Vehicle front structure

Abstract

To cool an internal combustion engine efficiently.SOLUTION: A vehicle front part structure 100 includes an engine compartment 10, a first radiator 91, a second radiator 92, and an internal combustion engine 50. The engine compartment 10 is a space into which air from the front may flow. The first radiator 91, the second radiator 92, and the internal combustion engine 50 are positioned within the engine compartment 10. The second radiator 92 is arranged spaced apart from the first radiator 91 in a lateral direction. The internal combustion engine 50 is positioned at the rear when viewed from the first radiator 91 and the second radiator 92. The internal combustion engine 50 includes an engine body 55, an exhaust pipe 60, and a catalyst device 70. The engine body 55 has cylinders 55A in which a fuel is burned. In the exhaust pipe 60, exhaust air from the cylinders 55A circulates. The catalyst device 70 is positioned in the middle of the exhaust pipe 60. Further, the catalyst device 70 is positioned at the front when viewed from the engine body 55.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] The vehicle in Patent Document 1 includes a first radiator, a second radiator, and an internal combustion engine. The first radiator and the second radiator are arranged side by side. The internal combustion engine is located rearward of the vehicle when viewed from the first radiator and the second radiator. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-119243 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a vehicle such as that described in Patent Document 1 runs, air flows from outside the vehicle into the engine compartment. Then, the air that flows into the engine compartment hits the first radiator and the second radiator. As a result, the refrigerant in the first radiator and the refrigerant in the second radiator are cooled. On the other hand, a part of the air that flows into the engine compartment flows rearward as viewed from the first radiator and the second radiator without hitting these radiators. In order to cool each member in the engine compartment, it is possible to use the air that flows rearward as viewed from each radiator. However, Patent Document 1 does not take into consideration the point of efficiently cooling the internal combustion engine using the air that flows rearward as viewed from each radiator. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A vehicle front structure for solving the above problem includes an engine compartment which is a space into which air can flow from the front, a first radiator located within the engine compartment, and a second radiator arranged in the engine compartment with a gap between them on the left and right sides of the first radiator, An undercover that constitutes a bottom wall of the engine compartment; A front structure of a vehicle including an internal combustion engine located in the engine compartment rearward as viewed from the first radiator and the second radiator, the internal combustion engine including an engine body having cylinders which are spaces in which fuel is burned, an exhaust pipe through which exhaust gas from the cylinders flows, and a catalytic device located midway through the exhaust pipe, the catalytic device being located forward as viewed from the engine body. the undercover has an air vent that communicates the engine compartment with the outside, and when the engine compartment is viewed downward from above the vehicle, at least a portion of the air vent is located in a region that is rearward as viewed from the first radiator and the second radiator, forward as viewed from the catalytic converter, on the second radiator side as viewed from the first radiator, and on the first radiator side as viewed from the second radiator. .

[0006] According to the above configuration, when the air that flows into the engine compartment from the front flows rearward through the gap between the first radiator and the second radiator, it is likely to reach the vicinity of the catalytic converter without being blocked by the engine body. In this way, the air reaches the vicinity of the catalytic converter, which is particularly likely to become hot, and this makes it possible to efficiently cool the catalytic converter and, ultimately, the inside of the engine compartment.

[0011] According to the above configuration, the air that has passed through the gap between the two radiators and reached the catalytic converter can easily flow to the outside of the engine compartment through the vent hole, meaning that the air flows smoothly without stagnation on the rear side of the radiators. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] Cross-sectional view of the engine compartment from the front. [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] Front view of the vehicle as seen from the front. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] <Vehicle Overview> Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. First, a schematic configuration of a vehicle front structure 100 to which the present invention is applied will be described. In the following description, the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions are those as viewed from a driver seated in the driver's seat of the vehicle.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 3, a vehicle front structure 100 includes a bonnet 11, a left fender 12, a right fender 13, a bumper cover 20, a front grille 30, and an undercover 40. These components define an engine compartment 10. In other words, the front structure 100 includes the engine compartment 10. Note that Figs. 1 to 3 illustrate the shapes of the bonnet 11, the left fender 12, the right fender 13, the bumper cover 20, the front grille 30, and the undercover 40 in a simplified form.

[0015] The bonnet 11 forms the upper wall of the engine compartment 10. The bonnet 11 is sometimes referred to as an engine hood. The left fender 12 forms the left wall of the engine compartment 10. The right fender 13 forms the right wall of the engine compartment 10. The bumper cover 20 and the front grille 30 form the front wall of the engine compartment 10. The undercover 40 forms the bottom wall of the engine compartment 10.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 3, the bumper cover 20 has a through hole 21. The front grille 30 is fitted into the through hole 21. The front grille 30 has two openings 31. Each opening 31 penetrates the front grille 30 in the front-rear direction. When the front grille 30 is viewed from the front of the vehicle toward the rear, the opening 31 has a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction. The two openings 31 are arranged vertically. Air can flow into the engine compartment 10 from the front through these openings 31. Note that a mesh sheet or the like that allows air to flow but does not allow foreign objects such as sand and stones to pass through may be attached to the opening 31.

[0017] 2, the front structure 100 includes the internal combustion engine 50, the transaxle 80, the control device 85, a first radiator 91, and a second radiator 92. The internal combustion engine 50, the transaxle 80, the control device 85, the first radiator 91, and the second radiator 92 are located in the engine compartment 10.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the first radiator 91 is generally shaped like a rectangular plate. One of the main surfaces of the first radiator 91 faces forward, and the other main surface faces backward. The main surface is the surface with the largest area among the outer surfaces of the rectangular plate. The first radiator 91 is located on the left side as viewed from the center of the left and right of the vehicle, that is, on the right side in FIG. 1. Although not shown, the first radiator 91 has a built-in cooling water passage. The cooling water that has passed through each part of the internal combustion engine 50 is supplied to the cooling water passage of the first radiator 91. The first radiator 91 cools the cooling water flowing through the cooling water passage of the first radiator 91 by heat exchange with the air that has flowed into the engine compartment 10. The first radiator 91 is fixed to the frame of the vehicle via a bracket (not shown) or the like.

[0019] The second radiator 92 is generally shaped like a rectangular plate. One main surface of the second radiator 92 faces forward, and the other main surface faces rearward. The second radiator 92 is located to the right of the first radiator 91, that is, to the left in FIG. 1. The second radiator 92 is separated from the first radiator 91. That is, the second radiator 92 is arranged with a gap between them on the left and right sides of the first radiator 91. Therefore, a gap 95 is generated between the first radiator 91 and the second radiator 92. Although not shown, the second radiator 92 has a built-in cooling water passage. The cooling water that has passed through each part of the transaxle 80 is supplied to the cooling water passage of the second radiator 92. The second radiator 92 cools the coolant flowing through a coolant passage of the second radiator 92 by heat exchange with the air that has flowed into the engine compartment 10. The second radiator 92 is fixed to the frame of the vehicle or the like via a bracket or the like (not shown).

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the internal combustion engine 50 is located rearward as viewed from the first radiator 91 and the second radiator 92. The internal combustion engine 50 includes an engine body 55, an intake pipe 56, an exhaust pipe 60, and a catalytic device 70. The engine body 55 includes four cylinders 55A as a space in which fuel is burned. The four cylinders 55A are aligned on the left and right. The intake pipe 56 is connected from the rear side of the engine body 55. The internal space of the intake pipe 56 is connected to the four cylinders 55A. The intake pipe 56 introduces intake air into the four cylinders 55A.

[0021] The exhaust pipe 60 is connected to the front side of the engine body 55. The internal space of the exhaust pipe 60 is connected to the four cylinders 55A. The exhaust pipe 60 discharges exhaust gas from the four cylinders 55A. As shown in FIG. 1, the exhaust pipe 60 includes four branch pipes 62, a collecting pipe 63, and a downstream pipe 64. The upstream ends of the branch pipes 62 are connected to the cylinders 55A. The downstream ends of the branch pipes 62 are collected together and connected to the upstream end of the collecting pipe 63. The collecting pipe 63 extends obliquely so as to be located somewhat downward toward the downstream side of the collecting pipe 63. The downstream pipe 64 is connected to the collecting pipe 63 via a catalytic device 70. That is, the catalytic device 70 is located midway through the exhaust pipe 60. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the catalytic device 70 is located forward as viewed from the engine body 55.

[0022] The transaxle 80 is connected to the engine body 55 from the left side. The transaxle 80 is equipped with a reduction gear mechanism and two motor generators (not shown). The first motor generator of the transaxle 80 is capable of generating electric power based on the driving force of the internal combustion engine 50. In addition, the second motor generator of the transaxle 80 is driven to transmit the driving force to the drive wheels of the vehicle via the reduction gear mechanism. The transaxle 80 is sometimes referred to as a hybrid transaxle.

[0023] The control device 85 is located above the transaxle 80. The control device 85 controls the transaxle 80 and the internal combustion engine 50 by outputting control signals to the transaxle 80 and the internal combustion engine 50.

[0024] <Catalyst device peripheral configuration> As shown in FIG. 1, the catalytic device 70 includes a catalyst case 71 and a catalyst body 72. The catalyst case 71 is generally cylindrical in shape. The central axis of the catalyst case 71 extends generally vertically. The upstream end of the catalyst case 71 is connected to the downstream end of the collecting pipe 63. The downstream end of the catalyst case 71 is connected to the upstream end of the downstream pipe 64. The catalyst body 72 is generally cylindrical in shape having a central axis. The catalyst body 72 is located inside the catalyst case 71. The central axis of the catalyst body 72 coincides with the central axis of the catalyst case 71. The catalyst body 72 purifies the exhaust gas flowing through the catalyst body 72.

[0025] 1, when engine compartment 10 is viewed from the front of the vehicle toward the rear, the entire catalyst case 71 is exposed from gap 95. Here, "exposed" indicates a state in which no other parts are interposed between catalyst case 71 and gap 95.

[0026] 1, the geometric center of the outer shape of the catalytic converter 70 when the catalytic converter 70 is viewed from the front to the rear of the vehicle is defined as a catalyst center 75. When the engine compartment 10 is viewed from the front to the rear of the vehicle, the catalyst center 75 is located within the gap 95.

[0027] 3, when the engine compartment 10 is viewed from the front toward the rear of the vehicle, the catalyst center 75 is located below the upper end of the uppermost opening 31 of the two openings 31. In this embodiment, the catalyst center 75 is also located below the upper end of the lowermost opening 31 of the two openings 31.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, the undercover 40 has four vents 41. The vents 41 communicate between the engine compartment 10 and the outside. When the engine compartment 10 is viewed from above the vehicle downward, the shape of the vents 41 is a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The four vents 41 are lined up on the left and right. When the engine compartment 10 is viewed from above the vehicle downward, the entire area of ​​the four vents 41 is located in the area 96 between the gap 95 and the catalytic converter 70. The four vents 41 have the same shape. In addition, a mesh sheet or the like that allows air to flow but does not allow foreign objects such as sand and stones to pass through may be attached to each vent 41.

[0029] Here, as shown in FIG. 2, when the engine compartment 10 is viewed from above the vehicle facing downward, the distances between the various parts are defined as follows. The distance from the left end of each vent 41 to the right end of the vent 41 is defined as a first distance 41A. The distance from the front end of each vent 41 to the rear end of the vent 41 is defined as a second distance 41B. The distance from the left end of the leftmost vent 41 of the four vents 41 to the right end of the rightmost vent 41 of the four vents 41 is defined as a third distance 41C. In addition, the distance from the left end of the catalytic converter 70 to the right end of the catalytic converter 70 is defined as a catalytic distance 70A. In addition, the distance from the left end of the gap 95 to the right end of the gap 95 is defined as a gap distance 95A.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, when the engine compartment 10 is viewed downward from above the vehicle, the catalyst distance 70A is smaller than the gap distance 95A. Also, when the engine compartment 10 is viewed downward from above the vehicle, the third distance 41C is smaller than the gap distance 95A. An example of the third distance 41C is about 100 mm. An example of the gap distance 95A is about several hundred mm. An example of the catalyst distance 70A is about 100 mm. In this embodiment, the catalyst distance 70A is approximately the same as the third distance 41C.

[0031] As described above, the shape of the vent 41 is a generally rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 2, when the engine compartment 10 is viewed downward from above the vehicle, the second distance 41B is greater than the first distance 41A. An example of the first distance 41A is about several tens of mm. An example of the second distance 41B is about several hundred mm.

[0032] <Action of this embodiment> When the vehicle is traveling forward, air flows into the engine compartment 10 through the opening 31 of the front grille 30. A portion of the air that flows into the engine compartment 10 flows rearward as viewed from the first radiator 91 and the second radiator 92 through the gap 95 and reaches the vicinity of the catalytic device 70. Furthermore, since the undercover 40 in the front structure 100 has the vent 41, the air that has flowed near the catalytic device 70 flows downward as a whole and is discharged to the outside of the engine compartment 10 through the vent 41.

[0033] <Effects of this embodiment> (1) In this embodiment, when the air that has flowed into the engine compartment 10 flows rearward through the gap 95, the air is likely to reach the vicinity of the catalytic device 70 without being blocked by the engine body 55. Then, when the air reaches the vicinity of the catalytic device 70, the catalytic device 70, which is an area of ​​the internal combustion engine 50 that is particularly likely to become hot, can be cooled by heat exchange with the air. If the catalytic device 70 can be cooled in this manner, the inside of the engine compartment 10 can be efficiently cooled.

[0034] (2) As shown in Fig. 1, when the engine compartment 10 is viewed from the front to the rear of the vehicle, the catalyst case 71 is exposed through the gap 95. Therefore, when air flows from the front to the rear through the gap 95, the air directly hits the catalyst case 71. This allows the catalyst device 70 to be cooled efficiently.

[0035] (3) As shown in Fig. 1, when the engine compartment 10 is viewed from the front to the rear of the vehicle, the catalyst center 75 is located within the area of ​​the gap 95. Therefore, when air flows from the front to the rear through the gap 95, the air is likely to hit the entire catalyst case 71 including the catalyst center 75. This improves the cooling efficiency of the catalyst device 70.

[0036] (4) As shown in Fig. 2, when the engine compartment 10 is viewed downward from above the vehicle, the vent 41 is located in an area 96 between the gap 95 and the catalytic converter 70. Therefore, air that passes through the gap 95 and reaches the catalytic converter 70 is easily discharged to the outside of the engine compartment 10 via the vent 41. In other words, rearward of the first radiator 91 and the second radiator 92, air can flow smoothly without stagnation.

[0037] (5) As shown in Fig. 2, when the engine compartment 10 is viewed downward from above the vehicle, the catalyst distance 70A is smaller than the gap distance 95A. Therefore, when air flows from the gap 95 to the vent 41, if the air that has flowed through the gap 95 flows so as to diffuse to the left and right of the vehicle, the amount of air that hits the catalyst case 71 from the gap 95 to the vent 41 will be reduced. That is, in the relationship between the catalyst distance 70A and the gap distance 95A in the above embodiment, it is preferable that the air that reaches the vent 41 from the gap 95 not diffuse to the left and right of the vehicle in order to cool the catalytic device 70.

[0038] 2, when engine compartment 10 is viewed downward from above the vehicle, third distance 41C is smaller than gap distance 95A. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which third distance 41C is larger than gap distance 95A, air is less likely to diffuse to the left and right of the vehicle before it reaches vent 41 from gap 95. Therefore, most of the air reaching vent 41 from gap 95 can hit catalyst case 71.

[0039] (6) When the vehicle is traveling forward, air outside the vehicle flows from the front to the rear with respect to the vehicle. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, when engine compartment 10 is viewed from above the vehicle downward, second distance 41B is greater than first distance 41A. In this configuration, since vent 41 has a shape that extends in the front-rear direction, air from vent 41 is easily discharged in accordance with the flow of air outside the vehicle. As a result, air inside engine compartment 10 can be efficiently discharged from vent 41.

[0040] (7) As described above, in the front structure 100, since the undercover 40 has the vent 41, the air that flows into the engine compartment 10 from the opening 31 of the front grille 30 flows downward as a whole. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, when the engine compartment 10 is viewed from the front of the vehicle toward the rear, the catalyst center 75 is located on the lower side as viewed from the upper end of the uppermost opening 31 of the two openings 31. In other words, when the air flows downward from the opening 31 to the vent 41 in the engine compartment 10, the catalyst center 75 is located in the middle of the air. Therefore, the air that flows into the engine compartment 10 from the opening 31 is likely to hit the catalyst case 71. As a result, the catalyst device 70 can be efficiently cooled.

[0041] <Example of change> This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that there is no technical contradiction.

[0042] In the above embodiment, the position of the catalytic converter 70 may be changed. For example, when the engine compartment 10 is viewed rearward from the front of the vehicle, the catalyst center 75 may be located above the upper end of the uppermost opening 31 of the two openings 31. The air flowing in through the gap 95 stirs the air in the engine compartment 10 on the front side as viewed from the engine body 55. Therefore, if the catalyst device 70 is located forward as viewed from the engine body 55, the catalyst device 70 is cooled.

[0043] For example, when the engine compartment 10 is viewed from the front to the rear of the vehicle, the catalyst center 75 does not have to be located within the area of ​​the gap 95. As a specific example, when the engine compartment 10 is viewed from the front to the rear of the vehicle, only a portion of the catalyst case 71 may be exposed from the gap 95.

[0044] For example, when the engine compartment 10 is viewed rearward from the front of the vehicle, the catalyst case 71 does not have to be exposed from the gap 95. As a specific example, when the engine compartment 10 is viewed rearward from the front of the vehicle, the entire catalyst case 71 may be located behind one of the first radiator 91 and the second radiator 92. As described above, if air flows rearward through the gap 95, the air near the catalytic device 70 is agitated, thereby making it possible to cool the catalytic device 70.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the number of openings 31 may be changed. For example, the front grille 30 may include one opening 31, or three or more openings 31. In the above embodiment, the shape of the opening 31 may be changed. For example, the shape of the opening 31 may be a triangle, a pentagon, a circle, or the like. In other words, as long as air can flow into the engine compartment 10 from the opening 31, the shape of the opening 31 may be changed as appropriate. For example, the front grille 30 may be formed in a lattice shape by a plurality of members extending in different directions. In this case, each space partitioned by the plurality of members is the opening 31.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the number of ventilation holes 41 may be changed. For example, the undercover 40 may be provided with three or less ventilation holes 41, or may be provided with five or more ventilation holes 41.

[0047] In the above embodiment, the second distance 41B of the ventilation hole 41 may be the same as the first distance 41A, or may be smaller than the first distance 41A. In the above embodiment, the shape of the vent 41 may be changed. For example, the shape of the vent 41 may be a square, a circle, or the like. In other words, as long as the air inside the engine compartment 10 can be exhausted from the vent 41, the shape of the vent 41 may be changed as appropriate.

[0048] In the above embodiment, the position of the vent 41 may be changed. For example, when the engine compartment 10 is viewed downward from above the vehicle, only one of the four vents 41 may be located in the region 96 between the gap 95 and the catalytic converter 70. Also, for example, when the engine compartment 10 is viewed downward from above the vehicle, only at least a portion of one vent 41 may be located in the region 96 between the gap 95 and the catalytic converter 70.

[0049] In the above embodiment, the vent 41 may be omitted. In this configuration, air can be discharged through gaps between the components that define the engine compartment 10. In the above embodiment, the positional relationship of each part may be changed. For example, the second radiator 92 may be located to the left of the first radiator 91. Even in this case, if the second radiator 92 is arranged on the left and right sides of the first radiator 91 with a gap therebetween, the gap 95 will exist.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the number of radiators may be changed. For example, the front structure 100 may include three or more radiators. Even in this configuration, if these radiators are arranged at intervals on the left and right, a gap 95 exists. Note that in this configuration, multiple gaps 95 may exist. In this case, when the engine compartment 10 is viewed from the front of the vehicle toward the rear, it is preferable that the catalyst case 71 is exposed from at least one of the multiple gaps 95.

[0051] In the above embodiment, the uses of the first radiator 91 and the second radiator 92 may be changed. As a specific example, the first radiator 91 may cool the cooling water that has passed through various parts of the transaxle 80. Furthermore, the second radiator 92 may cool the cooling water that has passed through various parts of the internal combustion engine 50. Furthermore, the first radiator 91 and the second radiator 92 may cool the cooling water that has passed through various parts of only one of the internal combustion engine 50 and the transaxle 80.

[0052] In the above embodiment, the relationship between the distances of the various parts may be changed. For example, when engine compartment 10 is viewed downward from above the vehicle, catalyst distance 70A may be the same as gap distance 95A or may be greater than gap distance 95A.

[0053] Furthermore, for example, when engine compartment 10 is viewed downward from above the vehicle, third distance 41C may be the same as gap distance 95A or may be greater than gap distance 95A. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 10. Engine compartment 11…Bonnet 12...Left fender 13…Right fender 20…Bumper cover 21...Through hole 30…Front grill 31…Aperture 40…Undercover 41…Ventilation hole 41A…1st distance 41B…Second distance 41C…3rd distance 50…Internal combustion engine 55...Engine body 55A…Cylinder 56…Intake pipe 60…Exhaust pipe 70...Catalyst device 70A…Catalyst distance 71…Catalyst case 72...Catalyst body 75…Catalyst center 80…Transaxle 85...Control device 91…First radiator 92…Second radiator 95…Gap 95A…Gap distance 100…Front structure

Claims

[Claim 1] An engine compartment is a space into which air can flow from the front; a first radiator located within the engine compartment; a second radiator arranged in the engine compartment and spaced apart from the first radiator; An undercover that constitutes a bottom wall of the engine compartment; an internal combustion engine located in the engine compartment rearward from the first radiator and the second radiator, The internal combustion engine includes: an engine body having a cylinder which is a space in which fuel is burned; an exhaust pipe through which exhaust gas from the cylinder flows; A catalytic converter is provided in the exhaust pipe. The catalytic converter is located forward as viewed from the engine body, The undercover has a vent hole that communicates the engine compartment with the outside, When the engine compartment is viewed downward from above the vehicle, at least a portion of the vent hole is located in a region that is rearward as viewed from the first radiator and the second radiator, forward as viewed from the catalytic converter, on the second radiator side as viewed from the first radiator, and on the first radiator side as viewed from the second radiator. Vehicle front structure.

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