Vehicle front structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle front structure capable of improving versatility and design, in addition to improving aerodynamic performance.SOLUTION: A vehicle front structure comprises a rubber-made canard 14 provided on the side of a front bumper 12. The canard 14 has a crescent shape with the upper surface in the vehicle vertical direction being substantially flat when viewed from the side of the vehicle, and is attached to the front bumper 12 so that the rear end part in the vehicle front-rear direction is located above the front end part. The cross-sectional shape of the canard 14 in the short direction has a triangular shape that extends outward in the vehicle width direction in a direction substantially vertical to the front bumper 12, has rounded outer tips, and extends from the tips so as to bulge diagonally downward toward the front bumper 12. The cross-sectional shape of the canard 14 in the longitudinal direction has a gently sloping mountain shape that tapers from the center part to the ends.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle front structure, and particularly to a canard attached to the front of a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] There are vehicles equipped with canards provided at both ends of the side surface and the lower surface of the front bumper. A canard is a type of aerodynamic part for controlling the aerodynamic performance of a vehicle and improving its running performance. Conventionally, vehicle front structures have been proposed that achieve improvement in the aerodynamic performance of a vehicle (particularly, increasing the downforce acting on the vehicle body, functioning as a fairing, etc.) by devising the shape, size, material, etc. of the canard.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a canard spoiler that improves aerodynamic performance while ensuring pedestrian protection performance. This canard spoiler includes fins, and the fins are formed of a soft material that is softer than the material of the vehicle outer panel. Therefore, it is said that even when the shape of the fins is enlarged for the purpose of improving aerodynamic performance, the pedestrian protection performance is not impaired.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, by changing the way canards are attached to vehicles and the shape of the canards themselves from the conventional structure, it would be good to improve not only aerodynamic performance but also versatility and aesthetics. Regarding aerodynamic performance, it would be good to achieve both improved steering feel and improved road grip. Here, steering feel is an indicator used to evaluate the driver's steering sensation when operating the steering wheel. In relation to aerodynamics, improved steering feel comes from being less affected by external disturbances (for example, crosswinds). Road grip refers to the feeling that the vehicle body is pressed against the road surface. Generally, road grip improves when the downforce, which is the negative lift generated by the airflow when a vehicle is moving, increases. Regarding versatility, it would be good to use a material that is easy to adapt to the mounting surfaces of various vehicle types, without the need to manufacture specially designed products for each vehicle type. Some conventional canards have low versatility because, depending on the material, it is necessary to mold the canard to conform to the shape of the vehicle's mounting surface, so it would be good to eliminate this drawback. Furthermore, regarding aesthetics, it would be good to have an appearance that conveys a sense of functional beauty.

[0006] Therefore, this specification aims to realize a vehicle front structure that not only improves aerodynamic performance but also enhances versatility and aesthetic appeal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The front vehicle structure disclosed herein is characterized by comprising a rubber canard provided on the side of the front bumper, wherein the canard is attached to the front bumper such that, in a side view of the vehicle, its upper surface in the vertical direction of the vehicle is substantially flat and has a crescent shape, and its rear end in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is positioned above its front end, and the cross-sectional shape of the canard in the short direction is triangular, extending outward in the vehicle width direction in a direction substantially perpendicular to the front bumper, with the outer tip rounded and extending diagonally downward toward the front bumper from the tip, and the cross-sectional shape of the canard in the longitudinal direction is a gently sloping mountain shape, with the thickness decreasing from the center toward both ends. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the vehicle front structure disclosed herein, the canards are made of rubber, offering high versatility in terms of mounting surfaces. Furthermore, since the rear end of the canard is mounted to the front bumper so that it is positioned higher than the front end, the role of the canard in improving aerodynamic performance is visually easy to understand, and it also gives a sense of functional beauty. In addition, the shape of the canard makes it easier to direct airflow upwards, thereby increasing downforce, and also makes it easier to direct airflow, allowing the canard to function as a fairing. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic side view of the front structure of a vehicle equipped with canards. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the airflow around the canard. [Figure 3] This diagram is similar to Figure 1, which illustrates the airflow around the canard. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The vehicle's front structure will be described below with reference to the diagrams. In each diagram, "Fr," "Up," and "Rh" indicate the front, top, and right side of the vehicle, respectively.

[0011] Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the front structure of a vehicle equipped with canards. As shown in Figure 1, in the vehicle 10, canards 14, a type of aero part, are attached to the sides of the front bumper 12. In this example, two canards 14 are attached to each side of the front bumper 12 (not shown on the right side), but this is not limited to this. In this example, the canards 14 are made of rubber such as EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber). Because the canards 14 are made of rubber (i.e., a highly flexible material), they are easily deformed and, as a result, easily conform to the surface of the front bumper 12, which is the mounting surface.

[0012] Next, the attachment and shape of the canard 14 to the vehicle 10 will be described. As shown in Figure 1, the canard 14 is attached to the front bumper 12 such that its rear end is positioned higher than its front end in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The canard 14 is also crescent-shaped. More specifically, in a side view of the vehicle 10, the canard 14 has a substantially flat upper surface in the vehicle's vertical direction and a crescent shape that gently bulges downwards in a mountain-like shape.

[0013] In Figure 1, to explain the shape of the canard 14 in more detail, the AA cross-sectional view, which shows the cross-section in the short direction, and the BB cross-sectional view, which shows the cross-section in the long direction, are shown enlarged and enclosed in dashed lines. As shown in the AA cross-sectional view, the canard 14 extends outward in the vehicle width direction in a direction approximately perpendicular to the front bumper 12, and its outer tip is rounded. The canard 14 then extends diagonally downward from this tip toward the front bumper 12. Therefore, the cross-section of the canard 14 in the short direction is formed to be triangular (or can be described as roughly U-shaped). The BB cross-sectional view shows that the canard 14 has a structure in which the thickness decreases from the center toward both ends. That is, the cross-section of the canard 14 in the long direction is a gently sloping mountain shape. More specifically, in the long direction of the canard 14, the cross-sections at its front and rear ends are formed to be as thin as possible.

[0014] Next, the airflow around canard 14 (or, as appropriate, "wind flow") will be explained with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the airflow around the canard in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a similar diagram to Figure 1, illustrating the airflow around the canard.

[0015] As shown in Figure 2, the canard 14 is attached to the front bumper 12 such that its rear end is positioned higher than its front end, causing the airflow from the front to flow more easily upwards as it approaches the rear of the vehicle 10. As a result, downforce is more easily generated. This effect of easier downforce generation is achieved not only by how the canard 14 is attached to the vehicle 10, but also by the shape of the canard 14. The dashed arrow a in Figure 2 represents the airflow flowing upward along the approximately flat surface of the upper surface of the canard 14. This shape of the upper surface of the canard 14 makes it easier for the airflow from the front to be deflected upwards along this approximately flat surface. As a result, downforce is more easily generated. In this example, although the rear end of the canard 14 is positioned higher than its front end, the shape from the front end to the rear end has a gentle upward curve towards the rear of the vehicle. This configuration improves the disadvantage of canards, which can also contribute to air resistance, and reduces the deterioration of air resistance.

[0016] Furthermore, the dashed arrow b in Figure 2 shows how the air flows in a small vortex from the outer end of the canard 14 in the vehicle width direction. In this way, the air flowing along the side of the vehicle 10 is separated by the canard 14, reducing the amount of air flowing along the side of the vehicle 10. In other words, air can be drawn out from inside the front fender (not shown) located near the canard 14, and as a result, the upforce generated inside the front fender can be suppressed. Note that, as shown in Figure 2, the air flowing at arrow a is smooth, and the air flowing at arrow b generates a vortex, but this vortex is small. Therefore, the airflow does not significantly disrupt the airflow around the canard 14, and thus the steering feel does not deteriorate significantly.

[0017] Furthermore, in Figure 3, to show the relationship between the airflow around the canard 14 and its shape, the BB cross-sectional view, which represents the longitudinal cross-section of the canard 14, and the CC cross-sectional view, which represents the longitudinal cross-section of the canard 14, are shown enlarged and enclosed in dashed lines. Note that the BB cross-sectional view shown in Figure 3 is the BB cross-sectional view shown in Figure 1 with the airflow added. As mentioned above, in the longitudinal direction of the canard 14, the cross-sections at its front and rear ends are formed to be as thin as possible. As a result, as shown in the BB cross-sectional view, the ends of the canard 14 are gentle (i.e., the change in the cross-section at the ends is small), allowing air to flow smoothly even in the face of external disturbances such as crosswinds. This smooth airflow is represented in the BB cross-sectional view by the airflow indicated by the dashed arrow c. The fact that the cross-sections at the front and rear ends of the canard 14 in the longitudinal direction are as thin as possible has the effect of making it easier to follow the front bumper 12, that is, increasing its versatility. Furthermore, the fact that the cross-sections of the front and rear ends of the canard 14 in the longitudinal direction are as thin as possible has the effect of preventing the rubber from becoming too resilient, even when attaching it to the front bumper 12 using double-sided tape or adhesive, thus suppressing the peeling off of the front and rear ends. The dashed arrow d shown in the CC cross-section diagram shows how it deflects the wind coming from the front. That is, as shown in the CC cross-section diagram, the canard 14 extends outward in the vehicle width direction in a direction approximately perpendicular to the front bumper 12, and this approximately perpendicular plane makes it easier to deflect the wind coming from the front. As a result, it becomes easier to obtain downforce. Also, the dashed arrow e shown in the CC cross-section diagram represents the wind flowing in a small vortex from the end of the canard 14. For example, if the shape of the canard were fin-shaped, the change in the cross-section at the end would be large, causing the incoming wind to change abruptly at that end. As a result, the airflow would be easily disturbed. However, the end of the canard 14 in this example has a gentle shape, so the airflow is less likely to be disturbed. As a result, the canard 14 also functions as a fairing.

[0018] Furthermore, in the front vehicle structure disclosed herein, as can be seen in the relationship between airflow and shape in Figures 2 and 3, the role of the canard 14 in improving aerodynamic performance is visually easy to understand, and its shape is aesthetically pleasing, thus achieving an improvement in design.

[0019] It should be noted that the above description is merely an example, and in the vehicle front structure disclosed herein, the method of attaching the canards to the front bumper, the attachment locations, the number of canards attached, etc., may be appropriately modified. For example, in the embodiment, the method of attaching the canards to the front bumper is not particularly limited, but they may be fastened using bolts and nuts. With this configuration, even if the vehicles to which the canards are attached are of various types and there are large differences in the shape of the mounting surface of the front bumper of each vehicle, it becomes easier to accommodate these differences in shape. In other words, in addition to the fact that the canards are made of rubber and are easily deformable, fastening them with bolts and nuts makes it easier for the canards to conform to the surface of the front bumper, which is the mounting surface. Furthermore, the canards are less likely to fall off even in the event of a light collision such as scraping the bumper. Moreover, in the embodiment, the attachment locations of the two canards attached to the left and right sides of the front bumper are not particularly limited, but for example, the distance between two canards may be about 100 mm. This configuration prevents the wind effects (such as vortices) generated by the canards from interfering with each other, allowing them to function more effectively as airflow straighteners. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0020] 10 vehicles, 12 front bumpers, 14 canards.

Claims

[Claim 1] It features rubber canards on the sides of the front bumper. The aforementioned canard is, In a side view of the vehicle, the upper surface in the vertical direction of the vehicle is approximately flat and has a semi-circular shape. It is attached to the front bumper such that the rear end in the vehicle's longitudinal direction is positioned higher than the front end. The cross-sectional shape of the canard in the shorter direction is triangular, extending outward in the vehicle width direction in a direction substantially perpendicular to the front bumper, with the outer tip rounded, and extending diagonally downward from that tip toward the front bumper. The longitudinal cross-sectional shape of the aforementioned canard is a gently sloping mountain shape, with the thickness decreasing from the center towards both ends. A vehicle front structure characterized by the following features.

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