Vehicle front bumper peripheral structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle front bumper periphery structure which enables reduction of air resistance during traveling to improve aerodynamic performance.SOLUTION: A vehicle front bumper periphery structure 100 according to the invention includes: a front bumper 102 installed on a vehicle body front end; and a garnish 108 fixed to a lower part 104 of the front bumper and extending in a vehicle width direction. The garnish has an extension wall 114 which lowers toward the vehicle rear and extends to the vehicle rear farther than the lower part of the front bumper.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Vehicles such as automobiles are equipped with a front bumper installed at the front end of the vehicle body. As a result, when a vehicle is moving, wind flows from the bottom of the front bumper onto the underside of the vehicle body, which can increase aerodynamic resistance (air resistance). To reduce this air resistance while driving, parts such as air dams, deflectors, and strakes, which are airflow plates shaped to block air, are known.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a front airflow straightening structure for an automobile. This front airflow straightening structure includes a front cover of an undercover, an air dam attached to the front bumper, and a deflector. The deflector is located between the air dam and the front wheelhouse, at a predetermined distance from the air dam.

[0004] The front airflow straightening structure includes a pocket that is open on the inside in the vehicle width direction, and is made up of the front cover, air dam, and deflector. The air dam also includes a wind intake that is open to take in wind toward the pocket.

[0005] Patent Document 1 states that the air dam can deflect the traveling wind from the front of the vehicle downward, thereby preventing the traveling wind from entering the front wheel house and reducing air resistance caused by disturbing the side flow on the side of the vehicle. Patent Document 1 also states that the traveling wind intake section can introduce the traveling wind into the pocket, thereby reducing the difference in flow velocity between the traveling wind flowing outside the pocket and the traveling wind flowing inside the pocket, making it possible to easily adjust the lift at the front of the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-150913 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Here, structures such as suspension parts (e.g., drive shafts and differentials) are located behind the lower part of the front bumper, and as a result, the wind that flows into the underside of the vehicle from the lower part of the front bumper may collide with these structures, increasing rolling resistance (air resistance) and potentially reducing aerodynamic performance.

[0008] The front airflow straightening structure of Patent Document 1 merely uses an air dam to prevent the wind from entering the front wheel house, and uses a wind intake section to introduce the wind into the pocket.

[0009] Therefore, in the front airflow straightening structure of Patent Document 1, the wind collides with the structure located behind the lower part of the front bumper, increasing air resistance and reducing aerodynamic performance. Furthermore, if the wind is suddenly deflected by a deflector spaced a certain distance from the air dam, it can have a detrimental effect on aerodynamics.

[0010] In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle front bumper peripheral structure that can reduce air resistance during driving and improve aerodynamic performance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In order to solve the above problems, a typical configuration of the vehicle front bumper peripheral structure of the present invention is a vehicle front bumper peripheral structure having a front bumper installed at the front end of the vehicle body, characterized in that the vehicle front bumper peripheral structure further has a garnish fixed to the lower part of the front bumper and extending in the vehicle width direction, and the garnish has an extending wall that descends toward the rear of the vehicle and extends further rearward than the lower part of the front bumper. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle front bumper peripheral structure that can reduce air resistance during driving and improve aerodynamic performance. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle front bumper peripheral structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a diagram showing the main part of the peripheral structure of FIG. 1 as viewed from diagonally forward. [Figure 3] 2 is a diagram showing the main part of the peripheral structure of FIG. 1 as viewed from below. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a diagram showing the main part of the peripheral structure of FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from behind. [Figure 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view of the peripheral structure of FIG. 4 taken along the line AA and the arrow D. FIG. [Figure 6] 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views of the peripheral structure of FIG. 4 and CC, respectively.

[0014] A typical configuration of a vehicle front bumper peripheral structure according to one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle front bumper peripheral structure having a front bumper installed at the front end of the vehicle body, characterized in that the vehicle front bumper peripheral structure further has a garnish fixed to the lower part of the front bumper and extending in the vehicle width direction, and the garnish has an extending wall that descends toward the rear of the vehicle and extends further rearward than the lower part of the front bumper.

[0015] Structures such as suspension parts are located behind the lower part of the front bumper, which means that wind from the vehicle's running surface that flows from the bottom of the front bumper to the underside of the vehicle may collide with these structures, increasing air resistance and reducing aerodynamic performance.

[0016] Therefore, in the above configuration, a garnish extending in the vehicle width direction is fixed to the lower part of the front bumper, and the garnish has an extending wall that descends toward the rear of the vehicle and extends further rearward than the lower part of the front bumper.

[0017] In this way, the extension wall of the garnish is inclined or curved so as to descend toward the rear of the vehicle, and the wind generated by the vehicle is guided and rectified along the extension wall. In other words, the extension wall can rectify the wind generated by the vehicle so that it flows downward toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0018] Furthermore, the wind rectified along the extension wall is diffused from the point where the extension wall ends, i.e., the rear end. Because the extension wall extends further rearward than the lower part of the front bumper, it is possible to guide the wind further downward while maintaining the downward flow of the diffused wind. Therefore, even if a structure is located behind the garnish, the wind is less likely to collide with the structure, reducing air resistance during driving and improving aerodynamic performance.

[0019] The above-mentioned vehicle front bumper peripheral structure may further include a strake positioned outside the garnish in the vehicle width direction and extending downwardly of the vehicle, and the garnish may have a front wall overlapping the strake from the front side of the vehicle, and a vertical wall connecting the extending wall and the front wall.

[0020] In this way, since the strakes are arranged on the outer side of the garnish in the vehicle width direction, when the traveling wind that hits the front wall of the garnish or the strakes flows in the vehicle width direction, the strakes guide the traveling wind outward in the vehicle width direction, thereby reducing the chance of the traveling wind hitting structures arranged behind the garnish.

[0021] Furthermore, the wind that strikes the front wall or strakes of the garnish can be guided from the front wall of the garnish to the extending wall via the vertical wall, and rectified so that it flows inward in the vehicle width direction and downward in the vehicle. According to the above configuration, the wind that strikes the front wall or strakes of the garnish can be guided not only outward in the vehicle width direction, but also inward in the vehicle width direction and downward in the vehicle width direction. This reduces air resistance during driving, improving aerodynamic performance. Furthermore, because the extending wall of the garnish is connected to the front wall that overlaps the strakes via the vertical wall, rigidity can be ensured.

[0022] The upright wall is preferably inclined inward in the vehicle width direction toward the rear of the vehicle, and the height dimension thereof is preferably reduced toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0023] As a result, the wind flows from the front wall of the garnish toward the inside of the vehicle width direction along the vertical wall inclined toward the inside of the vehicle width direction, and is further guided to the extension wall. This makes it easier for the garnish to demonstrate its wind guidance performance, and the wind can be more reliably guided toward the inside of the vehicle width direction and below the vehicle. As a result, even if a structure is placed behind the garnish, the wind can be directed downward, reducing air resistance during driving and improving aerodynamic performance.

[0024] Furthermore, since the height dimension of the upright wall of the garnish decreases toward the rear of the vehicle, the area of ​​the upright wall that collides with the wind as the vehicle travels decreases toward the rear, thereby suppressing an increase in air resistance.

[0025] The garnish may further include a rib that stands on the extension wall and abuts against the lower part of the front bumper.

[0026] In this way, the rib erected on the extension wall of the garnish abuts against the lower part of the front bumper, so the shape of the extension wall can be maintained. Therefore, with the above configuration, even if the wind collides with the extension wall and receives wind pressure, the lower part of the front bumper acts as a backing and presses the rib downward on the vehicle, preventing the extension wall from deforming upward on the vehicle.

[0027] The above-mentioned front bumper has a fixed surface extending in the vehicle width direction to which the garnish is fixed, a wall surface bending downward from the rear end of the fixed surface, and an abutment surface extending from the lower end of the wall surface toward the rear of the vehicle and abutting against the rib, and the rib extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, with its front end located below the fixed surface and its rear end located rearward of the abutment surface.

[0028] In this way, the rib extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle from its front end located below the fixing surface of the front bumper to its rear end located rearward of the abutment surface of the front bumper. Therefore, the rib extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle makes it difficult for the extension wall of the garnish to deform, and it is possible to prevent deformation such that the rear end of the extension wall bends upward on the vehicle even when it is hit by wind from traveling. [Example]

[0029] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dimensions, materials, and other specific values ​​shown in these embodiments are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention and, unless otherwise specified, do not limit the present invention. In this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are designated by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant explanation, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle front bumper peripheral structure (hereinafter referred to as peripheral structure 100) according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following drawings, the front and back directions of the vehicle are indicated by arrows "Front" and "Back," the left and right directions of the vehicle width are indicated by arrows "Left" and "Right," and the up and down directions of the vehicle are indicated by arrows "Up" and "Down." Note that the following description will exemplify the peripheral structure 100 on the left side of the vehicle in FIG. 1, but this embodiment may also be applied to the right side of the vehicle.

[0031] The peripheral structure 100 includes a front bumper 102 that is installed at the front end of the vehicle body. A structure 106 (see FIG. 5(a)), such as a suspension part, is disposed behind a lower portion 104 of the front bumper 102, as shown schematically in the figure. For this reason, when the vehicle is traveling, wind that flows from the lower portion 104 of the front bumper 102 onto the underside of the vehicle body may collide with the structure 106, increasing air resistance and potentially reducing aerodynamic performance.

[0032] Therefore, the peripheral structure 100 of this embodiment further includes an air rectifying garnish 108 and a strake 110, which reduces the collision of the wind with the structure 106 while the vehicle is running, thereby suppressing an increase in air resistance while the vehicle is running.

[0033] The garnish 108 is a member fixed to the lower portion 104 of the front bumper 102 and extending in the vehicle width direction. The strakes 110 are members that are disposed on the outer side of the garnish 108 in the vehicle width direction and extend downward of the vehicle, and are formed with steps 111, for example, to increase rigidity. The strakes 110 have the function of reducing air interference with the wheels 112 during driving and thereby reducing air resistance.

[0034] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the main parts of the peripheral structure 100 of Fig. 1 as viewed from diagonally forward, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the main parts of the peripheral structure 100 of Fig. 1 as viewed from below.

[0035] Garnish 108 has an extension wall 114 extending rearward of the vehicle, a front wall 116 overlapping strafe 110 from the front side of the vehicle, and a standing wall 118 connecting extension wall 114 and front wall 116. As shown by the chain line in Fig. 2, standing wall 118 has a height that decreases toward the rear of the vehicle (see Fig. 5), and furthermore, as shown in Fig. 3, it is inclined inward in the vehicle width direction toward the rear of the vehicle. Furthermore, because extension wall 114 of garnish 108 is connected via standing wall 118 to front wall 116 that overlaps strafe 110, which has high rigidity, rigidity can be ensured.

[0036] 3, the garnish 108 is placed vertically on the lower portion 104 of the front bumper 102 and the strake 110 behind the front wall 116, and is fastened with screws 120. Furthermore, the extension wall 114 of the garnish 108 has a bulging portion 122 that bulges upward (see FIG. 4).

[0037] The garnish 108 has a bulging portion 122 and a lower portion 104 of the front bumper 102 that are overlapped in the vertical direction and fastened together with screws 124. As shown in FIG. 3, a wheel house 126 that surrounds the upper side of the wheel 112 is located near the front bumper 102 and the strake 110.

[0038] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a main part of the peripheral structure 100 of Fig. 1 is seen from diagonally behind. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA and a view taken along arrow D of the peripheral structure 100 of Fig. 4. In the cross-sectional view taken along line AA of Fig. 5(a), the positions of the standing wall 118 of the garnish 108 and the screw 124 are indicated by chain lines, and further, the structure 106 arranged behind the lower part 104 of the front bumper 102 is also shown.

[0039] The extending wall 114 of the garnish 108 is curved or inclined downward toward the rear of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 5(a), and further extends so that its rear end 128 is positioned further rearward than the lower portion 104 of the front bumper 102.

[0040] 4, the lower portion 104 of the front bumper 102 has a fixing surface 130 extending in the vehicle width direction. On the fixing surface 130, screws 120, 124, and 132 that fix the lower portion 104 of the front bumper 102 and the garnish 108 are arranged spaced apart in the vehicle width direction.

[0041] The lower portion 104 of the front bumper 102 further has a wall surface 134 and an abutment surface 136. The wall surface 134 extends and bends downward from a rear end 138 of the fixing surface 130. The garnish 108 further has a rib 140 erected from the extension wall 114. As shown in FIG. 5(a), the abutment surface 136 extends from a lower end 142 of the wall surface 134 toward the rear of the vehicle and abuts against the rib 140.

[0042] 5(a), the garnish 108 has an upper wall 144. The upper wall 144 bends and extends from the extension wall 114 toward the rear of the vehicle and abuts against the fixing surface 130. The rib 140 extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, with its front end 146 extending to the upper wall 144 of the garnish 108 and positioned below the fixing surface 130, and its rear end 148 being positioned rearward of the abutment surface 136.

[0043] Note that D in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5(b) Arrow view As shown in FIG. 1, the garnish 108 has another rib 150 arranged outward in the vehicle width direction and spaced from the rib 140. The rib 150 stands on the extension wall 114 and abuts against the fixing surface 136 of the lower portion 104 of the front bumper 102.

[0044] Here, the behavior of traveling wind that flows from the lower portion 104 of the front bumper 102 onto the underside of the vehicle body while the vehicle is traveling in the peripheral structure 100 will be described. As an example, assume that traveling wind W collides with the front wall 116 of the garnish 108 and the strafe 110 and flows in the vehicle width direction, as shown in Figure 3. The traveling wind W flows inward in the vehicle width direction from the front wall 116 of the garnish 108 along the standing wall 118 that slopes inward in the vehicle width direction as it approaches the rear of the vehicle, and is further guided to the extension wall 114, where it becomes traveling wind Wa.

[0045] In this way, by slanting the standing wall 118 inward in the vehicle width direction, the wind guidance performance of the garnish 108 is easily exhibited, and the traveling wind Wa can be more reliably guided inward in the vehicle width direction and downward in the vehicle. In addition, since the height dimension of the standing wall 118 decreases toward the rear of the vehicle, the area of ​​the standing wall 118 that collides with the traveling wind decreases toward the rear of the vehicle, and an increase in air resistance can be suppressed.

[0046] Furthermore, part of the traveling wind W is guided outward in the vehicle width direction by strakes 110 arranged on the outer side of the garnish 108 in the vehicle width direction, and becomes traveling wind Wb. Because the traveling wind Wb flows outward in the vehicle width direction, it is less likely to collide with the structure 106 arranged behind the garnish 108. In this way, the peripheral structure 100 can guide the traveling wind W that has collided with the front wall 116 of the garnish 108 or the strakes 110 not only outward in the vehicle width direction, but also inward in the vehicle width direction and below the vehicle.

[0047] 5(a), the extending wall 114 of the garnish 108 is inclined or curved so as to descend toward the rear of the vehicle, and therefore the traveling wind Wa is guided and rectified so as to flow along the extending wall 114. That is, the extending wall 114 can rectify the traveling wind Wa so that it flows downward toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0048] Furthermore, the traveling wind Wa that has been rectified along the extending wall 114 is diffused from the point where the extending wall 114 ends, i.e., from the rear end 128. Here, the extending wall 114 extends further rearward of the vehicle than the lower portion 104 of the front bumper 102, as shown in FIG. 5(a). Therefore, the extending wall 114 can guide the traveling wind Wa further downward, while also maintaining the downward flow of the diffused traveling wind Wa.

[0049] This makes it less likely that the traveling wind Wa will collide with the structure 106 disposed behind the garnish 108, and even if it does collide, it will be more likely to flow below the structure 106 like the traveling wind Wc. Therefore, the peripheral structure 100 can reduce air resistance during traveling and improve aerodynamic performance.

[0050] Furthermore, the rib 140 erected on the extending wall 114 of the garnish 108 abuts against the abutment surface 136 of the lower portion 104 of the front bumper 102, so the shape of the extending wall 114 can be maintained. Therefore, even when traveling wind Wa collides with the extending wall 114 and receives wind pressure, the abutment surface 136 of the front bumper 102 acts as a backstop to press the rib 140 downward toward the vehicle. As a result, the peripheral structure 100 can prevent the extending wall 114 from deforming upward toward the vehicle, as indicated by arrow E in FIG. 5(a).

[0051] Furthermore, the rib 140 extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction from a front end 146 located below the fixing surface 130 of the front bumper 102 to a rear end 148 located rearward of the vehicle relative to the abutment surface 136 of the front bumper 102. Therefore, the rib 140 extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction makes it difficult for the extension wall 114 of the garnish 108 to deform. As a result, the peripheral structure 100 can prevent deformation such that the rear end 128 of the extension wall 114 bends upwardly of the vehicle even when it is hit by a traveling wind Wa.

[0052] 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views taken along lines BB and CC of the peripheral structure 100 shown in FIG. 4. The depth of each cross-section is also shown in the drawings. As shown in the cross-sectional views of FIG. 4 and FIG. 6A, the garnish 108 has another rib 152 spaced apart from the rib 140 and disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

[0053] 6(a), the front bumper 102 has an extension surface 154 that extends toward the front of the vehicle from the contact surface 136. The rib 152 stands on the extension wall 114 and contacts the contact surface 136 and the extension surface 154, and is further sandwiched between the extension surface 154 and the upper wall 144.

[0054] As a result, the shape of the extension wall 114 can be sufficiently maintained by the ribs 152. Therefore, in the peripheral structure 100, even when traveling wind Wa (see FIG. 5(a)) collides with the extension wall 114 and receives wind pressure, the abutment surface 136 and the extension surface 154 of the front bumper act as a shield, making it difficult for the extension wall 114 to deform upwardly of the vehicle.

[0055] 4 and 6(a), the garnish 108 has a protruding portion 156 that protrudes toward the rear of the vehicle. This protruding portion 156 is passed through an opening 158 formed in the wall surface 134 of the lower portion 104 of the front bumper 102 shown in FIG. 4, allowing the garnish 108 to be temporarily fixed to the lower portion 104 of the front bumper 102. Note that FIG. 6(a) shows a standing wall 160 located on the right side of the garnish 108 in the vehicle width direction. This standing wall 160 is a portion that faces the standing wall 118 (see FIG. 5(b)) located on the left side in the vehicle width direction.

[0056] In addition, in the garnish 108, as shown in the CC cross section of FIG. 6(b), 114 The top wall 162 of the bulging portion 122 that bulges upward is overlapped with the fixing surface 130 of the lower portion 104 of the front bumper 102, and the screw 124 is inserted from below. In this way, in the peripheral structure 100, the garnish 108 and the lower portion 104 of the front bumper 102 are temporarily fixed together by the protrusion 156, and can then be securely fixed together by the screw 124.

[0057] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is clear that those skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications and alterations within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that such modifications and alterations also fall within the technical scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0058] The present invention can be used in a vehicle front bumper peripheral structure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 100... Vehicle front bumper peripheral structure, 102... Front bumper, 104... Lower part of front bumper, 106... Structure, 108... Garnish, 110... Strake, 111... Strake step, 112... Wheel, 114... Extension wall, 116... Front wall, 118, 160... Standing wall, 120, 124, 132... Screw, 122... Bulging portion, 126... Wheelhouse, 128... Rear end of extension wall, 130... Fixing surface, 134... Wall surface, 136... Abutment surface, 138... Rear end of fixing surface, 140, 150, 152... Rib, 142... Lower end of wall surface, 144... Upper wall, 146... Front end of rib, 148... Rear end of rib, 154... Extension surface, 156... Protrusion, 158... Opening in wall, 162... Top wall

Claims

1. In a vehicle front bumper peripheral structure having a front bumper installed at the front end of a vehicle body, the vehicle front bumper peripheral structure further comprises: a garnish fixed to a lower portion of the front bumper and extending in a vehicle width direction; the garnish has an extension wall that descends toward the rear of the vehicle and extends beyond a lower portion of the front bumper to the rear of the vehicle, The vehicle front bumper peripheral structure further includes a strake disposed on the outer side of the garnish in the vehicle width direction and extending downward of the vehicle, The garnish is a front wall overlapping the strake from the front side of the vehicle; a standing wall connecting the extension wall and the front wall, The upright wall is inclined inward in the vehicle width direction toward the rear of the vehicle, and the height dimension thereof decreases toward the rear of the vehicle.

2. A vehicle front bumper peripheral structure having a front bumper installed at the front end of a vehicle body, the vehicle front bumper peripheral structure further comprising: a garnish fixed to a lower portion of the front bumper and extending in a vehicle width direction; the garnish has an extension wall that descends toward the rear of the vehicle and extends beyond a lower portion of the front bumper to the rear of the vehicle, The garnish further includes a rib that stands on the extension wall and abuts against a lower portion of the front bumper, The front bumper is a fixing surface extending in the vehicle width direction to which the garnish is fixed; a wall surface that bends downward and extends from a rear end of the fixing surface; a contact surface extending from a lower end of the wall surface toward the rear of the vehicle and contacting the rib; The rib extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, with its front end located below the fixing surface and its rear end located rearward of the abutment surface.

3. The vehicle front bumper peripheral structure described in Claim 1, characterized in that the garnish further has a rib that stands on the extension wall and abuts against the lower part of the front bumper.

4. The front bumper a fixing surface extending in the vehicle width direction to which the garnish is fixed; a wall surface that bends downward and extends from a rear end of the fixing surface; a contact surface extending from a lower end of the wall surface toward the rear of the vehicle and contacting the rib; 4. The vehicle front bumper peripheral structure according to claim 3, wherein the rib extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, the front end of the rib being located below the fixing surface, and the rear end of the rib being located rearward of the abutment surface.

5. The vehicle front bumper peripheral structure further includes a strake disposed on the outer side of the garnish in the vehicle width direction and extending downward of the vehicle, The garnish is a front wall overlapping the strake from the front side of the vehicle; 3. The vehicle front bumper peripheral structure according to claim 2, further comprising a standing wall connecting the extension wall and the front wall.

6. 6. The vehicle front bumper peripheral structure according to claim 5, wherein the vertical wall is inclined inward in the vehicle width direction toward the rear of the vehicle, and the height dimension of the vertical wall decreases toward the rear of the vehicle.

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