Vehicle front body structure

Abstract

To provide a front vehicle body structure for a vehicle that is able to achieve both improvement in cooling performance using a heat exchanger and collision performance of the vehicle.SOLUTION: A front vehicle body structure for a vehicle, according to the present invention, includes a duct member 28 surrounding a periphery of a radiator 22 inside a pair of left and right crash cans 18 in a vehicle width direction. The duct member is a member entirely surrounding the radiator 22 and including side duct portions 44, 46 and an upper duct portion 40. The side duct portion and upper duct portion have an engaging portion 54 which engages and connects them. The side duct portion and the upper duct portion are connected so that the side duct portion and the upper duct portion are disengaged from each other in the engaging portion 54 when a predetermined load is input to the duct member from a bumper member of the vehicle body in the event of front collision.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a front body structure of a vehicle, and in particular to a front body structure of a vehicle that includes a pair of left and right crash cans, a radiator provided on the vehicle width inner side of the crash cans, and a duct member that surrounds the radiator on the vehicle width inner side of the crash cans. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in order to introduce air into a heat exchanger (such as a radiator) installed in the engine compartment of a vehicle, a structure has been known in which a duct member is provided that covers the periphery of the heat exchanger and extends forward to completely surround the periphery of the heat exchanger in order to improve the cooling capacity (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-91061 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Here, by providing a duct member that completely surrounds the periphery of the heat exchanger as in Patent Document 1, the air introduced into the front bumper can flow linearly toward the heat exchanger, thereby improving the cooling capacity of the heat exchanger. Furthermore, because the air flows linearly inside the front bumper, the air resistance of the vehicle can also be improved. For these reasons, it is useful to provide a duct member inside the front bumper to straighten the air.

[0005] In this way, in order to make air flow linearly toward the heat exchanger, it is better to use a duct structure that completely surrounds the periphery of the heat exchanger as in Patent Document 1. However, if a duct member that completely surrounds the periphery of the heat exchanger and is provided as an integrated, highly rigid structure, there is a concern that the duct member may hinder deformation of the crash can during a frontal collision.

[0006] Because of these concerns, it has been common for the airflow straightening structure in the front bumper to not completely surround the heat exchanger and use a highly rigid duct member, but rather to provide a surface member for straightening the airflow only around a portion of the heat exchanger in order to ensure collision performance.

[0007] Meanwhile, the present inventors conducted extensive research into a vehicle body structure that can satisfy collision performance while employing a duct structure that completely surrounds the heat exchanger in order to improve the cooling performance of the heat exchanger.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a front body structure of a vehicle that can achieve both improved cooling performance by a heat exchanger and the collision performance of the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a front body structure for a vehicle including a pair of left and right crash cans extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, a radiator provided on the vehicle widthwise inner side of the pair of left and right crash cans, and a duct member surrounding the radiator on the vehicle widthwise inner side of the pair of left and right crash cans, wherein the duct member completely surrounds the radiator and is a member including a vertical wall portion and a horizontal wall portion, and the vertical wall portion and the horizontal wall portion of the duct member have at least one engaging portion that engages and connects them to each other, At least one rearwardly opening notch is formed in the horizontal wall of the duct member, and at least one engagement portion is configured by a part of the vertical wall engaging with the notch in the horizontal wall, The vertical and horizontal walls of the duct member are Early stage of collision , The vehicle is disposed so that a predetermined collision load is input from a bumper member of a vehicle body to a vertical wall portion of the duct member, From car body bumper parts to duct parts Vertical wall of Against Prescribed crash load When the input is made, at least one of the engagement parts Engagement of vertical wall portion with horizontal wall portionThe present invention is characterized in that the connector is connected so as to be detachable.

[0010] According to the present invention configured as described above, the duct member completely surrounds the radiator, so that air can be reliably directed toward the heat exchanger. Furthermore, when a frontal collision load is input, the vertical wall portion and the horizontal wall portion of the duct member are disengaged from each other at at least one engagement portion, so that the strength of the duct member against the load from the front of the vehicle can be reduced, and thus the deformation of the crash can can be prevented from being hindered in the event of a frontal collision. As a result, according to the present invention, it is possible to achieve both improved cooling performance by the heat exchanger and collision performance of the vehicle. According to the present invention configured as described above, since at least one of the engagement portions engages a part of the vertical wall portion with the notch of the horizontal wall portion that opens rearward, when a collision load from the front is input to the vertical wall portion, the vertical wall portion is displaced toward the rear of the vehicle relative to the horizontal wall portion and disengages from the notch of the horizontal wall portion, thereby more effectively reducing the strength of the duct member against the load from the front of the vehicle.

[0012] In addition, in the present invention, preferably, the vertical wall portion of the duct member has a frame portion and an inner surface portion having a lower strength than the frame portion, and is connected at least at one engagement portion so that a portion of the frame portion of the vertical wall portion disengages from the horizontal wall portion. According to the present invention configured as described above, when a collision load from the front is input to the vertical wall portion, the frame portion of the vertical wall portion, which is a part of the side of the duct member, is deformed, thereby effectively reducing the strength of the duct member against the load from the front of the vehicle. In particular, since the inner side surface portion has a lower strength than the frame portion, it is possible to prevent the inner side surface from hindering the deformation of the frame portion.

[0013] In the present invention, preferably, a recess is formed in the vertical wall portion of the duct member so as to form a ridge line extending outward in the vehicle width direction. According to the present invention configured as described above, when a collision load is input from the front to the vertical wall portion during a front collision, the load is transmitted along the ridge of the recess toward the outside in the vehicle width direction. This allows the vertical wall portion to be deformed into a V-shape toward the outside in the vehicle width direction, and such deformation allows the vertical wall portion and the horizontal wall portion to be more effectively disengaged from each other in at least one engagement portion.

[0014] Furthermore, in the present invention, preferably, the bumper member of the vehicle body includes a bumper reinforcement extending in the vehicle width direction at the front of the vehicle, and the recessed portion of the vertical wall portion of the duct member is formed at approximately the same height as the bumper reinforcement in the vehicle up-down direction of the vertical wall portion. According to the present invention configured in this manner, the collision load input from the bumper reinforcement can be effectively transmitted to the recessed portion of the vertical wall portion, thereby more reliably deforming the vertical wall portion into a V-shape outward in the vehicle width direction. In the present invention, the notches in the side wall portion of the duct member are preferably formed at both ends of the side wall portion in the vehicle width direction and at a front end in the vehicle front-rear direction. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the front body structure of a vehicle of the present invention, it is possible to achieve both improved cooling performance by the heat exchanger and improved collision performance of the vehicle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a front part of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the right side and diagonally above the vehicle. [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view of a radiator, a radiator duct, and an impact absorbing member of a vehicle body provided in a front vehicle body structure of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed obliquely from above and on the right side of the vehicle. [Diagram 3] 3 is a perspective view showing the radiator and the duct member shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the radiator and the duct member shown in FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing an enlarged connection portion between a side duct portion and an upper duct portion of the duct member shown in FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 6] 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing an enlarged recess formed in a side duct portion of the duct member shown in FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is a partially enlarged plan view of the side duct portion and the recessed portion shown in FIG. 6, seen from above. [Figure 8]4 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing an engagement portion of a radiator duct to the impact absorbing member according to the embodiment; FIG. [Figure 9] 9A and 9B are partial enlarged perspective views showing an example of a deformation state of a duct member due to a load input from the front of the vehicle at an early stage of a collision of a vehicle equipped with the vehicle front body structure according to the present embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is a partially enlarged perspective view for illustrating a deformation state of the side duct when the side duct portion and the upper duct portion of the duct member according to the embodiment are disengaged from each other. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a front body structure of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] First, a vehicle front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the right side and diagonally above the vehicle, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle front body structure according to this embodiment, as viewed from the right side and diagonally above the vehicle.

[0019] First, as shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle 1 equipped with a vehicle front body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided at its front with a bonnet hood 4 covering an engine compartment 2, a grill upper panel 6 extending in the vehicle width direction in front of the bonnet hood 4, a bumper fascia 8 provided below the grill upper panel 6 and on the front side of the vehicle 1, a front grille 10 provided between the grill upper panel 6 and the bumper fascia 8, headlamp units 12 arranged on both the left and right sides of the front grille 10 and above the bumper fascia 8, and front fenders 14 provided on both the left and right sides of the bonnet hood 4 and on the sides of the vehicle.

[0020] Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle 1 is equipped with, as frame members constituting the vehicle body, a pair of left and right front side frames 16 extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle from the engine room 2, crash cans 18 which are shock absorbing members provided at the front ends of the front side frames 16, and bumper reinforcements 20 which are attached to the front ends of the crash cans, extend in the vehicle width direction, and receive loads in the event of a frontal collision.

[0021] In addition, a pair of left and right apron members (not shown) are provided at the front of the vehicle 1 above the engine room 2 and on both the left and right sides, extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and the tips of each apron member, curved inward in the vehicle width direction, are connected to each other by a shroud upper member (not shown).

[0022] A radiator 22 is provided below the shroud upper member for cooling an engine (not shown) with air guided through the front grille 10. The radiator 22 is provided with a grille shutter 24 provided on the front surface thereof, and a radiator shroud 26 that extends in a rectangular shape so as to cover the periphery of a radiator core 36 and its cooling fan 38 shown in Fig. 4, which will be described later.

[0023] A duct member 28 extending in a rectangular shape in front of the radiator 22 is connected to the front edge of the radiator shroud 26. As described below, the radiator 22 is completely surrounded by the duct member 28 together with the radiator shroud 26. The radiator 22, the radiator shroud 26 and the duct member 28 are provided on the inside of the left and right crash cans 18 in the vehicle width direction. The radiator shroud 26 and the duct member 28 may be integrally molded in a configuration that does not inhibit deformation of the duct member 28, which will be described later.

[0024] Next, the vehicle 1 is equipped with a grill reinforcement 30 (indicated by reference symbol 30 in Figs. 9 and 10) which is attached to a support bracket or the like on the vehicle body side (not shown) and mainly supports and reinforces the bumper fascia 8 and the front grill 10. This grill reinforcement 30 is a member which extends along the bumper fascia 8 and the front grill 10 on the inside of the bumper fascia 8 and the front grill 10 shown in Fig. 1. In this embodiment, the grill reinforcement 30 and the bumper reinforcement 20 mainly function as bumper members which receive the impact of an obstacle (such as another vehicle or a pedestrian's thigh) from the front of the vehicle.

[0025] Next, a pair of load transmission members 32 extending in the vertical direction are provided on the rear side of the grill reinforcement 30 and on the front side of the bumper reinforcement 20 so as not to impede the inflow of air to the radiator. As will be described later, these load transmission members 32 are provided as contact members that come into contact with the duct member 28 at the beginning of a collision, and have the role of transmitting the load to the duct member 28 when a collision load is applied to the grill reinforcement 30.

[0026] Further, a seal member 34 that performs a sealing function between the load transmission member 32 and the grill reinforcement 30 is attached to the load transmission member 32, and the load transmission member 32 is fixed to the grill reinforcement 30 via these seal members 34. As will be described later, this seal member 34 also has a role of transmitting a load to the duct member 28 at the initial stage of a collision. The seal member 34 and the load transmission member 32 are attached to such a grill reinforcement 30.

[0027] As will be described later, the bumper reinforcement 20 also has a role of transmitting a load to the duct member 28 in the early stage of a collision.

[0028] Next, the configurations of the radiator 22 and the duct member 28 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the radiator and duct member shown in Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a partially cross-sectional side view showing the radiator and duct member shown in Figure 3. Figure 4 shows a cross section of the radiator and duct member shown in Figure 3 at the center in the vehicle width direction, and also shows the inner surface of the left side duct portion of the duct member as it is viewed.

[0029] First, as shown in FIG. 4, the radiator 22 includes the grill shutter 24, a radiator core 36, a cooling fan 38, etc., and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the radiator shroud 26 houses the radiator 22. Moreover, the duct member 28, together with the radiator shroud 26, is provided so as to completely surround the periphery of the radiator 22. In this embodiment, the duct member 28 extends so as to completely surround the periphery of the radiator 22, so as to completely cover at least the periphery of the grill shutter 24 of the radiator 22.

[0030] Next, as shown in FIG. 3, duct member 28 has an upper duct portion (upper horizontal wall portion) 40 on its upper surface, a lower duct portion (lower horizontal wall portion) 42 on its lower surface, and side duct portions (vertical wall portions) 44, 46 on both sides in the vehicle width direction which extend so as to connect both vehicle width direction edges (left and right edges) of upper duct portion 40 and lower duct portion 42 in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0031] First, the upper duct portion 40 is configured as a resin member that extends continuously from the front edge of the upper surface of the radiator shroud 26. Also, the lower duct portion 42 is configured as a resin member that extends continuously from the front edge of the lower surface of the radiator shroud 26. The member that constitutes this lower duct portion 42 includes lower side portions 48 that extend upward from both edges in the vehicle width direction, and these lower side portions 48 constitute a part of the vicinity of the lower edges of the side duct portions (vertical wall portions) 44, 46.

[0032] Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the side duct portions 44, 46 have the above-mentioned lower side portion 48 and an upper side portion 50 above it. First, the left and right lower side portions 48 each have a resin frame portion 48a that continues from both the left and right edges of the lower duct portion 42 and extends along the outer edge of the lower side portion 48. The inner surface portions 48b of these frames 48a are made of a rubber surface member that is weaker than the resin frame portion 48a. The rubber surface member 48b is attached to the frame portion 48a by having its peripheral portion clipped to the frame portion 48a (see also the enlarged view in FIG. 6).

[0033] Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the left and right upper side parts 50 have resin frame parts 50a extending along their outer periphery. These resin frame parts 50a are formed of a separate member from the resin member of the upper duct part 40. The upper duct part 40 and the frame parts 50a of the upper side parts 50 may be formed of a resin member integrally molded. The inner surface 50b of these frame parts 50a is formed of a rubber surface member having a lower strength than the resin frame parts 50a. The rubber surface member 50b is attached to the frame parts 50a by clipping its peripheral part to the frame parts 50a (see also the enlarged view of FIG. 5).

[0034] 2, the above-mentioned load transfer member 32 and seal member 34 are provided below the upper duct portion 40 and above the lower duct portion 42 at a position facing the front edges of the side duct portions 44, 46. As a result, when a load is transferred from the grill reinforcement 30 at the beginning of a collision, as will be described later, the load transfer member 32 and seal member 34 transfer the load to the side duct portions 44, 46, promoting deformation of the duct member 28.

[0035] Next, a connection structure (first deformation promoting structure) between the side duct portions 44, 46 and the upper duct portion 40 in the duct member 28 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 5. Figure 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing an engagement portion between the side duct portion and the upper duct portion of the duct member shown in Figure 3. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the upper duct portion 40 has cutout portions 52 formed on both left and right edge portions thereof, the cutout portions 52 being open toward the rear of the vehicle. An engaging vertical wall portion 50c, which is a part of the resin member of the upper side portion 50, is fitted into the front portion 52a of each of these cutout portions 52. The front portion 52a extends in the vehicle front-rear direction with a constant width so that the upper side portion 50 is engaged with the upper duct portion 40 at that position until a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied.

[0036] On the other hand, the rear portion 52b of the cutout portion 52 is cut out diagonally outward in the vehicle width direction so as to guide the retreat and deformation of the upper side portion 50 when the side duct portions 44, 46 deform so as to retreat relative to the upper duct portion 40, as described below.

[0037] Here, the engagement portion 54 between the upper duct portion (horizontal wall portion) 40 and the side duct portions (vertical wall portions) 44, 46 is formed by the notch portion 52 and the engagement vertical wall portion 50c, which is a part of the upper side portion 50 that engages with the notch portion 52. More specifically, this is the engagement portion 54 between the upper duct portion 40 and the upper side portion 50.

[0038] In this embodiment, as described below, at the beginning of a collision, the engagement between the upper duct portion (horizontal wall portion) 40 and the side duct portions (vertical wall portions) 44, 46 at such engagement portion 54 is released, thereby promoting deformation of the duct member 28. In this embodiment, the engaging portions 54 are provided at two locations, one on the left and one on the right above the duct member 28, but as a modified example, one of them may be a similar engaging portion 54, and the other may be a fixed structure that makes it difficult to transmit a load during a collision. Also, the engaging portion 54 may be provided below the duct member 28.

[0039] Next, the structure (second deformation promoting structure) of the lower side portion 48 of the side duct portions 44, 46 will be described with reference to Figures 3, 6, and 7. Figure 6 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing an enlarged recess formed in the side duct portion of the duct member shown in Figure 3, and Figure 7 is a partially enlarged plan view of the side duct portion and the recess shown in Figure 6, viewed from above. First, as shown in Figures 3, 6 and 7, in each side duct portion 44, 46, a recessed portion 56 that is a recess extending in an arc shape downward and outward in the vehicle width direction is formed in the resin frame portion 48a of the lower side portion 48 at the boundary position with the upper side portion 50. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, these recessed portions 56 open to the inside in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the frame portion 48a has a ridge line 56a formed by these recessed portions 56 that extends outward in the vehicle width direction.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 6, the frame portion 50a of the upper side portion 50 and the rubber member 50b on its inner surface extend outward from the recessed portion 56 in the vehicle width direction. 7, the frame portion 50a of the upper side portion 50 extends in an L-shaped cross section on the vehicle width direction outer side and vehicle rear side of the recessed portion 56 in a plan view, and the frame portion 50a has a portion on the vehicle rear side clipped to the front surface of the radiator shroud 26. On the other hand, the rubber member 50b of the inner surface extends in an L-shape on the vehicle width direction outer side and vehicle front side of the recessed portion 56 in a plan view, and the portion on the vehicle width direction outer side is clipped to the frame portion 50a.

[0041] Next, the attachment and arrangement of the side duct portions 44, 46 to the bumper reinforcement 20 will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Figure 8 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing an engagement portion of the radiator duct to the impact absorbing member according to this embodiment. First, as shown in FIG. 8, a portion of the rubber member 50b of the side duct portions 44, 46 is engaged with the bumper reinforcement 20. As shown in FIG. Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the recessed portions 56 of the lower side portion 48 (FIG. 8 shows the outer portion of the recessed portion 56 in the vehicle width direction) are formed at approximately the same height as the bumper reinforcement 20 in the vehicle up-down direction of the side duct portions 44, 46, so that when the bumper reinforcement 20 comes into contact with the side duct portions 44, 46 at the initial stage of a collision, the load is easily transmitted to these recessed portions 56.

[0042] 7, a load vector is generated in a direction along the ridge line 56a of the recessed portion 56. This load vector A causes the lower side portion 48 to deform into a V-shape outward in the vehicle width direction in the early stage of the collision, promoting the deformation of the side duct portions 44, 46.

[0043] Next, an example of the deformation state of the duct member 28 in the early stage of a collision according to this embodiment and the action of this embodiment related to this deformation will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10. Figures 9A and 9B are partially enlarged perspective views showing an example of the deformation state of the duct member due to a load input from the front of the vehicle in the early stage of a collision of a vehicle equipped with the vehicle front body structure according to this embodiment, and Figure 10 is a partially enlarged perspective view for explaining the deformation state of the side duct when the side duct portion and upper duct portion of the duct member according to this embodiment are disengaged from each other. First, as shown in Figures 9A and 9B, at the initial stage of a collision, when the grill reinforcement 30 inside the bumper fascia 8 and the front grille 10 receives a collision load (indicated by the symbol L in Figures 9A and 9B), the load is transmitted to the side duct portions 44, 46 of the duct member 28 via the load transmission member 32 and the seal member 34. Further, at the initial stage of the collision, the bumper reinforcement 20 also receives the collision load (load L), and the load is transmitted to the side duct portions 44, 46 of the duct member 28.

[0044] When the side duct portions 44, 46 receive such a load, a force acts on them to displace them toward the rear of the vehicle relative to the upper duct portion 40, and such force first disengages the upper side portions 50 of the side duct portions 44, 46 from the upper duct portion 40 at the engagement portion 54, as shown in Fig. 9A. At this time, since the rear end of the upper side portion 50 is supported by the radiator shroud 26, it deforms in the vehicle width direction with its rear end as a fulcrum, as shown in Fig. 9B.

[0045] On the other hand, although not shown, at the beginning of a collision, the lower side portion 48 is deformed so as to bend in a V shape outward in the vehicle width direction due to the effect of the ridge line 54a of the recess portion 56 described above, and as the lower side portion 48 deforms in this manner, a force is applied to the upper side portion 50 above it, tending to displace it downward. As described above, in the initial stage of a collision, the engagement of the upper side portion 50 with the engagement portion 54 is released, and thus bending deformation of the upper side portion 50 is promoted.

[0046] In this embodiment, the above-mentioned deformation of the side duct portions 44, 46 is promoted in the early stage of a frontal collision, thereby reducing the strength of the duct member 28 itself against the collision load. Furthermore, in this embodiment, such a reduction in the strength of the duct member 28 is prevented from causing the duct member 28 to absorb a large collision load, thereby preventing the deformation of the crash can, which is an impact absorbing member on the vehicle body that should originally deform to absorb impact, from being hindered.

[0047] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the frame portions 48a, 50a of the side duct portions 44, 46 are made of resin, and the inner surface portions 48b, 50b are made of rubber, so that the inner surface portions 48b, 50b do not hinder the deformation of the frame portions 48a, 50a. In addition, since the inner surface portions 48b, 50b of the side duct portions 44, 46 are made of rubber, the collision load at the initial stage of the collision is less likely to be received by the duct member 28 and is less likely to be transmitted to the radiator 22 and the radiator shroud 26, thereby suppressing the inhibition of deformation of the crash can.

[0048] Next, the effects of the front vehicle body structure of the vehicle 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, the front body structure of a vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a duct member 28 that surrounds the radiator 22 on the vehicle widthwise inner side of a pair of left and right crash cans 18, the duct member 28 being a member that completely surrounds the radiator 22 and includes side duct portions (vertical wall portions) 44, 46 and an upper duct portion (horizontal wall portion) 40, the side duct portions 44, 46 and the upper duct portion 40 of the duct member 28 having at least one engagement portion 54 that engages and connects them to each other, and the side duct portions 44, 46 and the upper duct portion 40 of the duct member 28 are connected such that, in the event of a frontal collision, when a predetermined load is input from the bumper members (bumper reinforcement 20 and grill reinforcement 30) of the vehicle body to the duct member 28, the side duct portions 44, 46 and the upper duct portion 40 are disengaged from each other at at least one engagement portion 54. According to this embodiment, the duct member 28 completely surrounds the radiator 22, so that air can be reliably made to flow toward the radiator 22, which is a heat exchanger. In addition, when a collision load from the front is input, the side duct portions (vertical wall portions) 44, 46 of the duct member 28 and the upper duct portion (lateral wall portion) 40 are disengaged from each other at the two left and right engagement portions 54, so that the strength of the duct member 28 against the load from the front of the vehicle can be reduced, and thus, the deformation of the crash can 18 can be prevented from being hindered during a front collision. As a result, according to this embodiment, it is possible to achieve both improved cooling performance by the heat exchanger and improved collision performance of the vehicle.

[0049] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, in the two left and right engagement portions, the engagement vertical wall portions 50c, which are parts of the side duct portions 44, 46, engage with the notched portions 52 of the upper duct portion 40 that open to the rear, so that when a collision load from the front is input to the side duct portions 44, 46, the side duct portions 44, 46 are displaced toward the rear of the vehicle relative to the upper duct portion 40 and disengage from the notched portions 52 of the upper duct portion 40. This makes it possible to more effectively reduce the strength of the duct member 28 against a load from the front of the vehicle.

[0050] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the side duct portions 44, 46 of the duct member 28 have frame portions 48a, 50a and inner surface portions 48b, 50b which are weaker than the frame portions 48a, 50a, and a portion of the frame portion 50a of the side duct portions 44, 46 is connected to the upper duct portion 40 at the two engagement portions 54 so that it disengages from the upper duct portion 40. Therefore, when a collision load from the front is input to the side duct portions 44, 46, the frame portions 48a, 50a, which are part of the sides of the duct member 28, are deformed, thereby effectively reducing the strength of the duct member 28 against a load from the front of the vehicle.

[0051] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the recess 56 is formed with the ridge 56a extending outward in the vehicle width direction, so that when a collision load from the front is input to the side duct portions 44, 46 during a frontal collision, the load is transmitted in a direction extending outward in the vehicle width direction along the ridge 56a of the recess 56. This allows the side duct portions 44, 46 to be deformed outward in the vehicle width direction into a V-shape, and such deformation allows the side duct portions 44, 46 and the upper duct portion 40 to be more effectively disengaged from each other at the two engagement portions 54.

[0052] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the recessed portions 56 of the side duct portions 44, 46 of the duct member 28 are formed at approximately the same height as the bumper reinforcement 20 in the vehicle up-down direction of the side duct portions 44, 46, so that the collision load input from the bumper reinforcement 20 can be effectively transmitted to the recessed portions 56 of the side duct portions 44, 46. This makes it possible to more reliably deform the side duct portions 44, 46 into a V-shape outward in the vehicle width direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1 vehicle 8 Bumper fascia 10 Front Grill 18 Crash Can 20 Bumper Reinforcement 22 Radiator 26 Radiator shroud 28 Duct parts 30 Grill Reinforcement 32 Load transmission members 34 Sealing material 40 Upper duct section 42 Lower duct section 44 Left side duct section 46 Right side duct section 48 Lower side of side duct 48a Frame 48b Inner surface, rubber surface member 50 Upper side of side duct 50a frame 50b Inner surface, rubber surface member 50c Engagement vertical wall part 52 Notch 54 Engagement part 56 Recess 56a Ridge of the depression

Claims

1. A front body structure of a vehicle including a pair of left and right crash cans extending in a vehicle front-rear direction, a radiator provided on the inner side of the pair of left and right crash cans in the vehicle width direction, and a duct member surrounding a periphery of the radiator on the inner side of the pair of left and right crash cans in the vehicle width direction, the duct member is a member that completely surrounds the radiator and includes a vertical wall portion and a horizontal wall portion, The vertical wall portion and the horizontal wall portion of the duct member have at least one engagement portion that engages and connects them to each other, At least one rearwardly opening notch is formed in the side wall of the duct member, The at least one engagement portion is configured by a part of the vertical wall portion engaging with a notch portion of the horizontal wall portion, a front body structure for a vehicle, characterized in that the vertical wall portion and the horizontal wall portion of the duct member are arranged so that, at the beginning of a forward collision, a predetermined collision load is input from a bumper member of the vehicle body to the vertical wall portion of the duct member, and when the predetermined collision load is input from the bumper member of the vehicle body to the vertical wall portion of the duct member, the vertical wall portion is connected so as to disengage from the horizontal wall portion at at least one engagement portion.

2. 2. The front body structure of a vehicle as described in claim 1, wherein the vertical wall portion of the duct member has a frame portion and an inner surface portion having a lower strength than the frame portion, and at least one engagement portion is connected to the horizontal wall portion so that a portion of the frame portion of the vertical wall portion is disengaged from the horizontal wall portion.

3. 3. The vehicle front body structure according to claim 1, wherein the vertical wall portion of the duct member is formed with a recessed portion that forms a ridge line extending outward in the vehicle width direction.

4. The vehicle body bumper member includes a bumper reinforcement extending in a vehicle width direction at a front surface of the vehicle, 4. The front body structure for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the recess in the vertical wall portion of the duct member is formed at approximately the same height as the bumper reinforcement in the vehicle up-down direction of the vertical wall portion.

5. A front body structure of a vehicle as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cutout portions of the side wall portions of the duct member are formed at both ends of the side wall portions in the vehicle width direction and at the front end portions in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction.

Images