of the plate 90a of the connecting plate 90 bends towards the rear of the vehicle at a plate bending portion 90a1 set near the outer end of the side member outer flange 36 in the vehicle width direction and extends along the rear surface of the inclined intermediate panel portion 70m of the front panel 70. More specifically, the position of the plate bend 90a1 is aligned with the position of the bend at the boundary between the inner portion 70a in the vehicle width direction of the front panel 70 and the intermediate panel portion 70m. The outer portion of the intermediate panel portion 70m in the vehicle width direction is curved to smoothly connect to the outer portion 70b in the vehicle width direction. The portion of the connecting plate 90 that is inward in the vehicle width direction from the plate bend 90a1 constitutes a flat plate portion 90b facing the front of the vehicle. The inner portion 70a of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction is superimposed from the front onto the flat plate portion 90b of the connecting plate 90, the outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the front extension 62a of the support brace 60, the outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the front wall 61a, and the outer flange 64a of the brace reinforcement 64.

[0059] In this embodiment, the inner portion 70a of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction is joined to the outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the side member outer flange 36 and the front wall 61a of the support brace 60. Specifically, at the top, the inner portion 70a of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction is joined to the side member outer flange 36 via the connecting plate 90, for example by spot welding, etc., which is joined to the side member outer flange 36. Furthermore, at the middle portion, the inner portion 70a of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction is joined to the outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the front extension 62a, for example by spot welding, etc., which is joined to the side member outer flange 36. Finally, at the bottom, the inner portion 70a of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction is directly joined to the outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the front wall 61a of the support brace 60, for example by spot welding, etc.

[0060] Specifically, the upper part of the inner portion 70a of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction is joined to the portion of the lower part of the flat portion 90b of the connecting plate 90 that is inward in the vehicle width direction from the plate bent portion 90a1. The lower part of the inner portion 70a of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction is joined to the outer portion of the front wall 61a in the vehicle width direction, and the middle portion of the inner portion 70a of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction in the vehicle vertical direction is joined to the outer portion of the front extension 62a in the vehicle width direction. The inner portion 70a of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction is firmly supported from the rear by the flanges (side member outer flange 36, brace outer flange 64a) located behind the connecting plate 90, the front extension 62a, and the front wall 61a. More specifically, the inner portion 70a of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction is supported from the rear at the top by the overlapping portion of the connecting plate 90 and the outer flange 36 of the side member, and in part of the middle portion it is supported from the rear by the overlapping portion (a triple-layered element) of the outer portion of the front wall 61a in the vehicle width direction, the lower part of the outer flange 36 of the side member, and the upper part of the outer flange 64a of the brace.

[0061] In the illustrated example, the upper part of the intermediate panel section 70m of the front panel 70 is joined to the portion of the connecting plate 90 that is further outward in the vehicle width direction than the plate bend 90a1 of the outer plate portion 90a of the connecting plate 90. In other words, the joint between the front panel 70 and the connecting plate 90 is set to straddle both the plate bend 90a1 of the connecting plate 90 and the bend of the front panel 70.

[0062] As described above, the connecting plate 90 connected to the front end portion 30a of the front side member 30 is joined to the outer portion 50a in the vehicle width direction of the bumper member 50 and the upper part (front extension portion 62a) of the support brace 60 by bolt fastening, and the inner portion 70a in the vehicle width direction of the front panel 70 is joined by spot welding.

[0063] The vehicle front structure 100 according to this embodiment includes a front panel 70 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 forward. Therefore, in the event of a collision such as an offset collision at the front of the vehicle, the impact load applied 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 during a frontal collision such as an offset collision is effectively absorbed as deformation energy.

[0064] In the front vehicle structure 100, the front end (front portion 40a) of the dash side frame 40 is located rearward relative to the front end 30a of the front side member 30 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. 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. The intermediate panel portion 70m of the front panel 70 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. As a result, in the event of an offset collision, the front panel 70 is more likely to bend rearward starting from the bend at the boundary between the intermediate panel portion 70m and the inside portion 70a in the vehicle width direction. This effectively absorbs impact energy through the deformation of the front panel 70, and the deformation of the front panel 70 is promoted, which in turn promotes the deformation of the dash side frame 40.

[0065] Therefore, the front vehicle structure 100 can easily ensure impact absorption performance even when the space between the front end of the front side member 30 and the front bumper 20 is narrow.

[0066] In this embodiment, the dash side frame 40 has a curved portion 40b that curves to follow the contour of the front wheel T, and the outer portion 70b of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction and the curved portion 40b of the dash side frame 40 are positioned to overlap with the front wheel T when viewed from one side in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. Therefore, the strength of the dash side frame 40 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction is generally lower than the strength of the front side member 30 in the longitudinal direction, and in the event of an offset collision, the dash side frame 40 is more likely to deform in a direction in which the curved portion 40b on the back surface of the front end (front portion 40a) moves closer to the front wheel T. As a result, in the event of an offset collision, the deformation of the front panel 70 is also promoted, the outer portion 70b of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction moves backward, the dash side frame 40 (curved portion 40b) comes into contact with the front wheel T, and the impact is absorbed by the deformation of the front wheel T as well.

[0067] In this embodiment, the rigidity of the front panel 70 can be improved by the lateral reinforcement portion 72 and the longitudinal reinforcement portion 73, thereby improving the impact absorption performance. In the illustrated example, during a frontal collision such as an offset collision, the deformation of the inclined portion (intermediate panel portion 70m) of the front panel 70 is suppressed by the lateral reinforcement portion 72. In other words, while suppressing the deformation of the intermediate panel portion 70m, the bending deformation of the front panel 70 towards the rear, starting from the bent portion, is promoted. Then, during a frontal collision, the deformation of the portion of the front panel 70 located in front of the front end portion (front portion 40a) of the dash side frame 40 is suppressed by the longitudinal reinforcement portion 73, and the front end portion (front portion 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, the impact energy is effectively absorbed by the dash side frame 40 and the front wheel T, improving the impact absorption performance.

[0068] In the vehicle front structure 100 according to this embodiment, in the event of a frontal collision, the electrical components E retract and are housed in the storage compartment 71, moving to 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, it can effectively absorb the impact energy. Therefore, the vehicle front structure 100 of this embodiment is a vehicle front structure that can absorb the impact of a frontal collision while arranging the electrical components E and multiple members (bumper member 50, support brace 60, front panel 70 and connecting plate 90) in a narrow space around the front end 30a of the front side member 30. In other words, the storage compartment 71 enables the layout of electrical components E in a narrow space, while the front panel 70 promotes impact absorption.

[0069] 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 the projection 74 extends in accordance with the inclined shape of the intermediate panel portion 70m of the front panel 70. This further improves the rigidity of the intermediate panel portion 70m of the front panel 70, thereby suppressing deformation of the intermediate panel portion 70m and further promoting the bending deformation of the front panel 70 towards the rear, starting from the bent portion. As a result, 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. Therefore, the rearward deformation of the dash side frame 40 is efficiently promoted, and impact absorption is more effective. Furthermore, since this projection 74 protrudes on both sides in the vehicle width direction relative to the storage portion 71, the projection 74 can also be used to maintain the shape of the opening in the storage portion 71. Furthermore, in the event of a frontal collision, the protruding portion 74 can strike the lower part of the object being hit, causing it to be thrown forward and guide the obstacle onto the front hood, which is advantageous, for example, from the standpoint of protecting pedestrians. The front end of the protruding portion 74 protrudes further forward than the front end of the electrical component E. In the event of a minor collision, the electrical component E is protected and damage to the electrical component E is prevented. In addition, the obstacle being thrown up in the event of a frontal collision is made more reliable, which can make pedestrian protection more reliable, for example.

[0070] In this embodiment, 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. This suppresses deformation of the intermediate panel portion 70m, while further efficiently promoting the rearward bending deformation of the front panel 70 starting from the bent portion, and efficiently transmits the impact load to the dash side frame 40. In addition, the annular plate portion 71a prevents the electrical component E from moving in the surrounding direction (up and down and left and right) due to the impact of a frontal collision, thus preventing contact of the electrical component E with the front wheel T and preventing unintended contact of parts with the front wheel T. Furthermore, the shape of the storage portion 71 is maintained by the cylindrical portion 71b during a minor collision, ensuring the rigidity of the front panel 70. As a result, the impact absorption performance during a severe frontal collision (severe collision) after a minor collision can be maintained.

[0071] In this embodiment, the width in the vehicle width direction of the curved portion 40b of the dash side frame 40 narrows from the top to the bottom end, so that in the event of a frontal collision, the rearward deformation of the dash side frame 40 is more easily effectively induced from the lower end side of the dash side frame 40.

[0072] In this embodiment, the front portion of the dash side frame 40 has a bead portion 40c that bulges toward the front wheel T, and the bead portion 40c extends along the rear surface of the outer portion 70b in the vehicle width direction of the front panel 70, and the bulge height h of the bead portion 40c decreases from the top to the bottom. As a result, the rigidity against longitudinal loads in the front portion of the dash side frame 40 decreases more effectively from the top to the bottom. Therefore, the deformation of the dash side frame 40 during a frontal collision starts from the bottom of the front end (front portion 40a), and then the upper portion of the front end (front portion 40a) of the dash side frame 40 also moves backward toward the front wheel T, and the contact area between the rear surface (bent portion 40c in the illustrated example) of the front end (front portion 40a) of the dash side frame 40 and the front wheel T increases as the deformation progresses, the deformation of the front wheel T is stably promoted, and the impact absorption during a frontal collision is more effectively and efficiently achieved by the intended deformation mode.

[0073] In this embodiment, the inner portion 70a of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction is joined to the outer portion of the front wall 61a of the support brace 60 in the vehicle width direction and to the outer flange 36 of the side member. Therefore, the upper and lower portions of the inner portion 70a of the front panel 70 in the vehicle width direction are firmly supported from the rear by other members such as the support brace 60 and the outer flange 36 of the side member. As a result, in the event of a frontal collision, the front panel 70 becomes more likely to bend further rearward, starting from the bend near the inner portion 70a in the vehicle width direction, making it easier to control the deformation and making it easier to generate the intended deformation (impact absorption mode) in the event of a frontal collision.

[0074] Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the support brace 60 has a side extension 62b that connects to the member vertical wall 35, which is the side wall of the front side member 30. Therefore, in the event of a frontal collision, the impact load is effectively input to the member vertical wall 35 of the front side member 30 via the side extension 62b. As a result, deformation of the front side member 30 is more easily promoted in the event of a frontal collision, and effective impact absorption is achieved.

[0075] Furthermore, the vehicle front structure 100 includes a connecting plate 90 connected to the front end 30a of the front side member 30, to which the outer part 50a in the vehicle width direction of the bumper member 50, the upper part of the support brace 60, and the inner part 70a in the vehicle width direction of the front panel 70 are joined. As a result, by using the connecting plate 90, the vehicle front structure 100 can efficiently connect multiple members (front side member 30, bumper member 50, support brace 60, and front panel 70) and efficiently arrange these multiple members in the narrow space around the front end of the front side member 30. In addition, the strength of the connecting plate 90 is improved by joining multiple members to the connecting plate 90, making it easier to maintain the shape of the front end 30a of the front side member 30 during a frontal collision. As a result, the impact load input from the front during a frontal collision is reliably transmitted to the front side member 30, and the intended deformation (impact absorption mode) can be produced during a frontal collision. Therefore, the vehicle front structure 100 of this embodiment can efficiently arrange multiple members around the front end of the front side member 30 while absorbing impact.

[0076] 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.

[0077] For example, the outer portion 90a of the connecting plate 90 may not bend toward the rear of the vehicle, but may extend linearly outward in the vehicle width direction, continuous with the flat portion 90b of the plate. Also, the cylindrical portion 71b of the storage portion 71 may have a bottom and may not be open toward the rear. Furthermore, the storage portion 71 may not have a cylindrical portion 71b. The lateral reinforcement portion 72, the vertical reinforcement portion 73, and the protruding portion 74 may be provided with at least one of these, or none of them may be provided. The protruding portion 74 may be formed integrally with the front panel 70. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0078] 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 30B1 Bulge 31 Lower flange 32 Upper flange 33 Lower wall 33a Front lower flange 34 Upper wall 34a Front upper flange 35 Member vertical wall (side wall) 36 Side member outer flange 40 Dash Side Frame 40a Front part (front end) 40b Curved section 40c bead section 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 62a1 Bolt insertion hole 62a2 Weld Nut 62b Side extension 63 volts 64 Brace Reinforcement 64a Brace outer flange 70 Front Panel 70a Inner part in the vehicle width direction 70b Outer part in the vehicle width direction 70m intermediate panel section 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 90a Outer part of the plate 90a1 Plate bending section 90b Flat section of the plate 100 Vehicle front structure h bulge height 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 end of the dash side frame is located rearward relative to the front end of the front side member in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. 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. The front structure of a vehicle is characterized in that the intermediate panel portion of the front panel between the front side member and the dash side frame is inclined such that it moves further rearward from the front end of the front side member in the vehicle longitudinal direction as it moves from the inside in the vehicle width direction to the outside in the vehicle width direction.

2. The dash side frame has a curved portion that curves to follow the contour of the front wheel, The front vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the outer portion of the front panel in the vehicle width direction and the curved portion of the dash side frame are positioned to overlap with the front wheel when viewed from one side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

3. The front vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the front panel has a lateral reinforcing portion extending in the vehicle width direction and a longitudinal reinforcing portion extending in the vehicle vertical direction along the front end of the dash side frame.

4. 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 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 in accordance with the inclined shape of the intermediate panel portion.

5. The vehicle front structure according to claim 4, wherein the protruding portion extends outward in the vehicle width direction to a position in front of the front end of the dash side frame.

6. The vehicle front structure according to claim 2, wherein the width in the vehicle width direction of the curved portion of the dash side frame narrows from the top to the bottom.

7. The front portion of the dash side frame has a bead portion that bulges toward the front wheel, and the bead portion extends along the rear surface of the outer portion of the front panel in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the bulge height of the bead portion decreases from the top to the bottom.

8. This includes a support brace that supports the front portion of the front side member from below, A brace reinforcement is attached to the support brace, which reinforces the outer portion of the front wall of the support brace in the vehicle width direction from the rear. The front side member has an outer flange extending outward in the vehicle width direction from the front end of the front side member, The front vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the inner portion of the front panel in the vehicle width direction is joined to the outer portion of the front wall of the support brace in the vehicle width direction and the outer flange of the side member.

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