Front Structure of Vehicle

Abstract

Provide a front structure of a vehicle that can suppress the temperature rise in the engine compartment. 【Solution means】In the front structure of the vehicle 11, a radiator 15 is arranged at the front in the engine room 14 where the engine 13 is arranged, the rear part of the engine room 14 is covered by a dash panel 20, and the lower part of the engine room 14 is covered by an under cover 17. A cover member 27 that covers the rear surface of the radiator 15 is arranged behind the radiator 15 in the engine room 14. The cover member 27 has a rear wall 28 and a pair of side walls 29 that face each other in the vehicle width direction. An opening 32 that is surrounded by the rear wall 28 and the pair of side walls 29 and communicates the inside and outside of the engine room 14 is formed in the under cover 17. Vertical ribs 31 are provided on at least the outer surface of the rear wall 28 of the cover member 27.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a front structure of this type of vehicle, for example, a front structure of a vehicle body shown in Patent Document 1 is known. Such a front structure of the vehicle body is configured such that a radiator is disposed at the front of the engine room, and the upper part of the engine room is covered with a front hood. An exhaust port for communicating the engine room with the outside of the vehicle is provided in an under cover that covers the lower side of the engine room. Behind the radiator, an exhaust guide having a tubular duct portion for guiding the cooling air that has passed through the radiator to the exhaust port is arranged.

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 the front structure of the vehicle body as described above, a motor is disposed behind the exhaust guide in the engine room. The area behind the exhaust guide in the engine room has little air flow. For this reason, air tends to stagnate around the motor in the engine room. Therefore, it becomes difficult for the heat of the motor to be discharged from the engine room, so the temperature in the engine room rises.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] Hereinafter, means for solving the above problems and their effects will be described. The front structure of a vehicle for solving the above problems is a front structure of a vehicle in which a radiator is disposed at the front part of a power chamber where a power unit is disposed, the rear part of the power chamber is covered by a dash panel, and the lower part of the power chamber is covered by an under cover. A cover member that covers the rear surface of the radiator is disposed behind the radiator in the power chamber. The cover member has a rear wall and a pair of side walls facing each other in the vehicle width direction. An opening that is surrounded by the rear wall and the pair of side walls and communicates the inside and outside of the power chamber is formed in the under cover. A protruding portion is provided on at least the outer surface of the rear wall of the cover member.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0007] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction shall be the front-rear direction, the left-right direction (vehicle width direction), and the up-down direction when the forward direction of the vehicle 11 is taken as the front.

[0008] <Front Structure of Vehicle 11> As shown in FIG. 1, inside the front part of a vehicle 11 traveling on the ground 12 with tires (not shown), an engine room 14 is provided as an example of a power chamber in which an engine 13 is arranged as an example of a power device. At the front part inside the engine room 14, a rectangular plate-shaped radiator 15 is arranged. The radiator 15 is arranged in a posture perpendicular to the horizontal plane.

[0009] The upper part of the engine room 14 is covered by a front hood 16. The lower part of the engine room 14 is covered by an under cover 17. The front part of the engine room 14 is covered by a front bumper 19 having a plurality of ventilation holes 18. The rear part of the engine room 14 is covered by a dash panel 20.

[0010] Between the radiator 15 and the front bumper 19, a cylindrical guide member 21 is provided to guide air flowing into the engine room 14 from the outside through each ventilation hole 18 of the front bumper 19 to the front surface of the radiator 15. A fan device 22 is provided on the rear surface of the radiator 15. The fan device 22 is arranged in a posture perpendicular to the horizontal plane in accordance with the radiator 15. The fan device 22 has a fan case 23 and a radiator fan 24 rotatably accommodated in the fan case 23.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fan case 23 has a bottomed rectangular box-shaped first case part 25 that covers the rear surface of the radiator 15 and houses the radiator fan 24, and a cylindrical second case part 26 that is connected to the central part of the bottom wall of the first case part 25 and whose interior communicates with the interior of the first case part 25. The rear end of the second case part 26 is covered by a cover member 27. The cover member 27 is arranged behind the radiator 15 in the engine room 14 and covers the rear surface of the radiator 15 via the fan case 23.

[0012] <Cover member 27> As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cover member 27 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin. The cover member 27 has a rear wall 28, a pair of side walls 29, and an upper wall 30. The rear wall 28, the pair of side walls 29, and the upper wall 30 are integrally formed. The rear wall 28 has a rectangular plate shape that extends in the vertical direction with a rounded upper portion. The pair of side walls 29 has a rectangular plate shape that extends in the vertical direction and faces each other in the left-right direction, which is the vehicle width direction.

[0013] The upper wall 30 has a plate shape that extends in the left-right direction and is curved so as to bulge upward. The left and right ends of the upper wall 30 are smoothly and integrally connected to the upper ends of the pair of side walls 29, respectively. The rear end of the upper wall 30 is smoothly and integrally connected to the upper end of the rear wall 28. A plurality of vertical ribs 31 that constitute protrusions are provided on the outer surface of the upper wall 30 and the outer surface of the rear wall 28. The protrusion includes the plurality of vertical ribs 31 and does not include a horizontal rib that extends in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the vertical ribs 31 on the surface where the vertical ribs 31 are provided.

[0014] Each vertical rib 31 continuously extends from the front end of the outer surface of the upper wall 30 to the lower end of the outer surface of the rear wall 28. Each vertical rib 31 extends in the front-rear direction on the outer surface of the upper wall 30 and in the vertical direction on the outer surface of the rear wall 28. The plurality of vertical ribs 31 are arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the vertical ribs 31 on the outer surface of the upper wall 30 and the outer surface of the rear wall 28, which are the surfaces where the vertical ribs 31 are provided. The plurality of vertical ribs 31 have the same protruding height.

[0015] No horizontal rib that extends in the left-right direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the vertical ribs 31 on the surface where the vertical ribs 31 are provided, is provided on the outer surface of the upper wall 30 and the outer surface of the rear wall 28. No protrusion is provided on the inner surface of the cover member 27. That is, no vertical rib 31 is provided on the inner surface of the rear wall 28, the inner surfaces of the pair of side walls 29, and the inner surface of the upper wall 30.

[0016] The cover member 27 has an opening at the front in a U shape and an opening at the lower part in a substantially rectangular shape. The opening at the front of the cover member 27 covers the opening at the rear of the second case part 26. The opening at the lower part of the cover member 27 covers a part of the upper surface of the under cover 17. An engine 13 is disposed behind the cover member 27 in the engine room 14. That is, the engine 13 is disposed between the cover member 27 and the dash panel 20 in the engine room 14.

[0017] <under cover 17> As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a substantially rectangular opening 32 that communicates the inside and outside of the engine room 14 is formed below the cover member 27 in the under cover 17. The rear end portion of the opening 32 is disposed at a position corresponding in the vertical direction to the rear end portion of the opening at the lower part of the cover member 27. The opening 32 is formed such that the long side direction is the left-right direction and the short side direction is the front-rear direction. The opening 32 is surrounded by the rear wall 28 and the pair of side walls 29 of the cover member 27 in plan view.

[0018] <Operation of the embodiment> Next, the operation during the running of the vehicle 11 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, when the vehicle 11 runs on the ground 12 such as a road, air flows into the engine room 14 from the front of the vehicle 11 through the respective ventilation holes 18 of the front bumper 19. Most of the air that has flowed into the engine room 14 is guided by the guide member 21 and passes through the radiator 15, and the remaining air flows to the rear side of the cover member 27 in the engine room 14.

[0019] Almost all of the air that has passed through the radiator 15 is guided by the cover member 27 and quickly discharged to the outside of the vehicle through the opening 32. For this reason, the air resistance in the engine room 14 is suitably reduced.

[0020] In addition, when the air passing through the radiator 15 is guided to the opening 32 by the cover member 27, the pressure of the air acts particularly on the inner surfaces of the upper wall 30 and the rear wall 28 of the cover member 27. However, since a plurality of vertical ribs 31 are provided on the outer surfaces of the upper wall 30 and the rear wall 28 of the cover member 27, the rigidity of the upper wall 30 and the rear wall 28 is increased. Therefore, deformation of the upper wall 30 and the rear wall 28 of the cover member 27 due to the pressure of the air passing through the radiator 15 is suppressed.

[0021] Also, a part of the air flowing into the engine room 14 from the front of the vehicle 11 through the ventilation holes 18 of the front bumper 19 flows between the front hood 16 and the cover member 27 and then flows to the rear side of the cover member 27. A part of the air flowing to the rear side of the cover member 27 in the engine room 14 flows downward between the cover member 27 and the engine 13 together with the hot air around the engine 13 heated by the heat of the engine 13.

[0022] At this time, the plurality of vertical ribs 31 provided on the outer surfaces of the upper wall 30 and the rear wall 28 of the cover member 27 increase the contact area between the cover member 27 and the air flowing downward behind the cover member 27. Therefore, the cover member 27 efficiently exchanges heat with the air flowing downward behind the cover member 27. That is, the cover member 27 efficiently absorbs the heat of the hot air flowing downward behind the cover member 27.

[0023] The heat of the hot air absorbed by the cover member 27 is transferred to the air flowing toward the opening 32 inside the cover member 27 and is discharged from the opening 32 to the outside of the engine room 14 together with the air. Therefore, an increase in the temperature inside the engine room 14 due to the heat of the engine 13 is suppressed. Accordingly, heat damage to various components inside the engine room 14 caused by an increase in the temperature inside the engine room 14 is reduced.

[0024] <Effects of the Embodiment> According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following effects are exhibited. (1) The front structure of the vehicle 11 has a radiator 15 disposed at the front in the engine room 14 where the engine 13 is arranged. The rear part of the engine room 14 is covered by a dash panel 20, and the lower part of the engine room 14 is covered by an under cover 17. A cover member 27 that covers the rear surface of the radiator 15 is disposed behind the radiator 15 in the engine room 14. The cover member 27 has a rear wall 28 and a pair of side walls 29 that face each other in the left - right direction. An opening 32 that is surrounded by the rear wall 28 and the pair of side walls 29 and communicates between the inside and outside of the engine room 14 is formed in the under cover 17. At least on the outer surface of the rear wall 28 of the cover member 27, vertical ribs 31 that constitute a protruding portion are provided.

[0025] According to the above configuration, the air that has passed through the radiator 15 does not flow into the engine room 14 but is quickly guided to the opening 32 by the cover member 27 and discharged outside the vehicle. At this time, since the vertical ribs 31 promote the heat exchange between the cover member 27 and the hot air in the engine room 14, the heat of the air in the engine room 14 can be effectively discharged to the outside of the vehicle together with the air in the cover member 27 through the opening 32. Therefore, the temperature rise in the engine room 14 can be effectively suppressed.

[0026] (2) In the front structure of the vehicle 11, the cover member 27 has an upper wall 30, and the rear wall 28 extends in the vertical direction. The protruding portion includes a plurality of vertical ribs 31 that extend in the vertical direction. The plurality of vertical ribs 31 are arranged side by side in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the vertical ribs 31 on the surface where the vertical ribs 31 are provided.

[0027] According to the above configuration, the hot air in the engine room 14 flows between the plurality of vertical ribs 31, so that the heat exchange between the cover member 27 and the hot air in the engine room 14 can be further promoted by the plurality of vertical ribs 31.

[0028] (3) In the front structure of the vehicle 11, the protruding portion does not include a horizontal rib that extends in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the vertical ribs 31 on the surface where the vertical ribs 31 are provided. According to the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the hot air in the engine room 14 from being blocked by the horizontal ribs from flowing between the plurality of vertical ribs 31.

[0029] (4) In the front structure of the vehicle 11, no protrusion is provided on the inner surface of the cover member 27. According to the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the air flow in the cover member 27 from being blocked by the protrusion. Therefore, the air in the cover member 27 can be smoothly guided to the opening 32.

[0030] <Modification example> The above embodiment can be modified and implemented as follows. Also, the above embodiment and the following modification examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically non - conflicting range.

[0031] · As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the radiator 15 and the fan device 22 may be inclined so as to fall backward, and the cover member 27 may be changed to a cover member 40. The cover member 40 is obtained by making the pair of side walls 29 triangular when viewed in the left - right direction in the cover member 27, omitting the upper wall 30, and inclining the rear wall 28 so that its height decreases toward the rear. Even in this case, the same operational effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0032] · A protrusion may be provided on the inner surface of the cover member 27. · The protrusion may include a horizontal rib extending in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the vertical rib 31.

[0033] · The protrusion may be constituted by one vertical rib 31. · The protrusion may be constituted by one or more horizontal ribs. · The protrusion may be constituted by protrusions such as one or more pins.

[0034] · The plurality of vertical ribs 31 may be partially different in thickness, length, protruding height, interval, etc. ·At least one of the plurality of vertical ribs 31 may extend intermittently.

[0035] ·The plurality of vertical ribs 31 may be configured separately from the cover member 27. ·The plurality of vertical ribs 31 may be made of a material with higher thermal conductivity than the cover member 27. In this case, for example, the plurality of vertical ribs 31 are made of metal and provided on the synthetic resin cover member 27 by insert molding.

[0036] ·Protrusions may be formed on at least one outer surface of the pair of side walls 29 of the cover member 27. ·The vehicle 11 may be an electric vehicle driven by an electric motor. In this case, the power device is constituted by an electric motor, and the power chamber is constituted by a motor room in which the electric motor is arranged.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0037] 11…Vehicle 12…Ground 13…Engine 14…Engine Room 15…Radiator 16…Front Hood 17…Under Cover 18…Vent Hole 19…Front Bumper 20…Dash Panel 21…Guide Member 22…Fan Device 23…Fan Case 24…Radiator Fan 25…First Case Portion 26…Second Case Portion 27…Cover Member 28…Rear Wall 29…Side Wall 30…Upper Wall 31…Vertical Rib Constituting Protrusion 32…Opening 40…Cover Member

Claims

1. A front structure of a vehicle, in which a radiator is disposed at a front portion of a power compartment in which a power unit is disposed, a rear portion of the power compartment is covered by a dash panel, and a lower portion of the power compartment is covered by an undercover, a cover member that covers a rear surface of the radiator is disposed behind the radiator in the power chamber, The cover member has a rear wall and a pair of side walls opposed to each other in a vehicle width direction, an opening is formed in the undercover, the opening being surrounded by the rear wall and the pair of side walls and communicating the inside and outside of the power chamber; A protrusion is provided on at least an outer surface of the rear wall of the cover member, The cover member has an upper wall and the rear wall extends in a vertical direction, The protrusion includes a plurality of vertical ribs extending in the up-down direction, The plurality of longitudinal ribs are arranged in a line in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the longitudinal ribs extend on the surface on which the longitudinal ribs are provided, A front structure for a vehicle, wherein the protrusion does not include a horizontal rib extending in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the vertical rib extends on the surface on which the vertical rib is provided.

2. 2. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is not provided on an inner surface of the cover member.

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