Vehicle front structure

Abstract

This design ensures sufficient deformation of the front bumper in low-load frontal collisions. [Solution] The duct 20 extends from the front bumper 10 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The bracket 30 supports the duct 20 on the lower bumper reinforcement 11 (frame member). The bracket 30 comprises a frame-side fastening portion 32, a duct-side fastening portion 34, and an arm portion 36. The frame-side fastening portion 32 is fastened to the lower bumper reinforcement 11. The duct-side fastening portion 34 is fastened to the duct 20. The arm portion 36 connects the frame-side fastening portion 32 and the duct-side fastening portion 34. The arm portion 36 is positioned at a distance from on-board components such as the connecting member 13 located behind the arm portion 36.

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , , , ,

[0001] This specification discloses a vehicle front structure.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a cooling duct structure. In this structure, a duct is provided at the front of the vehicle. The duct extends from the front bumper on the front surface of the vehicle to the front wheel house.

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 low-load frontal collision such as a frontal collision at low speed, the front bumper serves as a buffer. For example, the front bumper is deformed (dented), and the impact is absorbed. However, if a duct extending in the vehicle front-rear direction is arranged on the front bumper, there is a risk that the duct will protrude in a low-load frontal collision.

[0005] Therefore, this specification discloses a vehicle front structure capable of ensuring the deformation amount of the front bumper in a low-load frontal collision.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] This specification discloses a vehicle front structure. The vehicle front structure comprises a front bumper, a duct, and a bracket. The front bumper is located at the front of the vehicle. The duct extends from the front bumper in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The bracket causes a frame member to support the duct. The frame member is spaced vertically away from the duct. The bracket comprises a frame-side fastener, a duct-side fastener, and an arm. The frame-side fastener is fastened to the frame member. The duct-side fastener is fastened to the duct. The arm connects the frame-side fastener and the duct-side fastener. The arm is spaced away from on-board components located behind the arm.

[0007] According to the above configuration, in the event of a low-load frontal collision, the arm section bends and deforms, causing the duct to retract.

[0008] Furthermore, in the above configuration, the inlet opening of the duct may protrude forward on the inner side in the vehicle width direction compared to the outer side in the vehicle width direction. In this case, the duct-side fastening portion comprises an outer fastening portion and an inner fastening portion. The outer fastening portion is fastened to the outer side of the duct in the vehicle width direction. The inner fastening portion is fastened to the inner side of the duct in the vehicle width direction. The arm portion comprises an outer arm portion and an inner arm portion. The outer arm portion connects the frame-side fastening portion to the outer fastening portion. The inner arm portion connects the frame-side fastening portion to the inner fastening portion. Moreover, the inner arm portion is longer than the outer arm portion.

[0009] According to the above configuration, sufficient stroke is ensured during reversal of the inner portion of the duct in the vehicle width direction, which is the first to hit an obstacle.

[0010] Furthermore, in the above configuration, the duct may have an enlarged diameter portion located in front of the fastening portion with the duct side fastening portion.

[0011] According to the above configuration, a bellows structure is formed in the duct in front of the duct-side fastening portion. During low-load collisions, the expanded diameter portion collapses along the front-to-back direction, suppressing the tension of the duct.

[0012] Furthermore, in the above configuration, drainage holes may be drilled in the bottom surface of the enlarged diameter portion.

[0013] According to the above configuration, water accumulated at the bottom of the enlarged section is discharged. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The vehicle front structure disclosed herein ensures sufficient deformation of the front bumper in a low-load frontal collision. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a side view illustrating the front of the vehicle. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view illustrating the structure around the inlet opening of a duct. [Figure 3] This is a plan view illustrating the structure around the inlet opening of a duct. [Figure 4] This is a front view illustrating the structure around the inlet opening of a duct. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view showing the situation during a low-load collision. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view showing a first alternative example of this embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view showing a second alternative example of this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] A vehicle front structure according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. The shapes, materials, quantities, and numerical values ​​described below are illustrative examples for illustrative purposes. These shapes, etc., can be appropriately changed according to the specifications of the vehicle front structure. In addition, in all drawings below, equivalent elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0017] Furthermore, in Figures 1-7, a Cartesian coordinate system consisting of the FR axis, RW axis, and UP axis is used to represent the position and direction of each component. The FR axis is the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, with the front of the vehicle as the positive direction. The RW axis is the width axis of the vehicle, with the right side of the vehicle as the positive direction. The UP axis is the vertical axis of the vehicle, with the upward direction as the positive direction.

[0018] In addition, in FIGS. 1-7, only the structure on the right side of the vehicle is illustrated. However, based on the symmetry of the vehicle structure, a structure similar to that in FIGS. 1-7 is also provided on the left side of the vehicle.

[0019] 1. Outline of the vehicle front structure FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the vehicle front. As will be described later, the vehicle front structure according to the present embodiment includes a front bumper 10, a duct 20, and a bracket 30 (see FIG. 2).

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, a front bumper 10 is disposed on the front surface of the vehicle. The front bumper 10 is, for example, a resin component. The front bumper 10 extends in the vehicle width direction on the front surface of the vehicle. Also, the front bumper 10 forms a part of the design surface of the vehicle front. For example, the vehicle front slopes rearward from the center in the vehicle width direction toward both ends in the vehicle width direction. That is, the front bumper 10 has an arc shape in plan view.

[0021] A duct 20 is disposed on the front bumper 10. For example, an inlet opening 21 of the duct 20 is disposed in a lower region and an outer region in the vehicle width direction of the front bumper 10. A mesh (not shown) for preventing the inflow of small stones or the like may be disposed at the inlet opening 21.

[0022] The duct 20 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction. Here, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the duct 20 may extend in a meandering manner along the vehicle front-rear direction and the vertical direction. For example, FIG. 2 illustrates a bent portion 25 that bends downward as a part of the duct 20.

[0023] An outlet opening 22 of the duct 20 is disposed in the wheelhouse 14. For example, the outlet opening 22 is disposed in the fender liner 12. The air taken into the duct from the vehicle front is sent into the wheelhouse 14 through the outlet opening 22. Thereby, the brake caliper 16 and the disc rotor 18 are cooled.

[0024] 2. Fastening structure of the duct Figure 2 illustrates the surrounding structure of the inlet opening 21 of the duct 20. The front bumper 10 is not shown. The duct 20 is supported by a skeletal member in its front portion. The skeletal member is, for example, the lower bumper reinforcement 11. The front bumper 10 (see Figure 1) is positioned in front of the lower bumper reinforcement 11.

[0025] The lower bumper reinforcement 11 extends in the width direction of the vehicle, following the shape of the front of the vehicle. That is, as illustrated in Figure 3, the lower bumper reinforcement 11 protrudes further forward on the inner side in the width direction than on the outer side in the width direction. The lower bumper reinforcement 11 has an arc shape in plan view.

[0026] Referring to Figure 2, the lower bumper reinforcement 11 has, for example, a hollow rectangular cross-section. A connecting member 13 is fastened to the rear surface of the lower bumper reinforcement 11. The connecting member 13 is a reinforcing member having the same rigidity as the lower bumper reinforcement 11. The connecting member 13 extends upward from the lower bumper reinforcement 11. The upper end of the connecting member 13 is fastened to a front side member (not shown), which is a skeletal member.

[0027] The duct 20 is separated vertically from the lower bumper reinforcement 11. In Figure 2, the duct 20 is positioned above the lower bumper reinforcement 11. As will be described later, the duct 20 is supported by the lower bumper reinforcement 11 via the bracket 30.

[0028] A reinforcing member 15 is positioned on the lower bumper reinforcement 11. For example, the reinforcing member 15 is fastened across the front and top surfaces of the lower bumper reinforcement 11. The reinforcing member 15 is a load transmission member during high-load collisions.

[0029] For example, if the lower bumper reinforcement of the oncoming vehicle is at a higher position than the lower bumper reinforcement 11 of the vehicle, the reinforcing member 15 will face the lower bumper reinforcement of the oncoming vehicle. In other words, the collision load is transmitted to the lower bumper reinforcement 11 via the reinforcing member 15.

[0030] Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 4, the shape of the inlet opening 21 of the duct 20 is polygonal. Furthermore, the inlet opening 21 is formed in accordance with the shape of the lower bumper reinforcement 11. That is, referring to Figure 3, along the arc shape of the lower bumper reinforcement 11, the inlet opening 21 protrudes further forward on the inner side in the vehicle width direction than on the outer side in the vehicle width direction.

[0031] The duct 20 also has fastening portions for connection with the bracket 30. That is, the duct 20 has an inner flange 23 and an outer flange 24. The inner flange 23 is positioned on the inner side wall of the duct 20 in the vehicle width direction. The outer flange 24 is positioned on the outer side wall of the duct 20 in the vehicle width direction.

[0032] Referring to Figure 3, the outer flange 24 is formed behind the inner flange 23, following the arc shape of the lower bumper reinforcement 11. Also referring to Figure 4, the inner flange 23 is positioned higher than the outer flange 24. This arrangement ensures a retraction stroke of the inner portion of the duct 20 in the vehicle width direction during a low-load frontal collision.

[0033] 3. Bracket structure Referring to Figure 2, the bracket 30 supports the duct 20 on the lower bumper reinforcement 11. The bracket 30 is manufactured, for example, by press-forming a piece of metal sheet. The bracket 30 comprises a frame-side fastening portion 32, a duct-side fastening portion 34, and an arm portion 36.

[0034] The frame-side fastening portion 32 is fastened to the lower bumper reinforcement 11. In the example shown in Figure 2, the frame-side fastening portion 32 is fastened to the lower bumper reinforcement 11 via the reinforcing member 15. In other words, the frame-side fastening portion 32 is bolted to the front surface of the reinforcing member 15.

[0035] The duct-side fastening portion 34 is bolted to the duct 20. The duct-side fastening portion 34 comprises an inner fastening portion 34A and an outer fastening portion 34B. The inner fastening portion 34A is fastened to the inside of the duct 20 in the vehicle width direction. For example, the inner fastening portion 34A is bolted to the inner flange 23 of the duct 20. The outer fastening portion 34B is fastened to the outside of the duct 20 in the vehicle width direction. For example, the outer fastening portion 34B is bolted to the outer flange 24.

[0036] The arm portion 36 connects the frame-side fastening portion 32 and the duct-side fastening portion 34. The arm portion 36 extends so as not to overlap with, for example, the reinforcing member 15 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The arm portion 36 is also positioned so that its plate thickness direction is in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The arm portion 36 comprises an inner arm portion 37A and an outer arm portion 37B.

[0037] The inner arm portion 37A connects the frame-side fastening portion 32 and the inner fastening portion 34A. The inner arm portion 37A includes a vertical arm 38A and a horizontal arm 39A. The horizontal arm 39A extends inward in the vehicle width direction from the frame-side fastening portion 32. The vertical arm 38A is connected to the inner end of the horizontal arm 39A in the vehicle width direction. The vertical arm 38A extends in the vertical direction. The upper end of the vertical arm 38A is connected to the inner fastening portion 34A.

[0038] Similarly, the outer arm portion 37B connects the frame-side fastening portion 32 and the outer fastening portion 34B. The outer arm portion 37B includes a vertical arm 38B and a horizontal arm 39B. The horizontal arm 39A extends outward in the vehicle width direction from the frame-side fastening portion 32. The vertical arm 38B is connected to the outer end of the horizontal arm 39B in the vehicle width direction. The vertical arm 38B extends in the vertical direction. The upper end of the vertical arm 38B is connected to the outer fastening portion 34B.

[0039] Here, the inner arm portion 37A is longer than the outer arm portion 37B. For example, the vertical arm 38A of the inner arm portion 37A is longer than the vertical arm 38B of the outer arm portion 37B. This ensures that the inner portion of the duct 20 in the vehicle width direction has sufficient stroke when reversing, as will be described later.

[0040] Referring to Figure 2, a connecting member 13, which is an on-board component, is positioned behind the inner arm portion 37A. Here, the inner arm portion 37A and the connecting member 13 are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In other words, a gap is provided between the inner arm portion 37A and the connecting member 13. As will be described later, this gap becomes the space for the inner arm portion 37A to collapse in a low-load frontal collision. A gap of, for example, the length of the vertical arm 38A or more is maintained between the inner arm portion 37A and the connecting member 13.

[0041] 4. What happens during a low-load collision? Referring to Figure 3, in a low-load collision, the obstacle 100 collides with the front of the vehicle. As described above, the inner side of the duct 20 in the vehicle width direction protrudes further forward than the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the inner portion of the duct 20 in the vehicle width direction hits the obstacle 100 before the outer portion in the vehicle width direction.

[0042] Referring to Figure 5, when a collision load is applied to the inside of the duct 20 in the vehicle width direction, the vertical arm 38A of the inner arm portion 37A bends backward. Here, as described above, the connecting member 13 is positioned at a distance from the inner arm portion 37A. Therefore, even when the vertical arm 38A bends backward, the connecting member 13 does not interfere with the vertical arm 38A.

[0043] Here, the inner arm portion 37A is formed to be longer than the outer arm portion 37B. This ensures a stroke for the duct 20 to retract. For example, in the event of a low-load frontal collision, the duct 20 retracts so as to rotate around the vertical arm 38B of the outer arm portion 37B as its central axis. The retraction of the duct 20 ensures a certain amount of deformation of the front bumper 10 (see Figure 1).

[0044] 5. First alternative example of this embodiment (single arm) Figure 6 shows a first alternative example of the vehicle front structure according to this embodiment. In this example, a single-arm type bracket 30 is shown.

[0045] The bracket 30 comprises a frame-side fastening portion 32, a duct-side fastening portion 34, and an arm portion 36. The frame-side fastening portion 32 is directly fastened to the lower bumper reinforcement 11. Furthermore, no reinforcing member 15 (see Figure 2) is provided on the lower bumper reinforcement 11, at least in the vicinity of the bracket 30.

[0046] The duct 20 is positioned above the lower bumper reinforcement 11, at a distance from it. The bracket 30 supports the duct 20 on the lower bumper reinforcement 11. An arm portion 36 extends vertically from the frame-side fastening portion 32. The lower end of the arm portion 36 is connected to the frame-side fastening portion 32. The upper end of the arm portion 36 is fastened to the duct-side fastening portion 34. The duct-side fastening portion 34 is bolted to the bottom surface of the duct 20. For example, the duct-side fastening portion 34 is fastened to the center of the bottom surface of the duct 20 in the vehicle width direction.

[0047] In the example shown in Figure 6, the vehicle-mounted component positioned behind the arm portion 36 becomes the bent portion 25 of the duct 20. As shown in the figure, the arm portion 36 and the bent portion 25 are spaced apart. Therefore, the space behind the arm portion 36 becomes the space in which the arm portion 36 tilts backward as it bends.

[0048] 6. A second alternative example of this embodiment (a duct with an enlarged diameter section) Figure 7 shows a second alternative example of the vehicle front structure according to this embodiment. In this example, an enlarged diameter portion 26 is formed in the duct 20.

[0049] In Figure 7, the duct 20 is supported by a single-arm bracket 30. Alternatively, the duct 20 may be supported by a pair-arm bracket 30, as illustrated in Figure 2.

[0050] In the duct 20, an enlarged diameter section 26 is formed in front of the fastening portion with the duct-side fastening portion 34. In the enlarged diameter section 26, the inner circumference is enlarged over its entire circumference compared to the portions before and after it. Figure 7 shows a cross-section of the enlarged diameter section 26. Around the enlarged diameter section 26, the cross-section has a stepped structure.

[0051] Due to this stepped structure, a bellows structure is formed in the duct 20. That is, in the event of a low-load frontal collision, the enlarged diameter section 26 collapses. This ensures that the deformation amount of the front bumper 10 is maintained.

[0052] Since outside air flows into the duct 20, there is a risk that rainwater or other liquids may enter the duct 20. Therefore, drainage holes 26B may be drilled in the bottom surface 26A of the enlarged diameter section 26. Water from the duct 20 that flows into the enlarged diameter section 26 is discharged outside the vehicle through the drainage holes 26B. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0053] 10 Front bumper, 11 Lower bumper reinforcement (framework member), 13 Connecting member (vehicle component), 20 Duct, 21 Inlet opening, 22 Outlet opening, 23 Inner flange (duct connection part), 24 Outer flange (duct connection part), 25 Bent part, 26 Enlarged diameter part, 26A Bottom surface of enlarged diameter part, 26B Drain hole, 30 Bracket, 32 Frame side fastening part, 34 Duct side fastening part, 34A Inner fastening part, 34B Outer fastening part, 36 Arm part, 37A Inner arm part, 37B Outer arm part, 38A, 38B Vertical arm, 39A, 39B Horizontal arm, 100 Obstacle.

Claims

1. The front bumper located on the front of the vehicle, A duct extending from the front bumper in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, A bracket for supporting the duct is provided on a skeletal member that is separated vertically from the duct, Equipped with, The aforementioned bracket is A skeletal-side fastening portion fastened to the aforementioned skeletal member, A duct-side fastening portion that is fastened to the duct, An arm portion connecting the aforementioned frame-side fastening portion and the aforementioned duct-side fastening portion, Equipped with, The aforementioned arm portion is positioned at a distance from the vehicle-mounted components located behind the arm portion. Vehicle front structure.

2. A vehicle front structure according to claim 1, The inlet opening of the duct has an inner side in the vehicle width direction that protrudes further forward than the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The duct-side fastening portion is, An outer fastening portion fastened to the outside of the duct in the vehicle width direction, An inner fastening portion fastened to the inside of the duct in the vehicle width direction, Equipped with, The aforementioned arm portion is An outer arm portion connecting the skeletal fastening portion and the outer fastening portion, The inner arm portion connects the skeletal fastening portion and the inner fastening portion, Equipped with, The inner arm portion is longer than the outer arm portion. Vehicle front structure.

3. A vehicle front structure according to claim 1, The duct has an enlarged diameter portion located in front of the fastening portion with the duct side fastening portion. Vehicle front structure.

4. The front vehicle structure according to claim 3, A drainage hole is drilled in the bottom surface of the enlarged diameter portion. Vehicle front structure.

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