Delivery pipe protection structure
A protective member with a forward-extending canopy guides the throttle body upward, preventing collision with the delivery pipe, thus ensuring the pipe's protection in compact vehicle engine compartments.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORP
- Filing Date
- 2023-03-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-29
AI Technical Summary
In compact vehicle engine compartments, high-rigidity components like the engine block and throttle body can interfere with the delivery pipe during a collision, necessitating a protective structure that prevents damage and fuel leakage.
A protective member with a canopy portion extending forward from the engine block, fixed at multiple points, covers the delivery pipe, guiding the throttle body upward to avoid direct collision and ensuring the pipe's protection.
The structure effectively prevents the throttle body from colliding with the delivery pipe during a vehicle collision, enhancing the protective performance and maintaining the integrity of the delivery pipe.
Smart Images
Figure 0007896771000001 
Figure 0007896771000002 
Figure 0007896771000003
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to a protective structure for a delivery pipe provided in an in-vehicle engine.
Background Art
[0002] [[ID=eleven]] In a multi-cylinder engine mounted on a vehicle, a delivery pipe for distributing and supplying fuel to each cylinder is attached. Since the delivery pipe is attached outside the engine block, devices, structures, or engines equipped with them have been proposed to protect the delivery pipe so that it does not break and fuel does not leak out during a vehicle collision (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Patent Document 2
Patent Document 3
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] By the way, in the accommodation chamber (referred to as an engine room, motor room, power unit room, etc.) at the front part of the vehicle on which the engine is mounted, devices and auxiliary machines other than the engine are also mounted. In the case of a hybrid vehicle, devices such as a motor and a generator may also be mounted. Therefore, how to compactly arrange equipment and the like in a limited accommodation chamber is an important issue.
[0005] On the other hand, when trying to arrange components compactly, the distance between them tends to become shorter, and it may become necessary to place high-rigidity components near the delivery pipe (especially at the front of the vehicle). For example, among the components that make up the engine, metal parts (such as cast parts) such as the engine block and throttle body are more rigid than the delivery pipe. Even if such high-rigidity components are placed nearby, it is necessary to prevent them from strongly interfering with the delivery pipe in the event of a vehicle collision.
[0006] The protective structure for the delivery pipe in this invention was devised in light of these challenges, and one of its purposes is to ensure the protective performance of the delivery pipe in the event of a vehicle collision. Furthermore, in addition to this purpose, another objective of this invention is to achieve effects and benefits that cannot be obtained with conventional technology, derived from the various configurations shown in the "Modes for Carrying Out the Invention" section below. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] The protective structure of the disclosed delivery pipe can be realized in the following embodiments (examples of application), solving at least some of the above-mentioned problems. Each of the embodiments from Embodiment 2 onward is an additional embodiment that can be appropriately selected and each of the embodiments is optional. None of the embodiments from Embodiment 2 onward disclose any embodiments or configurations that are essential to this case.
[0008] Embodiment 1. The disclosed delivery pipe protection structure is a structure for protecting the delivery pipe of an engine mounted in the front housing of a vehicle, and comprises a protective member for protecting the delivery pipe. A throttle body, which houses a throttle valve, is positioned at a distance in front of the engine block and is fixed to the intake manifold via an adapter. The delivery pipe is attached to the upper and front fixing surface of the engine block and is located behind the throttle body. The protective member has a first fixing portion fixed to the fixing surface of the engine block and a canopy portion extending forward from the first fixing portion and covering the delivery pipe with a gap above the delivery pipe. The upper surface of the front end of the canopy portion is located below the lower end surface of the throttle body.
[0009] Embodiment 2. In Embodiment 1 described above, it is preferable that the upper surface of the eaves portion slopes downward toward the front. Embodiment 3. In Embodiment 1 or 2 described above, it is preferable that the protective member has an elongated shape along the longitudinal direction of the delivery pipe, and that the first fixing portion is provided in multiple locations along the longitudinal direction at the rear of the protective member.
[0010] Embodiment 4. In Embodiment 3 described above, it is preferable that the protective member has second fixing portions provided at both ends in its longitudinal direction and fixed to the engine block via support brackets. Embodiment 5. In any of embodiments 1 to 4 described above, the upper end of the adapter is provided with a flange portion that is fixed to the throttle body, and it is preferable that the adapter and the protective member are arranged so that the flange portion and the visor portion overlap when viewed from the front.
[0011] Embodiment 6. In Embodiment 5 described above, it is preferable to provide a connecting bracket that connects the rear part of the flange portion and the canopy portion. Embodiment 7. In Embodiment 6 described above, it is preferable that the throttle body, the protective member, and the connecting bracket are all made of metal, and the adapter is made of resin. [Effects of the Invention]
[0012] According to the disclosed delivery pipe protection structure, by setting the vertical position so that the throttle body, delivery pipe, and protective member do not face each other directly, even if the throttle body moves backward during a vehicle collision, the throttle body can be guided above the protective member, thus preventing the throttle body from colliding with the delivery pipe. This ensures the protective performance of the delivery pipe during a vehicle collision. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0013] [Figure 1] This is a top view illustrating the front configuration of a vehicle to which the protective structure for the delivery pipe according to the embodiment is applied. [Figure 2] This is a top view showing an engine equipped with a delivery pipe protection structure according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the engine from direction B. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of a protective member included in the protective structure for a delivery pipe according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a top view of the protective member. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0014] The protective structure for the delivery pipe as an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments shown below are merely illustrative, and there is no intention to exclude various modifications or applications of techniques not explicitly shown in the embodiments below. Each configuration of the embodiments can be modified in various ways without departing from their spirit. Furthermore, they can be selected or combined as needed.
[0015] Regarding the definition of directions in this embodiment, the longitudinal direction (vehicle length direction) is defined based on the forward and backward direction of the vehicle, and the left - right direction (vehicle width direction) is defined based on the longitudinal direction. The up - down direction is defined based on the state where the vehicle is stopped on a flat road surface. Regarding the vehicle width direction, in the part on the left side of the vehicle body center line in the top view of the vehicle, the left side is the outside of the vehicle and the right side is the inside of the vehicle. Also, in the part on the right side of the vehicle body center line in the top view of the vehicle, the right side is the outside of the vehicle and the left side is the inside of the vehicle.
[0016] The protection structure of the delivery pipe in this embodiment is a structure for protecting the delivery pipe of the engine mounted in the front storage chamber of the vehicle. The storage chamber mentioned here includes, for example, an engine room, a motor room, a power unit room, etc., and is arranged in front of the passenger compartment where passengers board. The protection structure includes a protection member for protecting the delivery pipe, and the protection function of the delivery pipe during vehicle collision is exerted by the configuration of the protection member and the arrangement of the equipment.
[0017] [1. Overall Structure] First, the front structure of the vehicle 1 to which the protection structure as an example is applied will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, in the storage chamber 2 (front storage chamber) of the vehicle 1, an engine 10 and an FPDU 3 (Front Power Deliver Unit) are accommodated. An opening is provided on the upper end side of the storage chamber 2, and a bonnet hood (not shown) is attached to this opening so as to be openable and closable. The engine 10 is an internal combustion engine as a driving device, and is arranged inside the storage chamber 2, for example, at a position from near the central part in the vehicle width direction to the right side. The configuration of the engine 10 will be described in detail.
[0018] The FPDU 3 is a high - voltage in - vehicle device to which high - voltage lines (three - phase lines and PN lines, not shown) are connected. The FPDU 3 is arranged inside the storage chamber 2, for example, from near the central part in the vehicle width direction to the left side (left side of the engine 10). Below the FPDU 3, an electric motor as a driving device (not shown) is arranged.
[0019] Below the storage chamber 2, a pair of side members 4 are arranged. The side member 4 is one of the skeletal members provided so as to extend in the front-rear direction, and is provided at a predetermined interval in the vehicle width direction. At the front end of each side member 4, a front support member (not shown) erected in the vertical direction is connected. A pair of front support members are provided at a predetermined interval in the vehicle width direction, and have a function of supporting a radiator unit and a headlamp unit attached to the front end portion of the vehicle 1.
[0020] The upper end portions of the left and right front support members are connected substantially horizontally by an upper bar 5. The upper bar 5 is a member for supporting the front end portion of the bonnet hood, and is disposed, for example, along the edge of the opening to which the bonnet hood is attached. Incidentally, the lower end portions of the left and right front support members are connected substantially horizontally by a front end cross member (not shown) extending in the vehicle width direction.
[0021] Upper frames 6 are connected to both left and right ends of the upper bar 5. The upper frame 6 is one of the members provided so as to extend substantially horizontally forward from the vicinity of the lower end of the front pillar (not shown) of the vehicle 1. The upper frames 6 are arranged in a pair on the left and right above the storage chamber 2. The front fender panel (not shown) of the vehicle 1 is attached to the outside of the upper frame 6. Also, below the upper frame 6, front wheels and a strut house (not shown) are arranged. The upper bar 5 and the upper frame 6 function to support the portion from both left and right side edges to the front edge of the bonnet hood.
[0022] A dash panel 7 is provided at the rear end of the accommodation compartment 2. The dash panel 7 is a planar member that separates the passenger compartment and the accommodation compartment 2 in the front-rear direction, with the space in front of the dash panel 7 becoming the accommodation compartment 2. The dash panel 7 is erected to cover the rear end of the accommodation compartment 2, for example, from the upper end surface of the upper frame 6 to the upper end surface of the side member 4. The lower end of the dash panel 7 is provided to extend planarly to the rear along the upper end surface of the side member 4, for example, and is connected to the passenger compartment floor panel (not shown) in a substantially flush plane.
[0023] A fender shield 8 is installed inside the storage compartment 2. The fender shield 8 is a planar member that forms part of the bottom surface of the storage compartment 2 on the inside of the fender panel of the vehicle 1. In this embodiment, a pair of fender shields 8 are provided on the inside of each of the left and right fender panels. The outer edges of the fender shield 8 are connected to the upper frame 6. The inner edges of the fender shield 8 are either connected to the side member 4 or are provided at a distance above the side member 4.
[0024] [2.Protective structure] Next, the protective structure of this embodiment will be described. The engine 10 of this embodiment is a multi-cylinder engine and is equipped with a delivery pipe 18 for distributing and supplying fuel to each of the multiple cylinders. As shown in Figure 2, the engine 10 is mounted in a orientation in which the intake system 10A is located in front of the exhaust system 10B, and the crankshaft (not shown) is positioned so as to extend in a direction that is approximately the same as the vehicle width direction. That is, the cylinder row direction of the engine 10 is approximately the same as the vehicle width direction.
[0025] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the delivery pipe 18 is mounted to the upper and front fixed surface 11a of the engine block 11 and is located behind the throttle body 15. The delivery pipe 18 has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped pipe body 18A that is long in the vehicle width direction, and an end pipe 18B connected to the left end of the pipe body 18A. The pipe body 18A is mounted to connect a plurality of (four in Figure 2) injectors 19 fixed to the engine block 11 into one, and distributes and supplies fuel to each injector 19. The end pipe 18B is a thin pipe that sends fuel to the pipe body 18A.
[0026] The throttle body 15 is a highly rigid component (for example, a metal component) that incorporates the throttle valve 16 (see Figure 3). It is positioned at a distance in front of the engine block 11 and is fixed to the intake manifold 13 via an adapter 17. The intake manifold 13 is, for example, a resin component and is mounted on the front side of the engine block 11. The exhaust manifold 14 is mounted on the rear side of the engine block 11, and the cover 12 is mounted on the top surface of the engine block 11.
[0027] The adapter 17 is a part molded from a material (e.g., resin) with lower rigidity than the throttle body 15. As shown in Figure 3, the adapter 17 has an overall cylindrical shape and has flange portions 17C and 17D at the upper end and the middle section, respectively. The flange portion 17C at the upper end is fixed to the throttle body 15, and the flange portion 17D in the middle section is fixed to the intake manifold 13. The lower cylindrical portion 17B of the adapter 17 is inserted into an opening provided on the upper surface of the intake manifold 13. The lower end surface 15b of the throttle body 15 abuts against the upper end surface 17a of the adapter 17 (the upper surface of the flange 17C), and in this state, the throttle body 15 and the adapter 17 are bolted together and fixed in place.
[0028] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the protective structure of this embodiment includes a protective member 20 that protects the delivery pipe 18. The protective member 20 has a first fixing portion 21 fixed to the upper and front fixing surface 11a of the engine block 11, and a canopy portion 25 that extends forward from the first fixing portion 21 and covers the delivery pipe 18 with a gap above it. The protective member 20 of this embodiment has an elongated shape along the longitudinal direction (i.e., the vehicle width direction) of the delivery pipe 18.
[0029] The protective member 20 has a plurality (four in this case) of first fixing parts 21 arranged in a longitudinal direction (vehicle width direction) at the rear of the protective member 20. In the protective member 20 of this embodiment, the two end first fixing parts 21 are positioned between the two left and two right injectors 19, respectively, and the remaining two first fixing parts 21 are both positioned between the two central injectors 19. This arrangement allows the injectors 19 and the first fixing parts 21 to be compactly arranged.
[0030] The number of injectors 19 is set according to the number of cylinders in the engine 10 and is not limited to four. Similarly, the number of first fixing parts 21 is not limited to four (the same as the number of injectors 19), and the positional relationship between the first fixing parts 21 and the injectors 19 is just one example. However, since the arrangement and shape of the protective member 20 are determined by the position of the delivery pipe 18, the first fixing parts 21 can be positioned near the location where the injectors 19 are fixed.
[0031] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the first fixing portion 21 of this embodiment is erected above the fixing surface 11a of the engine block 11, and has holes through which bolts are inserted in the vertical direction. The vertical dimension of the first fixing portion 21 is set according to the vertical positional relationship between the fixing surface 11a and the delivery pipe 18. The protective member 20 is fixed to the engine block 11 in the vertical direction by bolts at the first fixing portion 21.
[0032] As shown in Figure 3, the canopy portion 25 is the part that protects the delivery pipe 18. The upper surface 25a of the front end of the canopy portion 25 is located below the lower end surface 15b of the throttle body 15 (the upper end surface 17a of the adapter 17). This makes it easier for the throttle body 15 to ride up onto the canopy portion 25 of the protective member 20 even if the throttle body 15 moves backward during a vehicle collision. In other words, by setting the vertical position of the throttle body 15 above the vertical position of the delivery pipe 18, and by setting the positional relationship between the canopy portion 25 of the protective member 20, it is possible to avoid a direct confrontation between the throttle body 15 and the delivery pipe 18 while guiding the backward movement of the throttle body 15 during a vehicle collision upward.
[0033] In this embodiment, the upper surface of the canopy portion 25 slopes downward toward the front. In other words, the upper surface 25a of the front end of the canopy portion 25 is located lower than the upper surface of the rear end of the canopy portion 25. This makes it easier for the throttle body 15 to ride onto the canopy portion 25 and then be guided diagonally upward when the throttle body 15 moves backward during a vehicle collision. In this embodiment, since the thickness (vertical dimension) of the canopy portion 25 is substantially uniform in the front-rear direction, the entire canopy portion 25 has a shape that slopes downward toward the front, and there are no parts of the canopy portion 25 that are of low rigidity.
[0034] In the protective structure of this embodiment, the adapter 17 and the protective member 20 are arranged such that, when viewed from the front, the flange portion 17C at the upper end of the adapter 17 and the visor portion 25 overlap. That is, the vertical position of the flange portion 17C and the vertical position of the visor portion 25 are set to be the same. More specifically, the adapter 17 and the protective member 20 are provided such that the front end surface 25b of the visor portion 25 is located slightly behind the flange portion 17C. As a result, when the adapter 17 moves backward in addition to the throttle body 15 during a vehicle collision, the flange portion 17C of the adapter 17 immediately hits the visor portion 25 of the protective member 20, making it easier for the moving throttle body 15 to ride up onto the visor portion 25.
[0035] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the protective member 20 of this embodiment has second fixing parts 22 and 23 at both ends in the longitudinal direction, which are fixed to the engine block 11 via support brackets 32 and 33. Hereinafter, the second fixing part 22 at the left end of the protective member 20 will also be referred to as the left fixing part 22, and the second fixing part 23 at the right end will also be referred to as the right fixing part 23. In this way, the protective member 20 is fixed to the engine block 11 not only at the rear end but also at both the left and right ends, so that the protective member 20 itself does not lift up or fall over when subjected to load during a vehicle collision.
[0036] The left fixing portion 22 is a fixing point that is fixed to the engine block 11 via the left support bracket 32 (hereinafter also referred to as "left bracket 32"). The left bracket 32 has a curved L-shape when viewed from above, with one end bolted to the left side of the engine block 11 and the other end bolted to the left fixing portion 22. In this embodiment, the left bracket 32 has the function of fixing the protective member 20, as well as the function of acting as an engine slinger to suspend the engine 10 when removing it from the vehicle 1, and the function of protecting the end pipe 18B of the delivery pipe 18. Specifically, the left bracket 32 is provided with a through hole for attaching a lifting device when suspending the engine 10, and is provided so as to cover the front and left side of the end pipe 18B while leaving a gap between it and the end pipe 18B.
[0037] Furthermore, the right fixing portion 23 is a fixing point that is fixed to the engine block 11 via the right support bracket 33 (hereinafter also referred to as the "right bracket 33"). The right bracket 33 is L-shaped when viewed from the front, with one end bolted to the front of the engine block 11 and the other end bolted to the right fixing portion 23.
[0038] In the protective member 20 of this embodiment, the bolt fastening directions at the left and right second fixing parts 22 and 23 are different, as shown by the white arrows in Figure 6. Specifically, the bolt fastening direction at the left fixing part 22 is in the front-to-back direction, and at the right fixing part 23 it is in the left-to-right direction. In addition, the bolt fastening direction at the first fixing part 21 at the rear end is in the up-and-down direction. In this way, the bolt fastening directions at all three fixing parts 21, 22, and 23 are different, which suppresses the displacement of the protective member 20 relative to the engine block 11 during a vehicle collision.
[0039] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, the protective structure of this embodiment includes a connecting bracket 30 that connects the rear of the flange portion 17C of the adapter 17 to the overhang portion 25 of the protective member 20. In this way, since the rear of the flange portion 17C is fixed to the protective member 20, if the adapter 17 moves backward in addition to the throttle body 15 during a vehicle collision, the throttle body 15 and the adapter 17 will break apart at their front portions, making it easier for only the throttle body 15 to ride up onto the overhang portion 25 of the protective member 20. In other words, the break position of the throttle body 15 and the adapter 17 can be stabilized.
[0040] Furthermore, the canopy portion 25 is provided with a front fixing portion 24 to which the connecting bracket 30 is bolted. In addition, although an L-shaped plate-like connecting bracket 30 is shown as an example here when viewed from above, the shape of the connecting bracket 30 is not limited to this, and it may be simply a straight line when viewed from above. In this embodiment, in addition to the throttle body 15, the protective member 20 and the connecting bracket 30 are also made of metal, making them more rigid components than the adapter 17.
[0041] [3. Effects] (1) In the protective structure described above, the throttle body 15 is positioned in front of the engine block 11 at a distance and fixed to the intake manifold 13 via an adapter 17. The delivery pipe 18 is attached to the upper and front fixing surface 11a of the engine block 11 and is positioned behind the throttle body 15. The protective member 20 that protects the delivery pipe 18 has a first fixing part 21 fixed to the fixing surface 11a of the engine block 11 and a canopy part 25 that extends forward from the first fixing part 21 and covers the delivery pipe 18 with a gap above it, and the upper surface 25a of the front end of the canopy part 25 is positioned below the lower end surface 15b of the throttle body 15.
[0042] In this way, by setting the vertical positions so that the throttle body 15, the delivery pipe 18, and the protective member 20 do not face each other directly, even if the throttle body 15 moves backward during a vehicle collision, the throttle body 15 can be guided above the protective member 20, thus preventing the throttle body 15 from colliding with the delivery pipe 18. This ensures the protective performance of the delivery pipe 18 during a vehicle collision.
[0043] (2) The protective member 20 described above has an upper surface of the visor portion 25 that slopes downward toward the front. In other words, the upper surface of the visor portion 25 of the protective member 20 is lower at the front end position on the throttle body 15 side and slopes upward toward the rear as it moves away from the throttle body 15. As a result, the throttle body 15, which moves backward during a vehicle collision, can ride up onto the upper surface of the visor portion 25 of the protective member 20 and be separated from the delivery pipe 18. Therefore, the protective performance of the delivery pipe 18 can be further enhanced.
[0044] (3) The protective member 20 described above has an elongated shape that is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the delivery pipe 18, and multiple first fixing parts 21 are provided in the longitudinal direction at the rear of the protective member 20. In this way, multiple locations at the rear of the protective member 20 are connected to the engine block 11Because it is fixed in place, the protective member 20 itself will not lift or fall over when subjected to a load during a vehicle collision (i.e., displacement of the protective member 20 can be suppressed), thereby improving the protective performance of the delivery pipe 18.
[0045] (4) Furthermore, the protective member 20 described above has second fixing parts 22 and 23 at both ends in its longitudinal direction, which are fixed to the engine block 11 via support brackets 32 and 33. Thus, the protective member 20 is fixed to the engine block 11 at three locations: left, right, and rear. This further suppresses the displacement of the protective member 20 during a vehicle collision and further enhances the protective performance of the delivery pipe 18.
[0046] (5) In the protective structure described above, a flange portion 17C is provided at the upper end of the adapter 17, which is fixed to the throttle body 15. The adapter 17 and the protective member 20 are arranged so that the flange portion 17C and the overhang portion 25 overlap when viewed from the front. Therefore, when the throttle body 15 and adapter 17 move backward during a vehicle collision, the adapter 17 will come into contact with the protective member 20, promoting the separation (breakage) of the adapter 17 and the throttle body 15, and making it easier to guide the throttle body 15 above the protective member 20. This further enhances the protective performance of the delivery pipe 18.
[0047] (6) In the protective structure described above, a connecting bracket 30 is provided that connects the rear part of the flange portion 17C of the adapter 17 and the overhang portion 25 of the protective member 20. Therefore, the fracture position between the adapter 17 and the throttle body 15 during a vehicle collision can be controlled to the front part of these and stabilized. As a result, the throttle body 15 protective member 20 The upward position makes it easier to guide, and the delivery pipe 18 Its protective performance can be further enhanced.
[0048] (7) Furthermore, in the above-described protective structure, if the throttle body 15, protective member 20, and connecting bracket 30 are all made of metal and the adapter 17 is made of resin, even if the metal throttle body 15 moves backward during a vehicle collision, it is the adapter 17 that directly hits the protective member 20, and the throttle body 15 can avoid a direct collision by riding up onto the overhang portion 25 of the protective member 20. Moreover, since the connecting bracket 30 that connects the adapter 17 and the protective member 20 is also a high-rigidity component, the connected state can be maintained even during a vehicle collision, and the fracture position can be stabilized, thereby further enhancing the protective performance of the delivery pipe 18.
[0049] [4. Others] The protective structure for the delivery pipe 18 described above is just one example and is not limited to those described above. For example, the specific shape of the protective member 20 described above is just one example, and the thickness (vertical dimension) of the eaves portion 25 may not be uniform in the front-to-back direction, and the thickness may change so that the upper surface of the eaves portion 25 slopes downward toward the front. Furthermore, it is not essential that the eaves portion 25 slopes downward toward the front; it may extend in a substantially horizontal direction.
[0050] Furthermore, although the protective member 20 shown in the illustration has a partially hollowed-out canopy portion 25 for weight reduction, this hollowing may be omitted. Also, in the engine 10 of the above embodiment, an air cleaner (not shown) is attached above the cover 12, and although the protective member 20 shown in the illustration is provided with a boss for attaching the air cleaner, this can also be omitted. In addition, the positions and number of the first fixing portion 21 and the second fixing portions 22 and 23, as well as the direction of bolt fastening, are just examples and are not limited to the above configuration, and one or both of the left and right second fixing portions 22 and 23 may be omitted.
[0051] The specific shape of the adapter 17 described above is merely an example, and the positional relationship between the adapter 17 and the protective member 20 is not limited to the configuration described above. For example, the visor portion 25 of the protective member 20 may be offset vertically from the flange portion 17C of the adapter 17. In other words, the throttle body 15 may be positioned higher than the protective member 20 compared to the embodiment described above. Even with such a configuration, as in the embodiment described above, the throttle body 15 can be guided above the protective member 20 even if it retracts during a vehicle collision. Note that the connecting bracket 30 mentioned above may be omitted. Also, the materials of each part and component are examples only and are not limited to those mentioned above. [Industrial applicability]
[0052] This technology is applicable to the manufacturing industry of engines installed in vehicles, and also to the manufacturing industry of vehicles equipped with those engines. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0053] 1 vehicle 2. Containment Chamber (Front Containment Chamber) 10 Engines 11 Engine Block 11a Fixed surface 13 Intake Manifold 15 Throttle Body 15b Bottom end surface 16 Throttle valve 17 Adapters 17C Flange section 18 Delivery Pipe 20 Protective components 21 First fixed part 22 Left fixed part (second fixed part) 23 Right fixed part (second fixed part) 25 Eaves 25a Upper surface of the front end 30 Connecting Brackets 32 Left bracket (support bracket) 33 Right bracket (support bracket)
Claims
1. A structure that protects the delivery pipe of the engine mounted in the front compartment of the vehicle, The delivery pipe is provided with a protective member, The throttle body, which houses the throttle valve, is positioned at a distance in front of the engine block and is fixed to the intake manifold via an adapter. The delivery pipe is attached to the upper and front fixed surface of the engine block and is located behind the throttle body. The protective member has a first fixing portion fixed to the fixing surface of the engine block, and a canopy portion extending forward from the first fixing portion and covering the delivery pipe with a gap above the delivery pipe. The protective member has an elongated shape that is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the delivery pipe. The upper surface of the front end of the eaves portion is located below the lower end surface of the throttle body. The first fixing portion is provided in multiple locations in the longitudinal direction at the rear of the protective member. The protective member has second fixing portions provided at both ends in its longitudinal direction, which are fixed to the engine block via support brackets. A protective structure for a delivery pipe, characterized by the following features.
2. The upper surface of the aforementioned eaves slopes downward toward the front. A protective structure for a delivery pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a protective structure for a delivery pipe according to claim 1.
3. The upper end of the adapter is provided with a flange portion that is fixed to the throttle body. The adapter and the protective member are arranged such that the flange portion and the visor portion overlap when viewed from the front. A protective structure for a delivery pipe according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is a protective structure for a delivery pipe according to claim 1 or 2.
4. The system includes a connecting bracket that connects the rear portion of the flange and the canopy portion. The protective structure for a delivery pipe according to claim 3, characterized in that it is a protective structure for a delivery pipe according to claim 3.
5. The throttle body, the protective member, and the connecting bracket are all made of metal. The aforementioned adapter is made of resin. The protective structure for a delivery pipe according to claim 4, characterized in that it is a protective structure for a delivery pipe according to claim 4.