Vehicle front structure
The vehicle front structure addresses vertical dimension restrictions by using a hood lock striker and striker bracket configuration to create a deformable area, enhancing pedestrian protection through impact load distribution and absorption.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-06-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-10
AI Technical Summary
Existing vehicle front structures face challenges in providing a deformable portion to protect pedestrians due to restrictions on vertical dimensions, especially when impact loads are applied from above.
The vehicle front structure incorporates a hood lock striker with inclined fixing portions and a striker bracket configuration that allows for a deformable area, distributing impact loads and enhancing pedestrian protection.
Ensures a portion that can deform under impact loads, effectively protecting pedestrians by absorbing energy and reducing deformation resistance.
Smart Images

Figure 0007826863000001 
Figure 0007826863000002 
Figure 0007826863000003
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle front structure. [Background technology]
[0002] There is known a vehicle equipped with a front hood at the front of the vehicle, as disclosed in Patent Document 1. The front hood is a member that opens and closes the top of a power compartment in which a power unit such as an engine or a motor is located, and is rotatably attached to the vehicle body via a hood hinge.
[0003] A front hood typically includes a hood outer panel and a hood inner panel, the outer peripheries of which are joined together. A hemming is provided at the front of the front hood. The hemming is configured by folding the front portion of the hood outer panel inward, sandwiching the front portion of the hood inner panel between the folded-over portions, and joining the hood inner panel and the hood outer panel with adhesive or the like. Providing this hemming increases the rigidity of the front portion of the front hood.
[0004] A striker is attached to the front of the front hood via a bracket. A hood latch that engages and disengages with the striker is provided on the front of the vehicle body opposite the striker. Engagement of the striker with the hood latch holds the front hood in a closed position that closes the power compartment. The bracket has a bracket joint that is joined to the hood inner panel by, for example, spot welding.
[0005] On the other hand, in the structure disclosed in Patent Document 1, a portion (deformation guide portion) that is easily deformed when subjected to an impact load from above the vehicle is provided in the front part of the front hood, in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, between the hemming portion and the bracket joint portion, for the purpose of protecting pedestrians. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6623743 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0007] However, in the structure of the above example, in order to provide the deformation guide portion, it is necessary to ensure a predetermined dimension in the vertical direction of the vehicle at the front of the front hood. However, depending on the vehicle model, there may be restrictions on the vertical dimension of the front of the front hood, making it difficult to provide the deformation guide portion at the front of the front hood. Therefore, the structure of the above example leaves room for improvement in terms of ensuring a portion that is easily deformed when an impact load is applied from above the vehicle, with the aim of protecting pedestrians.
[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a vehicle front structure that can secure a portion that is likely to deform when subjected to an impact load from above the vehicle, even for vehicle models that have restrictions on the vertical dimensions of the front part of the front hood. [Means for solving the problem]
[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the vehicle front structure of the present invention comprises a hood outer panel arranged at the front of the vehicle, a hood inner panel arranged on the vehicle inside of the hood outer panel, a hood lock striker provided at the front of the hood inner panel, and a striker bracket provided at the front of the hood inner panel and to which the hood lock striker is joined, wherein the hood lock striker has a fixing portion engageable with a hood latch provided at the front of the vehicle body, a front portion extending upward from the front end of the fixing portion, a rear portion extending upward from the rear end of the fixing portion, a front fixing portion extending in the vehicle width direction from the front portion and joined to the striker bracket, and a rear fixing portion extending in the vehicle width direction from the rear portion and joined to the striker bracket. In this vehicle front structure, when engaged with the hood latch, the fixing portion extends at an incline downward toward the front of the vehicle, is perpendicular to the front portion, an obtuse angle is formed between the rear portion and the fixing portion, and the front fixing portion is positioned higher on the vehicle than the rear fixing portion. [Effects of the Invention]
[0010] According to the present invention, even in a vehicle in which the vertical dimension of the front part of the front hood is restricted, it is possible to ensure a portion that is likely to deform when subjected to an impact load from above the vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a vehicle having a vehicle front structure according to the present invention, as viewed obliquely from the front. [Figure 2] 2 is a front view of the vehicle front structure of FIG. 1 as seen from the front of the vehicle. [Figure 3] 2 is a plan view of the front hood of FIG. 1 as seen from above the vehicle. [Figure 4] 3 is a perspective view of the hood inner panel of the front hood of FIG. 2 as viewed from inside the vehicle. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the hood outer panel of FIG. 2 is omitted. [Figure 6]4 is an enlarged bottom view of the striker bracket, the hood lock striker, and their surroundings as viewed from below in FIG. 3. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the striker bracket, the hood lock striker, and the like shown in FIG. 6, as viewed from below the vehicle. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A1 in FIG. 3. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A2 in FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Hereinafter, one embodiment of a vehicle front structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings (FIGS. 1 to 9). In the drawings, the direction of the arrow Fr indicates the front in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In the description of the embodiment, the "front (front end) and rear (rear end)" correspond to the front and rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In addition, the arrows R and L indicate the right and left sides when an occupant looks ahead of the vehicle.
[0013] The vehicle front structure of this embodiment includes a front hood 1, a hood latch 64 provided at the front of the vehicle body, and a hood hinge 50.
[0014] First, the front hood 1 will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, the front hood 1 is a member that opens and closes an opening at the top of a power compartment (not shown) in which a power unit such as an engine or a motor is disposed, and is a plate-like member extending in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the vehicle. The front hood 1 is rotatably attached to a body structure located behind the power compartment via a hood hinge 50. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the front hood 1 has a hood outer panel 3, a hood inner panel 10, a hood lock striker 30, a striker bracket 20, a hood reinforcement 40, and a cushion rubber 17. Each member will be described below.
[0015] 1 to 4, the hood outer panel 3 is a panel that forms the vehicle outer side of the front hood 1, and its outer surface is a design surface. Furthermore, the vehicle width direction outer portion of the hood outer panel 3 extends along the vehicle front-rear direction when the front hood 1 is closed, and the outer peripheral portion is disposed adjacent to the upper portion of a side body outer panel (not shown) that is disposed on the side of the front part of the vehicle body.
[0016] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , the hood inner panel 10 is disposed on the vehicle inner side of the hood outer panel 3 with a gap therebetween, and the outer periphery of the hood outer panel 3 and the outer periphery of the hood inner panel 10 are joined to each other. As shown in FIGS. 4 , 5 , 8 , and 9 , the hood inner panel 10 has a front flat surface portion 11, a central vertical wall portion 12, an outer flat surface portion 13, and an inner vertical wall portion 14. The front flat surface portion 11 is a portion that includes a plane extending from the front of the hood inner panel 10 toward the rear. A slit-shaped through hole 11a extending in the front-rear direction is formed in the middle portion of the front flat surface portion 11 in the vehicle width direction. Front portions 31 and rear portions 32 of engagement portions 31, 32, and 33 (described later) of the hood lock striker 30 are disposed to pass through the through hole 11a. A striker bracket 20 is attached to the outer side of the front flat surface portion 11 (the upper surface side when the front hood 1 is closed) so as to close the through-hole 11a.
[0017] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the central vertical wall portion 12 is a vertical wall portion extending from the rear of the front flat portion 11 toward the hood outer panel 3. The central vertical wall portion 12 extends at an angle rearward as it approaches the hood outer panel 3. The central vertical wall portion 12 and the front flat portion 11 form a corner with an obtuse angle α1. Furthermore, the central vertical wall portion 12 and the hood outer panel 3 form a corner with an acute angle α2.
[0018] As shown in Figure 4, the outer flat surface 13 is a plane that extends rearward from the outer portion of the front flat surface 11 in the vehicle width direction, and in this example, is inclined so as to approach the hood outer panel 3 as it extends rearward. A front portion of the hinge arm 51 of the hood hinge 50 is joined to the outer flat surface 13. The inner vertical wall portion 14 is a wall that extends at an incline from the inner end of the outer flat surface 13 in the vehicle width direction toward the hood outer panel 3 as it extends inward in the vehicle width direction.
[0019] Next, the joining of the front portions of the hood outer panel 3 and the hood inner panel 10 will be described. As shown in Fig. 8, a hemming portion 2 is provided in the front portion of the front hood 1. The hemming portion 2 is formed by folding the front portion of the hood outer panel 3 toward the inside of the vehicle. The hood inner panel 10 is clamped in this folded portion and joined with an adhesive, thereby joining the front portions of the hood outer panel 3 and the hood inner panel 10. Providing the hemming portion 2 ensures the rigidity of the front portion of the front hood 1.
[0020] Next, the hood lock striker 30 will be described. The hood lock striker 30 has a front portion 31, a rear portion 32, and a fixed portion 33 that form a U-shape as a whole, and a front fixed portion 34 and a rear fixed portion 35 that are fixed to the striker bracket 20. The front portion 31, the rear portion 32, and the fixed portion 33 form engagement portions 31, 32, and 33 that can engage with a hood latch 64 provided at the front of the vehicle body. The U-shaped openings that form the engagement portions 31, 32, and 33 are located at the top when the front hood 1 is closed and on the side closer to the hood outer panel 3. The front portion 31 is a portion that extends linearly and inclined toward the front of the vehicle as it extends upward when the front hood 1 is closed. The rear portion 32 is a portion that is located rearward of the front portion 31 and extends in a substantially vertical direction when the front hood 1 is closed. The fixing portion 33 is a portion that connects the lower end of the front portion 31 and the lower end of the rear portion 32, and extends linearly while inclining upward toward the rear of the vehicle when the front hood 1 is closed. In this example, the front portion 31 and the fixing portion 33 are arranged so as to be perpendicular to each other.
[0021] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the front fixing portion 34 of the hood lock striker 30 is provided in front of the engaging portions 31, 32, and 33 (front portion 31) and is fixed to the striker bracket 20. When the front hood 1 is closed, the front fixing portion 34 extends linearly from the upper end of the front portion 31 in one direction in the vehicle width direction. In this example, the front fixing portion 34 extends to the right from the front portion 31. The rear fixing portion 35 is provided behind the engaging portions 31, 32, and 33 (rear portion 32) and is fixed to the striker bracket 20. When the front hood 1 is closed, the rear fixing portion 35 extends linearly from the upper end of the rear portion 32 in the other direction in the vehicle width direction. In this example, the rear fixing portion 35 extends to the left from the rear portion 32. In this embodiment, the front fixing portion 34 and the rear fixing portion 35 are joined to the striker bracket 20 by arc welding.
[0022] Next, the striker bracket 20 will be described. The striker bracket 20 is a plate-shaped member joined to the upper surface of the hood inner panel 10. In this example, the striker bracket 20 is provided in a middle portion in the vehicle width direction at the front of the hood inner panel 10, as shown in FIG. 3, and is arranged so as to cover the through-hole 11a from the upper surface side, as shown in FIG. 8. The striker bracket 20 has a bracket joint 21 that is joined to the upper surface of the hood inner panel 10 by spot welding. The bracket joint 21 is made up of a plurality of welding points (spot welding points) that are spot welded. The bracket joint 21 will be described in detail below.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 6 , the bracket joint 21 includes a front joint row 22 and a rear joint row 23. The front joint row 22 is made up of a plurality of front joints 22a spaced apart from one another in the vehicle width direction. The front joints 22a are spot joints. In this example, the front joint row 22 includes three front joints 22a spaced apart from one another in the vehicle width direction. The rear joint row 23 is located rearward of the front joint row 22 and includes a plurality of rear joints 23a spaced apart from one another in the vehicle width direction. The rear joints 23a are spot joints, like the front joints 22a, and include two rear joints 23a spaced apart from one another in the vehicle width direction. The arrangement direction of the front joint row 22 and the arrangement direction of the rear joint row 23 are parallel to each other.
[0024] 8 and 9, in this embodiment, when the hood latch 64 is engaged with the front hood 1, that is, when the front hood 1 is closed, the fixing portion 33 that constitutes the engaging portions 31, 32, 33 extends obliquely downward toward the front of the vehicle, and as described above, the fixing portion 33 is perpendicular to the front portion 31. The rear portion 32 and the fixing portion 33 form a corner with an obtuse angle α3, and the front fixing portion 34 is positioned higher on the vehicle than the rear fixing portion 35.
[0025] The front hood 1 of this embodiment has a closed cross-sectional structure made up of a hood outer panel 3 and a hood inner panel 10. A hood reinforcement 40 is disposed inside the closed cross-sectional structure, as shown in Fig. 9. The configuration of the hood reinforcement 40 will be described below.
[0026] 5, 6, and 9, the hood reinforcement 40 has front walls 41a, 41b that protrude from the outer surface of the hood inner panel 10 toward the inner surface of the hood outer panel 3, rear walls 43a, 43b that are arranged rearwardly and spaced apart from the front walls 41a, 41b and protrude from the hood inner panel 10 toward the hood outer panel 3, and a protruding surface portion 45 that connects the front walls 41a, 41b and the rear walls 43a, 43b while maintaining a gap on the inner surface of the hood inner panel 10. The front walls 41a, 41b and the protruding surface portion 45 form a front corner with an obtuse angle α4, and the rear walls 43a, 43b and the protruding surface portion 45 form a rear corner with an obtuse angle α5. The front walls 41a, 41b and the rear walls 43a, 43b are arranged spaced apart from the striker bracket 20, straddling the striker bracket 20.
[0027] The front walls 41a, 41b of the hood reinforcement 40 of this embodiment are composed of a right front wall 41a and a left front wall 41b, which are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction. The right front wall 41a and the left front wall 41b are provided at the right and left ends, respectively, of the front portion of the hood reinforcement 40 in the vehicle width direction. The right front wall 41a is spaced apart forward from the striker bracket 20 and to the right of the right end of the striker bracket 20, and a lower part of the right front wall 41a is joined to the outer surface of the front flat surface 11 of the hood inner panel 10 by spot welding or the like. The left front wall 41b is spaced apart forward from the striker bracket 20 and to the left of the left end of the striker bracket 20, and a lower part of the left front wall 41b is joined to the outer surface of the front flat surface 11 of the hood inner panel 10 by spot welding or the like.
[0028] Furthermore, the rear walls 43a, 43b of the hood reinforcement 40 of this embodiment are composed of a right rear wall 43a and a left rear wall 43b, which are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction. The right rear wall 43a and the left rear wall 43b are provided at the right and left ends, respectively, of the rear portion of the hood reinforcement 40 in the vehicle width direction. The right rear wall 43a is spaced apart rearward from the striker bracket 20 and to the right of the right end of the striker bracket 20, and a lower portion of the right rear wall 43a is joined to the outer surface of the central vertical wall portion 12 of the hood inner panel 10 by spot welding or the like. The left rear wall 43b is spaced apart rearward from the striker bracket 20 and to the left of the left end of the striker bracket 20, and a lower portion of the left rear wall 43b is joined to the outer surface of the central vertical wall portion 12 of the hood inner panel 10 by spot welding or the like.
[0029] The protruding surface portion 45 is a surface portion that is disposed at a distance from the outer surface of the front flat surface portion 11 of the hood inner panel 10, and is joined to the inner surface of the hood outer panel 3 with an adhesive or the like. A plurality of through holes is formed in the protruding surface portion 45, thereby reducing its weight while maintaining a certain level of strength. In a plan view, the hood reinforcement 40 is disposed overlapping the hood lock striker 30. In this example, the front end of the protruding surface portion 45 is disposed so as to correspond to the front end of the front fixing portion 34 of the hood lock striker 30, and the rear end of the protruding surface portion 45 is disposed so as to correspond to the rear fixing portion 35.
[0030] For example, if a pedestrian collides with the front of a vehicle, there is a possibility that the pedestrian's head will hit a position corresponding to the protruding surface portion 45. In such a case, the angle formed by the front walls 41a, 41b and the protruding surface portion 45 and the angle formed by the rear walls 43a, 43b and the protruding surface portion 45 are obtuse angles, so that the protruding surface portion 45 will deform downward. In other words, with the above configuration, it is possible to achieve a structure in which the front walls 41a, 41b and the rear walls 43a, 43b are less likely to be inhibited from deforming in an opening manner. Therefore, with the above structure, it is possible to absorb the impact load so as to protect the pedestrian, particularly the head.
[0031] Furthermore, striker bracket 20 is a component with sufficient rigidity to withstand the load when front hood 1 is closed. By configuring hood reinforcement 40 so that it is not connected to highly rigid striker bracket 20, it is possible to create a structure that is less susceptible to deformation, and this structure makes it possible to absorb impact loads in a way that protects pedestrians, particularly their heads.
[0032] Next, the configuration of the hood hinge 50 will be described. The hood hinge 50 is provided on both sides in the vehicle width direction at the rear of the front hood 1. The hood hinge 50 has a hinge arm 51 and a pivot shaft 52 extending in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the hood hinge 50 is pivotally attached to a bracket 55 provided on a body structure located at the rear of the power compartment. The hinge arm 51 is attached to the bracket 55 via the pivot shaft 52. When the front hood 1 is closed, the hinge arm 51 extends downward from the pivot shaft 52 and extends upward at an angle from the lower end toward the front of the vehicle. The front part of the obliquely extending portion is joined to the outer flat portion 13, which forms the underside of the hood inner panel 10.
[0033] Next, the cushion rubbers 17 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 9 , the cushion rubbers 17 are provided on both sides of the inner surface of the hood inner panel 10 in the vehicle width direction, and the fixing portions 33 of the hood lock striker 30 and the cushion rubbers 17 are arranged so as to overlap when viewed in the vehicle width direction. In this example, the cushion rubbers 17 are attached to both sides of the front flat surface portion 11 of the hood inner panel 10 in the vehicle width direction. The cushion rubbers 17 are formed in a cylindrical shape. In this embodiment, two cushion rubbers 17 are arranged spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction. The striker bracket 20 is arranged between the two cushion rubbers 17 in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, the two cushion rubbers 17 are arranged between the front portions 31 and rear portions 32 of the engagement portions 31, 32, and 33 in the vehicle front-rear direction. That is, when viewed in the vehicle width direction, the cushion rubbers 17 are arranged between the front portions 31 and rear portions 32, and in this example, are arranged inside the U-shaped engagement portions 31, 32, and 33. More specifically, the fixing portion 33 and the cushion rubber 17 are arranged to overlap each other when viewed in the vehicle width direction.
[0034] 9, the pivot shaft 52 of the hood hinge 50 is disposed on an imaginary extension line of the fixed portion 33. That is, the fixed portion 33 is configured such that an imaginary extension line L extending toward the rear of the vehicle along the longitudinal direction of the fixed portion 33 overlaps with the pivot shaft 52 when viewed in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fixed portion 33 and the front portion 31 are perpendicular to each other as described above, and the longitudinal direction of the cushion rubber 17 is disposed parallel to the inclination direction of the front portion 31. The inclination direction of the fixed portion 33 (the direction in which the imaginary extension line L extends) also extends substantially parallel to the direction of the outer flat portion 13 of the hood inner panel 10.
[0035] With the above configuration, it is possible to distribute the load acting on the hood lock striker 30 when the front hood 1 is closed to the left and right of the striker bracket 20. As a result, it is possible to distribute the stress acting on the striker bracket 20. In addition, because the longitudinal axes of the front portion 31 of the hood lock striker 30 and the cushion rubber 17 are oriented in the vector direction when the front hood 1 is closed, the structure is strong against the vector (load) in the closing direction.
[0036] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, the cushion rubber 17 is disposed in a region extending in the vehicle width direction between the front and rear ends of the engagement portions 31, 32, 33 of the hood lock striker 30. In other words, the hood lock striker 30 and the cushion rubber 17 are disposed in a vehicle width direction region whose vehicle front-rear direction length corresponds to the vehicle front-rear direction length of the engagement portions 31, 32, 33. This results in a structure that makes it difficult to suppress deformation in the vehicle up-down direction of the front hood 1, which is located between the vehicle width direction region and the hood hinge 50 in the vehicle front-rear direction. As a result, when an impact load acts on the front hood 1 from above the vehicle, the front hood 1 can deform, thereby ensuring pedestrian protection performance.
[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, the front fixing portion 34 extends in one direction in the vehicle width direction from the front of the engaging portions 31, 32, 33, and the rear fixing portion 35 extends in the other direction in the vehicle width direction from the rear of the engaging portions 31, 32, 33, and the striker bracket 20 is configured to be recessed upward at the position 38 where the front fixing portion 34 and the rear fixing portion 35 are fixed. That is, the striker bracket 20 has a front groove 24 that is recessed upward and extends in the vehicle width direction at the position where the front fixing portion 34 is arc-welded. Similarly, a rear groove 25 that is recessed upward and extends in the vehicle width direction is also formed at the position where the rear fixing portion 35 is welded ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ).
[0038] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6 , one of the front joints 22a and two of the rear joints 23a are arranged to form an equilateral triangle T, and the front fixing portion 34 is arranged to overlap the equilateral triangle T in the vehicle longitudinal direction. In this example, as shown in FIG. 6 , the second-right front joint 22a of the four front joints 22a and the two-right rear joints 23a of the three rear joints 23a are arranged to form vertices of an equilateral triangle. Furthermore, the equilateral triangle T is arranged on the vehicle front side of the front fixing portion 34 and is aligned with the front fixing portion 34 in the vehicle width direction. Specifically, the length of the side of the equilateral triangle T formed by the two rear joints 23a is set to be approximately equal to the length of the portion 38 to which the front fixing portion 34 is arc-welded. This facilitates dispersing stress generated at the spot welding points around the hood lock striker 30 in the striker bracket 20.
[0039] Furthermore, in the front hood 1 of this embodiment, the hemming portion 2 and the bracket joint portion 21 are disposed close to each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Therefore, an impact buffering portion intended to protect pedestrians, which is easily deformed when subjected to an impact load from above the vehicle, is not provided on the front hood 1 located between the hemming portion 2 and the bracket joint portion 21. Therefore, in this embodiment, a deformation inducing portion 66b that is easily deformed is provided on the vehicle body structure located below the front hood 1.
[0040] The following describes the vehicle body structure located below the front portion of the front hood 1. The vehicle body structure includes a hood lock member 61, a front side brace 62, a hood latch bracket 63, a radiator member 65, and a hood rock and a balancer 66.
[0041] The hood lock member 61 is a highly rigid member that is disposed on the vehicle lower side in front of the hood inner panel 10 and extends in the vehicle width direction. The front side braces 62 are disposed as a pair on both sides of the hood lock member 61 in the vehicle width direction, as shown in FIG. 1, and extend in the vehicle vertical direction. The front side braces 62 are highly rigid members that are formed from a metal material. The hood lock member 61 and the front side braces 62 form the framework of the front part of the vehicle body. The upper parts of the front side members are joined to the side parts of the hood lock member 61. Furthermore, a front side member (not shown), which forms the vehicle body framework, is joined to the middle part of the front side brace 62 in the vehicle vertical direction.
[0042] 1, the hood latch bracket 63 is a member disposed on the vehicle lower side of the front part of the hood inner panel 10, extending downward from the vehicle width direction intermediate part of the hood locking member 61, and has a hood latch 64 attached thereto. The upper part of the hood latch bracket 63 is joined to the vehicle width direction intermediate part of the hood locking member 61.
[0043] Food rock The balancer 66 is a member joined to the lower part of the hood latch bracket 63, as shown in FIG. rock The balancer 66 has a main body 66a that is offset forward of the vehicle relative to the hood latch bracket 63 and extends in the vehicle vertical direction, and a deformation inducing portion 66b that is provided between the main body 66a and the hood latch bracket 63. The deformation inducing portion 66b is a portion that slopes forward of the vehicle as it extends from the lower portion of the hood latch bracket 63 toward the bottom of the vehicle. In this example, the hood latch bracket 63 and the main body 66a are members that extend in the vehicle vertical direction and have high rigidity in the vehicle vertical direction. In contrast, because the deformation inducing portion 66b is sloped as described above, its rigidity in the vehicle vertical direction is set lower than that of the hood latch bracket 63 and the main body 66a.
[0044] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the length of the lower part of the hood latch bracket 64 in the vehicle width direction and the rock The lengths of the balancers 66 at the top in the vehicle width direction are set to be approximately equal. rock The fixing portion of the hood lock striker 20 is disposed within the vehicle width direction area of the balancer 66. That is, the front fixing portion 34 and the rear fixing portion 35 of the hood lock striker 20 are disposed between both side ends of the hood latch bracket 64 and the hood lock balancer 66 in the vehicle width direction. rock The center of the balancer 66 in the vehicle width direction is shifted in the vehicle width direction (to the right) from the center of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction (dash line C in Figure 2). In addition, the hood latch bracket 64 is disposed below the front part or the front corner part of the hood lock striker 30.
[0045] As described above, from the center C of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction, the hood latch bracket 64, the hood rock By arranging balancer 66 and hood latch 64 in a staggered manner, it is possible to reduce the impact load caused by, for example, a thigh impactor from the front of the vehicle. Furthermore, by providing a deformation inducing portion, it is possible to intentionally cause the hood to bend (crush) in response to the collision energy caused by the collision load, thereby absorbing the impact load caused by the impactor.
[0046] In addition, by shifting the hood latch 64 and the hood lock striker 30 from the center C of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction, it is possible to set the lever (not shown) for releasing the hood lock near the center of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction, making the structure easier for the user to use.
[0047] In this embodiment, a seal member (not shown) is attached to the front portion of the hood inner panel 10. A portion of the striker bracket 20 may be disposed so as to overlap the seal member. The seal member is made of a resin material and is attached, for example, with an adhesive or the like, to the front end portion of the inner surface of the front flat surface portion 11, and extends along the outer periphery of the hood inner panel 10. The seal member can absorb part of the impact load acting when the front hood 1 is closed.
[0048] The description of the present embodiment is merely an example for explaining the present invention, and does not limit the invention described in the claims. Furthermore, the configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the technical scope described in the claims.
[0049] In this embodiment, the rear portion 32 of the hood lock striker 30 extends in the vertical direction, but is not limited to this. For example, the rear portion may be inclined toward the rear of the vehicle as it extends upward on the vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]
[0050] 1 Front hood 2 Hemming section 3 Hood outer panel 10 Hood inner panel 11 Front plane part 11a Through hole 12 Central vertical wall section 13 Outer plane part 14 Inner vertical wall 17 Cushion Rubber 18 Sealing material 19 clips 20 Striker bracket 21 Bracket joint 22 Anterior joint row 22a Anterior joint 23 Posterior joint row 23a Posterior joint 24 Anterior groove 25 Posterior groove 30 Hood Lock Striker 31 Front section 32 Posterior part 33 Fixed part 34 Front fixation part 35 Rear fixed part 40 Food Reinforcement 41a Right front wall 41b Left front wall 43a Right rear wall 43b Left rear wall 45 Projecting surface part 50 Hood Hinge 51 Hinge arm 52 Rotating shaft 55 Bracket 61 Food Rock Members 62 Front side brace 63 Hood latch bracket 64 Hood Latch 65 Radiator member 66 Food rock balancer 66a Main body 66b Deformation induction section
Claims
1. The hood lock striker includes a hood outer panel disposed at a front portion of a vehicle, a hood inner panel disposed on the vehicle inner side of the hood outer panel, a hood lock striker provided at a front portion of the hood inner panel, and a striker bracket provided at the front portion of the hood inner panel and to which the hood lock striker is joined, a front fixing portion provided in the front portion and joined to the striker bracket; and a rear fixing portion provided in the rear portion and joined to the striker bracket. When the hood latch is engaged with the fixing portion, the fixing portion extends downwardly and inclined toward the front of the vehicle, and is perpendicular to the front portion; A vehicle front structure, characterized in that an obtuse angle is formed by the rear portion and the fixing portion, and the front fixing portion is positioned higher on the vehicle than the rear fixing portion.
2. A closed cross-sectional structure is formed by the hood outer panel and the hood inner panel, and a hood reinforcement is disposed inside the closed cross-sectional structure, The hood reinforcement includes a front wall that protrudes from the outer surface of the hood inner panel toward the inner surface of the hood outer panel, a rear wall that is disposed rearwardly with a gap between it and the front wall and protrudes from the hood inner panel toward the hood outer panel, and a protruding surface portion that connects the front wall and the rear wall while maintaining a gap between them on the inner surface of the hood inner panel. and an obtuse-angled front corner is formed by the front wall and the protruding surface portion, and an obtuse-angled rear corner is formed by the rear wall and the protruding surface portion, 2. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the front wall and the rear wall are disposed with a gap between them and the striker bracket while straddling the striker bracket.
3. Cushion rubber is provided on both sides of the inner surface of the hood inner panel in the vehicle width direction, 3. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion of the hood lock striker and the cushion rubber are arranged to overlap each other when viewed in the vehicle width direction.
4. A hood latch bracket, to which the hood latch is attached and which extends in the vehicle vertical direction, and a hood lock balancer, which is joined to a lower part of the hood latch bracket and extends downwardly of the vehicle, are disposed on the vehicle downward side of the front portion of the hood inner panel; the fixing portion of the hood lock striker is disposed within a region of the hood latch bracket and the hood lock balancer in the vehicle width direction, a center of the hood lock balancer in a vehicle width direction is shifted in the vehicle width direction from a center of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction; the hood latch bracket is disposed below the front portion or the front corner portion of the hood lock striker, 3. The vehicle front structure according to claim 2, wherein the hood lock balancer has a main body portion that is offset forward of the vehicle relative to the hood latch bracket and extends in the vehicle vertical direction, and a deformation inducing portion that is provided between the main body portion and the hood latch bracket.
Citation Information
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