Vehicle front structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle front structure which can be easily deformed so that an intake cover is bent in the vertical direction when external force is applied from above.SOLUTION: A vehicle front structure 100 comprises: an intake port 102 which is provided in a dash panel 106 dividing a vehicle front part and a cabin, and allows an air conditioning unit 119 to performs air intake; and an intake cover 104 which is fixed to the dash panel, and forms a passage for guiding ambient air introduced from a cowl part 123 into the intake port. The intake cover includes: an upper wall 124 which is arranged above the intake port and forms an upper side of the passage; and a pair of lateral walls 126, 128 which continuously extend from both ends of the upper wall in a vehicle width direction to the dash panel and form both sides of the passage in a vehicle width direction. The upper wall extends to the vehicle front side of edge parts 172, 190 of the pair of lateral walls on the dash panel, and front edge parts 174, 184 of the pair of lateral walls have inclined parts 176, 186 coming closer to the upper wall as proceeding from the dash panel to the vehicle front side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Vehicles are generally provided with a resin cowl cover between the windshield and the front hood. The cowl cover is formed with an air intake port that takes in outside air to an air conditioning unit arranged on the rear side of the dash panel, that is, the vehicle compartment side. The dash panel partitions the power unit mounting room from the vehicle compartment.

[0003] The dash panel is formed with an opening that guides outside air taken in from the intake port of the cowl cover to the air conditioning unit. A resin intake cover is provided at the front portion of the opening of the dash panel. This intake cover not only guides outside air taken in from the intake port of the cowl cover to the air conditioning unit through the opening of the dash panel, but also serves to prevent rainwater entering through the intake port of the cowl cover and other places from entering the air conditioning unit through the opening of the dash panel.

[0004] Patent Document 1 describes an outside air introduction structure for an automobile. This structure has a duct 30 serving as an intake cover. The duct 30 has a box shape, and includes a front face formed with a duct opening 30a, a bottom face, left and right side wall faces 30c, and left and right flange portions.

[0005] On the bottom face of the duct 30 in Patent Document 1, an opening communicating with an air intake port 10a formed in the dash panel 10 is formed. The left and right flange portions each extend in the vehicle width direction from below the respective left and right side wall surfaces 30c. The duct 30 is fixed to the dash panel 10 with bolts via the left and right flange portions. Accordingly, the duct 30 can form a flow path that takes in outside air through the front duct opening 30a and guides the outside air to the air intake port 10a of the dash panel 10 via the opening on the bottom face.

Prior Art Literature

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-264252 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] Incidentally, the duct 30 described in Patent Document 1 has a frame structure in which the front sides of the lower surfaces of the left and right side wall surfaces 30c are connected by a bottom wall. As a result, deformation in the vehicle width direction at the lower part of the side wall surfaces 30c of the duct 30 is restricted. Moreover, since flanges are provided on the side wall surfaces 30c, deformation that would cause the side wall surfaces 30c to tilt in the vehicle width direction is also restricted.

[0008] Therefore, in Patent Document 1, when subjected to an external force from above, the duct 30 cannot be sufficiently deflected in the vertical direction, making it difficult to efficiently absorb the impact energy of the external force as deformation energy of the duct 30.

[0009] In view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle front structure that can easily deform so that the intake cover bends vertically when subjected to an external force from above. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To solve the above problems, a typical configuration of the vehicle front structure according to the present invention is a vehicle front structure comprising an intake section provided on a dash panel that separates the front of the vehicle from the passenger compartment and where air is drawn in by an air conditioning unit in the passenger compartment, and an intake cover fixed to the dash panel and forming a passage that guides outside air introduced into the front of the vehicle from the cowl section to the intake section, wherein the intake cover has an upper wall positioned above the intake section and partitioning the upper side of the passage, and a pair of side walls that extend continuously from both ends of the upper wall in the vehicle width direction to the dash panel and partition both sides of the passage in the vehicle width direction, the upper wall extends further forward than the edges of the pair of side walls on the dash panel, and the front edges of the pair of side walls have an inclined portion that approaches the upper wall as it moves from the dash panel toward the front of the vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle front structure that can easily deform so that the intake cover bends vertically when subjected to an external force from above. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This figure shows a vehicle front structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure shows the main parts of the front structure of the vehicle shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This figure shows the intake cover of the front structure of the vehicle shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This figure shows the intake cover of Figure 3 viewed from a different direction. [Figure 5] This figure shows the various cross-sections of the intake cover in Figure 4(b). [Figure 6] This figure shows the intake cover of Figure 3 viewed from yet another direction. [Figure 7] This figure shows a modified example of what happens when an external force is applied to the intake cover of Figure 1(a) from above. [Figure 8] This figure schematically shows another modified example of the intake cover shown in Figure 5(a). [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] A typical configuration of a vehicle front structure according to one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle front structure comprising an intake section provided on a dash panel that separates the front of the vehicle from the passenger compartment and where air is drawn in by an air conditioning unit in the passenger compartment, and an intake cover fixed to the dash panel and forming a passage that guides outside air introduced into the front of the vehicle from the cowl section to the intake section, wherein the intake cover has an upper wall positioned above the intake section and partitioning the upper side of the passage, and a pair of side walls that extend continuously from both ends of the upper wall in the vehicle width direction to the dash panel and partition both sides of the passage in the vehicle width direction, wherein the upper wall extends further to the front of the vehicle than the edges of the pair of side walls on the dash panel, and the front edges of the pair of side walls have an inclined portion that approaches the upper wall as it moves from the dash panel toward the front of the vehicle.

[0014] In the above configuration, the upper wall of the intake cover extends further forward than the edges of the pair of side walls on the dash panel, and the front edges of the pair of side walls have inclined portions. These inclined portions approach the upper wall as they move towards the front of the vehicle from the dash panel. Therefore, with the above configuration, the support area of ​​the pair of side walls supporting the dash panel can be reduced. For example, if the front edges of the pair of side walls do not have inclined portions and extend continuously downward from both ends of the upper wall in the vehicle width direction toward the dash panel, the support area of ​​the pair of side walls supporting the dash panel will be larger than in the above configuration.

[0015] Therefore, when the upper wall of the intake cover is subjected to an external force from above, the portion of this external force transmitted to the front of the upper wall is transmitted from the upper wall along the inclined portion of the leading edge of the pair of side walls to the support surface of the dash panel of the pair of side walls (the lower end of the pair of side walls). This suppresses the local downward bending of the front of the upper wall of the intake cover while concentrating the load on the support surface of the dash panel of the pair of side walls, thereby promoting deformation in which the pair of side walls tilt in the vehicle width direction. In this way, the above configuration makes it easier for the intake cover to deform in a way that causes it to flex in the vertical direction.

[0016] It is preferable that the front edges of the pair of side walls further include an extension portion that continuously extends upward from the front end of the inclined portion and reaches the front end of the upper wall.

[0017] In this way, by providing the extension portion in addition to the inclined portion on the front edges of the pair of side walls, it is possible to facilitate the introduction of outside air into the intake cover along the region defined by the inclined portion and the extension portion. Furthermore, in the intake cover, the outside air introduced therein does not escape to the outside of the region defined by the inclined portion and the extension portion.

[0018] The edge on the dash panel of the pair of side walls includes a rear edge extending downward from the rear end of the upper wall, and a lower edge that descends toward the vehicle front side from the lower end of the rear edge and continues to the front edge. The intake cover further has a rear wall connecting the rear edges of the pair of side walls, and an upwardly bulging bulging portion formed in the rear part of the upper wall across the vehicle width direction. It is preferable that the bulging portion has a rising portion that rises upward toward the rear from a position rearward of the inclined portion of the front edges of the pair of side walls, and a falling portion that is continuous with the rising portion and falls downward toward the rear wall.

[0019] By providing the bulging portion at the rear part of the upper wall of the intake cover in this manner, the sucked outside air can be guided from the bulging portion along the rear wall. Therefore, in the intake cover, while efficiently guiding outside air to the intake portion, when a load is applied from above, the upper wall can be prompted to bend and deform in the vertical direction starting from the rising portion disposed rearward of the inclined portion.

[0020] The pair of side walls has a first side wall and a second side wall. The intake cover further has a first flange and a second flange that respectively protrude in the vehicle width direction from the first side wall and the second side wall and are respectively fixed to the dash panel at predetermined first fixing points and second fixing points. It is preferable that the first fixing point and the second fixing point are disposed at positions shifted in the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0021] As a result, the first and second fixing points are positioned at different locations in the front-rear direction, which makes it easier to displace the intake cover in the vehicle width direction by promoting torsional deformation of the first or second side wall when the intake cover is subjected to an external force from above.

[0022] The first flange extends from the lower edge of the first side wall, and the second flange extends from the rear edge of the second side wall, with the lower edge of the second side wall being a free end.

[0023] Thus, a first fixing point is provided on the first flange extending from the lower edge of the first side wall, and a second fixing point is provided on the second flange extending from the rear edge of the second side wall, but no fixing point is provided on the lower surface of the second side wall. This makes it possible to promote torsional deformation of the first or second side wall by different fixing directions for the first and second fixing points, while making it easier to displace the lower surface of the second side wall, where no fixing point is provided, in the vehicle width direction compared to the lower surface of the first side wall.

[0024] The above-mentioned dashboard panel is provided with multiple third fixing points for securing the air conditioning unit, and it is preferable that at least one of the first and second fixing points overlaps with one of the multiple third fixing points of the dashboard panel.

[0025] In this way, at least one of the first and second fixing points is overlapped with the third fixing point of the dash panel, thus reducing the number of fixing points required to secure the intake cover and air conditioning unit to the dash panel. Furthermore, by overlapping at least one of the first and second fixing points with the third fixing point and passing a predetermined fastening member through them to secure the intake cover and air conditioning unit to the dash panel, the rigidity around the overlapping fixing points can be increased. As a result, in the above configuration, the fixing points are less likely to be displaced when the intake cover is subjected to an external force, making it easier to deform the upper wall and the pair of side walls of the intake cover.

[0026] It is preferable that one of the pair of side walls described above has a smaller dimension in the vehicle's longitudinal direction and a longer dimension in the vertical direction than the other.

[0027] As a result, if the dashboard panel is sloped to curve forward towards the center in the vehicle width direction, one of the pair of side walls will have a smaller dimension in the vehicle's longitudinal direction than the other, allowing the pair of side walls to be positioned along the slope of the dashboard panel. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the formation of dead space on the dashboard panel when the intake cover is fixed to the dashboard panel.

[0028] Furthermore, because one of the pair of side walls is longer in the vehicle's longitudinal direction and smaller in the vertical direction than the other, the difference in reaction forces between the pair of side walls when the upper wall of the intake cover is subjected to an external force from above is reduced, making it easier for the upper wall to flex vertically starting from its center in the vehicle's width direction.

[0029] The intake cover described above may have a cross-section spanning the top wall, the first and second side walls, and the first and second flanges that is convex upwards, or a shape that is convex upwards by the top wall, the first and second side walls, with at least one of the first and second flanges protruding towards the top wall.

[0030] Thus, the intake cover has no bottom and is open at the bottom, and it also has a convex shape at the top. For this reason, the intake cover is easily deformed when the upper wall is subjected to an external force from above, and it is easy to absorb the impact energy caused by the external force. [Examples]

[0031] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values ​​shown in these embodiments are merely illustrative to facilitate understanding of the invention and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant explanations, and elements not directly related to the present invention are omitted from the illustrations.

[0032] Figure 1 shows a vehicle front structure 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1(a) shows the vehicle front structure 100 viewed from the front at an oblique angle. Figure 1(b) is a view of the vehicle front structure 100 in Figure 1(a) as pointed at arrow A. Figure 2 shows the main parts of the vehicle front structure 100 in Figure 1. In the following figures, the front-rear direction of the vehicle is indicated by the arrows Front and Back, the left and right directions in the vehicle width direction are indicated by the arrows Left and Right, and the up-down direction of the vehicle is indicated by the arrows Up and Down.

[0033] The front vehicle structure 100 includes an intake section 102 and an intake cover 104. The intake section 102 is provided on the dash panel 106. The dash panel 106 is a panel that separates the front of the vehicle, for example, the power unit mounting room, from the passenger compartment. The dash panel 106 has a base surface 110 on which an intake port 108, shown by the dotted line in Figure 1(a), is formed, and a recess 112 located at the rear of the vehicle on the base surface 110 that becomes recessed towards the center in the vehicle width direction.

[0034] The base surface 110 of the dash panel 106 has a raised shape 114 that rises upward towards the vehicle. The recess 112 has a vertical wall 116 and an upper side wall 118 that bends from the upper end of the vertical wall 116 toward the rear of the vehicle and extends in the direction of the vehicle width.

[0035] The intake section 102 receives air intake from the in-cabin air conditioning unit 119 located on the rear side of the dash panel 106. The intake section 102 also includes, for example, a waterproof wall 120 and a base 121 (see Figure 2). The waterproof wall 120 is positioned between the intake port 108 and the intake cover 104, and is erected, for example, from the base surface 110 of the dash panel 106 in front of the intake port 108 in the vehicle width direction. The base 121 is positioned below, for example, the base surface 110 of the dash panel 106, and a part of it is located on the rear side of the dash panel 106. A sealing section 122 is arranged around the waterproof wall 120, as shown in Figure 2.

[0036] The intake cover 104 is, for example, a resin cover and forms a flow path that guides outside air introduced from the cowl portion 123, shown by the dashed line in Figure 1(a), into the power unit mounting room located on the front side of the dash panel 106, to the intake port 108.

[0037] As shown in Figure 2(a), the intake cover 104 has an upper wall 124 that partitions the upper side of the flow path, a pair of side walls, a first side wall 126 and a second side wall 128, a connecting portion 130, and a pair of support portions 132 and 134. The first side wall 126 and the second side wall 128 are continuous with both ends of the upper wall 124 in the vehicle width direction and extend toward, for example, the base surface 110 of the dash panel 106, partitioning both sides of the flow path in the vehicle width direction.

[0038] The connecting portion 130 is superimposed on the waterproof wall 120 of the intake portion 102 below the upper wall 124 and connected by a predetermined fastening member 136. Support portion 132, 1 3 4 extends from the upper wall 124 and is connected to the connecting section 130, supporting the connecting section 130.

[0039] The intake cover 104 further has a first flange 138 and a second flange 140 that protrude in the vehicle width direction from the first side wall 126 and the second side wall 128, respectively, as shown in Figure 2(b). The first flange 138 and the second flange 140 are also provided with predetermined fixing points 142 and 144 (see Figure 3), which are fixing holes. Furthermore, the first flange 138 and the second flange 140 are fixed to the dash panel 106 by predetermined fastening members 146 and 148 at the first fixing points 142 and 144, respectively. 4 It has a vertical wall portion 149. The vertical wall portion 149 connects the rear of the first flange 138 and the rear of the first side wall 126.

[0040] The first flange 138 has a first raised portion 150 and a second raised portion 151, as shown in Figure 2(b). The first raised portion 150 is raised upward in accordance with the raised shape 114 of the base surface 110 of the dash panel 106. In addition, a first fixing point 142 is set on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the first raised portion 150 of the first flange 138. The second raised portion 151 is located between the first fixing point 142 and the first side wall 126 and is raised in the vertical direction.

[0041] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1(b), the second flange 140 of the intake cover 104 and a part 121a of the base 121 of the intake section 102 connected to the air conditioning unit 119 are fastened together with a fastening member 148, sandwiching the dash panel 106. At this time, the second fixing point 144 of the second flange 140 and the third fixing point 152 provided on the dash panel 106 for fixing the air conditioning unit 119 are overlapped, and the fastening member 148 passes through them. This allows the intake cover 104 and the air conditioning unit 119 to be fixed to the dash panel 106.

[0042] Figure 3 shows the intake cover 104 of the vehicle front structure 100 shown in Figure 1. Figure 3(a) shows the intake cover 104 viewed from diagonally below. Figure 3(b) is a front view of the intake cover 104.

[0043] As shown in Figure 3(a), the connecting portion 130 of the intake cover 104 has a pair of ribs 154 and 156 and a connecting surface 158. The pair of ribs 154 and 156 are spaced apart in the vehicle width direction and extend in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and are connected by the connecting surface 158.

[0044] A pair of support sections 132 and 134 have a gap 159 between them and are further connected to a pair of ribs 154 and 156, respectively. The pair of support sections 132 and 134 and the pair of ribs 154 and 156 are set longitudinally in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0045] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3(b), the pair of support parts 132 and 134 are inclined to move further apart from each other as they move from the connecting part 130 towards the upper wall 124, so to speak, they are in an inverted V-shape. In other words, the pair of support parts 132 and 134 extend in a direction that is not perpendicular to the upper wall 124.

[0046] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3(a), weaker weaker areas 164 and 166 are formed in the connection regions 160 and 162 between the pair of support parts 132 and 134 and the pair of ribs 154 and 156, respectively, compared to the surrounding areas. These weaker areas 164 and 166 are thin in the vehicle width direction and extend in the vehicle longitudinal direction. As a result, the connection regions 160 and 162 between the pair of support parts 132 and 134 and the pair of ribs 154 and 156 are less rigid than the connection regions 168 and 170 between the upper wall 124 and the pair of support parts 132 and 134.

[0047] Figure 4 shows the intake cover 104 from Figure 3 viewed from a different direction. Figure 4(a) is a left side view of the intake cover 104. Figure 4(b) shows the intake cover 104 viewed from the upper left.

[0048] As shown in Figure 4(a), the upper wall 124 of the intake cover 104 extends further forward than the edge 172 of the side wall 128 that is in contact with the base surface 110 of the dash panel 106. The front edge 174 of the side wall 128 has an inclined portion 176 and an extended portion 178. The inclined portion 176 is inclined so that it approaches the upper wall 124 as it moves towards the front of the vehicle from the base surface 110 of the dash panel 106. The extended portion 178 extends upward continuously from the front end 180 of the inclined portion 176 and reaches the front end 182 of the upper wall 124.

[0049] Similarly, the side wall 126 also has an inclined portion 186 and an extended portion 188 on its leading edge 184, as shown in Figure 3(a). The inclined portion 186 is inclined so that it approaches the upper wall 124 as it moves towards the front of the vehicle from the edge 190 that is in contact with the base surface 110 of the dash panel 106. The extended portion 188 extends upward continuously from the front end 192 of the inclined portion 186 and reaches the front end 182 of the upper wall 124.

[0050] In this way, the intake cover 104 is provided with inclined portions 176, 186 and extended portions 178, 188 on the leading edges 174, 184 of the pair of side walls 128, 126. This makes it easier to introduce outside air into the intake cover 104 along the regions 194, 196 (see Figures 3(a) and 4(a)) demarcated by the inclined portions 176, 186, the extended portions 178, 188, and lines B and C connecting the edges 172, 190 on the dash panel 106 and the front end 182 of the upper wall 124.

[0051] Furthermore, in the intake cover 104, the outside air introduced into it cannot escape to the outside of the partitioned areas 194 and 196 of the pair of side walls 128 and 126. Therefore, the intake cover 104 makes it easier to guide air to the upper side of the pair of side walls 128 and 126, while making it difficult for air, rainwater, etc. to be guided to the lower side, thereby increasing the amount of air flowing along the upper wall 124.

[0052] Furthermore, in the intake cover 104, as shown in Figure 4(a), the extension portion 178 and the inclined portion 176 are formed to be convex forward when viewed from the side. This makes it less likely for load to concentrate in the connection area between the extension portion 178 and the inclined portion 176, i.e., the front end 180 and surrounding area of ​​the inclined portion 176, thereby suppressing local deformation of the upper wall 124. Similarly, the extension portion 188 and the inclined portion 186 are also formed to be convex forward. If the extension portions 178, 188 and the inclined portions 176, 186 were concave to the rear, i.e., in a "V" shape, it would be difficult to introduce outside air, and furthermore, load would concentrate at the connection point between the extension portions 178, 188 and the inclined portions 176, 186, making the upper wall 124 more prone to local deformation.

[0053] Furthermore, the edge 172 of the side wall 128 on the dash panel 106 includes a rear edge 200 extending downward from the rear end 198 of the upper wall 124, and a lower edge 202, as shown in Figure 4(b). The lower edge 202 slopes downward from the lower end 204 of the rear edge 200 toward the front of the vehicle and continues to the front edge 174. Similarly, the edge 190 of the side wall 126 on the dash panel 106 includes a rear edge 206 and a lower edge 208, as shown in Figure 3(a).

[0054] The intake cover 104 further includes a rear wall 210 connecting the trailing edges 200, 206 of a pair of side walls 128, 126, as shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(b), and a bulge portion 212 (see Figure 4). The bulge portion 212 is an upwardly bulging portion formed at the rear of the upper wall 124 in the vehicle width direction, and has a rising portion 214 and a descending portion 216.

[0055] The rising section 214 rises upward from a position behind the inclined sections 176, 186 of the leading edges 174, 184 of the pair of side walls 128, 126, and the angle increases as it moves towards the rear. The descending section 216 is continuous with the rising section 214 and slopes downward as it moves towards the rear wall 210.

[0056] Furthermore, the downward section 216 and the rear wall 210 are provided with a first sealing member 218 and a second sealing member 220, respectively, as shown in Figure 3(b). These first sealing member 218 and second sealing member 220 seal the space between the downward section 216 and the rear wall 210 and the dash panel 106, preventing water and other substances from entering through these gaps and flowing down into the air intake 108 of the dash panel 106.

[0057] As shown in Figure 3(a), the first flange 138, to which the first fixing point 142 is provided, extends from the lower edge 208 of the first side wall 126. The second flange 140, to which the second fixing point 144 is provided, extends from the rear edge 200 of the second side wall 128. For this reason, the first fixing point 142 and the second fixing point 144 are positioned offset from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0058] Furthermore, the intake cover 104 has a lower portion 222. The lower portion 222 protrudes in the vehicle width direction from the lower edge 202 of the second side wall 128 and extends further toward the front of the vehicle from the second flange 140. Also, there are no fixed points on the lower portion 222. Therefore, the lower portion 222 and the front edge 174 and lower edge 202 of the second side wall 128 are free ends. The front edge 184 of the first side wall 126 shown in Figure 3(b) is also a free end.

[0059] Thus, as shown in Figure 3(a), the intake cover 104 has a first fixing point 142 on the first flange 138 extending from the lower edge 208 of the first side wall 126, and a second fixing point 144 on the second flange 140 extending from the rear edge 200 of the second side wall 128, but no fixing points are provided on the lower surface portion 222 continuous with the second side wall 128. As a result, the intake cover 104 allows for torsional deformation of the first side wall 126 or the second side wall 128 by different fixing directions for the first fixing point 142 and the second fixing point 144, while making it easier to displace the lower surface portion 222 continuous with the second side wall 128, which does not have a fixing point, in the vehicle width direction compared to the lower surface of the first side wall 126, i.e., the first flange 138 continuous with the first side wall 126.

[0060] Thus, the leading edges 174 and 184 of the pair of side walls 128 and 126 have inclined portions 176 and 186 that approach the upper wall 124 as they move toward the front of the vehicle from the dash panel 106. The inclined portions 176 and 186 approach the upper wall 124 as they move toward the front of the vehicle from the dash panel 106. As a result, the support area of ​​the pair of side walls 128 and 126 that support the dash panel 106 can be reduced.

[0061] If the leading edges 174, 184 of the pair of side walls 128, 126 do not have inclined portions 176, 186, and instead extend continuously downward from both ends of the upper wall 124 in the vehicle width direction toward the base surface 110 of the dash panel 106, the support area of ​​the pair of side walls 128, 126 supporting the dash panel 106 will be larger than that of the configuration having the inclined portions 176, 186.

[0062] Therefore, when an external force is applied from above to the upper wall 124 of the intake cover 104, the portion of this external force transmitted to the front part of the upper wall 124, including the front end 182 and its surrounding area, is transmitted from the upper wall 124 along the inclined portions 176 and 186 of the front edges 174 and 184 of the pair of side walls 128 and 126 to the lower end of the pair of side walls 128 and 126, including the lower edges 202 and 208 and their surrounding area, as shown in Figure 3(a), which serve as the support surface for the dash panel 106. This suppresses the local downward bending of the front part of the upper wall 124 of the intake cover 104, while concentrating the load on the support surface of the pair of side walls 128 and 126 for the dash panel 106, thereby promoting deformation in which the pair of side walls 128 and 126 tilt in the vehicle width direction. In this way, the intake cover 104 can be easily deformed to flex in the vertical direction.

[0063] Furthermore, since the inclined portions 176, 186 of the leading edges 174, 184 of the pair of side walls 128, 126 are free ends, these inclined portions 176, 186 can be displaced in the vehicle width direction.

[0064] Figure 5 shows various cross-sections of the intake cover 104 in Figure 4(b). Figures 5(a) and 5(b) show the DD and EE cross-sections of the intake cover 104 in Figure 4(b), respectively. Figure 6 shows the intake cover 104 in Figure 3 viewed from yet another direction. Figures 6(a), 6(b), and 6(c) are the bottom, top, and rear views of the intake cover 104, respectively.

[0065] As shown in Figure 5(a), the pair of support parts 132 and 134 are positioned on both sides of the connecting part 130 in the vehicle width direction, and are inclined to move closer to each other from the upper wall 124 toward the connecting part 130. The connecting part 130 is superimposed on the waterproof wall 120 of the intake part 102 shown in Figure 2, which protrudes upward from the base surface 110 of the dash panel 106 (see Figure 1(a)), and is connected by a fastening member 136. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5(b), a first sealing member 218 and a second sealing member 220 are provided on the downward-sloping portion 216 and the rear wall 210 of the upper wall 124 of the intake cover 104, respectively.

[0066] This allows the rear outer side of the intake cover 104 and the dash panel 10 6 The gaps between the intake cover 104 and other components can be sealed by the sealing members 218 and 220, and in this case, a repulsive force (reaction force) from the sealing members 218 and 220 acts on the rear of the intake cover 104. This repulsive force is transmitted to the intake section 102 via the pair of support parts 132 and 134 of the intake cover 104, the connecting part 130, and the fastening member 136. As a result, even if there are few connection points between the intake section 102 and other components such as the dash panel 106, the gaps can be easily sealed.

[0067] Furthermore, the second sealing member 220 is arranged to be continuous with the lower surface of the first flange 138, the first side wall 126, and the rear wall 210 via a vertical wall portion 149 (see Figures 2 and 3) that connects the rear of the first flange 138 and the rear of the first side wall 126 (see Figure 6(a)), thereby enhancing watertightness. In addition, in the intake cover 104, the first flange 138 is connected to the rear of the first side wall 126 via the vertical wall portion 149, and further rear Wall 2 It is connected to the second flange 140 via 10 (see Figure 6(b)). Therefore, in the intake cover 104, the reaction force of the second sealing member 220 can be distributed and received by the first flange 138 and the second flange 140, so that the watertightness provided by the second sealing member 220 can be improved even with fewer fastening points. The second sealing member 220 is arranged to extend across the second flange 140 (see Figure 6(c)).

[0068] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5(a), since a gap 159 is formed between the pair of support parts 132 and 134, when an external force is applied to the intake cover 104 from above, the pair of support parts 132 and 134 are each prone to deformation in the direction of inclination.

[0069] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5(b), a bulge 212 is provided at the rear of the upper wall 124 that bulges upward in the vehicle width direction, so that the intake outside air (see arrow F in the figure) can be guided from the bulge 212 along the rear wall 210.

[0070] Therefore, the intake cover 104 efficiently guides outside air to the intake section 102, and when subjected to a load from above, it encourages the upper wall 124 to curve and deform in the vertical direction, starting from the rising section 214 located behind the inclined sections 176 and 186.

[0071] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5(b), in the intake cover 104, the angles θa between the rising portion 214 of the upper wall 124 and its front portion, θb between the rising portion 214 and the descending portion 216, θc between the descending portion 216 and the rear wall 210, and θd between the rear wall 210 and the dash panel 106 are all obtuse angles. In this way, the intake cover 104 is formed with obtuse angles θa, θb, θc, and θd, which creates an airflow that traces an ellipse when outside air is guided from the front, as shown by arrow F, thus enabling efficient intake. Furthermore, if the angle θa is 120° or more, the air along the front portion will not separate and will be more easily introduced into the rising portion 214, enabling even more efficient intake.

[0072] The rising portion 214 may rise in an arc shape so as to have a predetermined radius of curvature when viewed from the side. The descending portion 216 may also descend in an arc shape so as to have a predetermined radius of curvature when viewed from the side.

[0073] As shown in Figure 5(b), the support portion 132 is formed such that its cross-sectional area decreases as it moves from the upper wall 124 towards the connecting portion 130. Similarly, as shown in Figure 3(a), the support portion 134 also has a cross-sectional area that decreases as it moves from the upper wall 124 towards the connecting portion 130.

[0074] As a result, when the intake cover 104 receives an external force from above and the impact energy is transmitted from above to below the support parts 132 and 134, localized stress concentration within the support parts 132 and 134 can be avoided. Therefore, unintended deformation of the support parts 132 and 134 does not occur, and the support parts 132 and 134 can deform in an inclined direction.

[0075] As shown in Figure 5(b), the ribs 154 of the support portion 132 and the connecting portion 130 become smaller in the front-rear direction as they extend downwards, forming an overall nearly triangular shape. In addition, weaker portions 224 and 226 are formed in the connection regions 168 and 170 shown in Figure 3(a), which are weaker than the surrounding areas. These weaker portions 224 and 226 are thin in the vehicle width direction and extend in the vehicle's front-rear direction.

[0076] A bent portion 228 is formed in the connection area 160 of the support portion 132, as shown in Figure 5(b). The bent portion 228 is thin in the vehicle width direction and extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction, promoting deformation of the support portion 132 in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the support portion 132 will not break until it has deformed and tilted sufficiently. Alternatively, instead of these weak portions 164, 166, 224, 226 (see Figure 3(a)) and the bent portion 228, through holes or notches may be formed in a part of the pair of support portions 132, 134 that penetrate in the vehicle width direction.

[0077] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5(a), the upper wall 124 is inclined so that its height differs in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the support portion 132 is connected to the upper wall 124 at a higher position than the support portion 134. As a result, when the pair of support portions 132 and 134 are subjected to a load from above, the support portion 132, which is connected to the upper wall 124 at a higher position, is bent at the bending portion 228, and the load is further transmitted to the support portion 134, thereby promoting deformation in both the pair of support portions 132 and 134.

[0078] In a vehicle, the closer to the center of the vehicle, the easier it is to draw air from the front, while closer to the outside of the vehicle, the more air escapes to the outside. Therefore, in the intake cover 104, as shown in Figure 6(a), the rising portion 214 and the descending portion 216 of the bulge portion 212 are inclined so that they are located further forward as they are towards the center of the vehicle (right side in the figure). This guides air along the inclination direction of the rising portion 214 and the descending portion 216 to the dash panel 10 6 This makes it easier to guide air into the entire air intake port 108.

[0079] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6(a), the pair of support parts 132 and 134 are provided in the region 230 between the front end position on the front side (see G in the figure) and the front end position on the rear side (see H in the figure) of the rising portion 214. In this way, when the intake cover 104 curves starting from the diagonally inclined bulge portion 212, even if an external force acts at a position offset from the center of the upper wall 124, it becomes easier to apply the external force to the pair of support parts 132 and 134.

[0080] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 6(a) and 6(b), the first side wall 126 has a smaller dimension in the vehicle's longitudinal direction than the second side wall 128, and a longer dimension in the vertical direction as shown in Figures 3(b) and 6(c). As a result, if the dash panel 106 is inclined to curve forward as it approaches the center in the vehicle's width direction, the first side wall 126 has a smaller dimension in the vehicle's longitudinal direction than the second side wall 128, allowing the pair of side walls 126 and 128 to be positioned along the inclination of the dash panel 106. Therefore, when the intake cover 104 is fixed to the dash panel 106, it is possible to avoid the formation of dead space on the dash panel 106.

[0081] Furthermore, the second side wall 128 is longer in the vehicle's longitudinal direction and smaller in the vertical direction compared to the first side wall 126. This reduces the difference in reaction forces between the pair of side walls 126 and 128 when an external force is applied from above to the upper wall 124 of the intake cover 104, making it easier for the upper wall 124 to flex vertically starting from its center in the vehicle's width direction.

[0082] Figure 7 shows a modified example of the intake cover 104 in Figure 1(a) when an external force (see arrow I in the figure) is applied from above. Figures 7(a) and 7(b) show the state in which the intake cover 104 is deformed by an external force from above. Figure 7(c) shows the state in which the intake cover 104A of the comparative example is deformed.

[0083] As shown in Figure 2, the pair of support parts 132 and 134 of the intake cover 104 support the connecting part 130 and extend in a direction not perpendicular to the upper wall 124, and are inclined. Therefore, even if the waterproof wall 120 of the intake section 102 is connected vertically by the connecting part 130 within the flow path of the intake cover 104, deformation of the intake cover 104 can be promoted.

[0084] In other words, when the intake cover 104 is subjected to an external force from above (see arrow I), the support parts 132 and 134 are prone to deforming in the inclined direction. The dashed line J in Figure 7(a) shows the shape of the intake cover 104 before deformation.

[0085] Furthermore, the connection regions 160 and 162 between the pair of support parts 132 and 134 and the pair of ribs 154 and 156, as shown in Figure 3(a), have lower rigidity than the connection regions 168 and 170 between the upper wall 124 and the pair of support parts 132 and 134.

[0086] As a result, when the intake cover 104 is subjected to the external force shown by arrow I in Figure 7(a), the support parts 132 and 134 deform in an inclined direction, and the side walls 126 and 128 are further displaced in the vehicle width direction, causing the upper wall 124 to deform downward. The side walls 126 and 128 deform so that their upper sides move closer to each other (see arrows K and M), and their lower sides move further apart (see arrows L and N), so they deform to open up in a V-shape.

[0087] Then, the connection region 160 (see Figure 3(a)) between the support portion 132 and the rib 154 of the connecting portion 130 breaks as shown in Figure 7(a). In this way, the intake cover 104 can use the impact energy when subjected to an external force as energy to break the connection regions 160 and 162 between the support portions 132 and 134 and the connecting portion 130, or to deform the support portions 132 and 134 and their surroundings. Therefore, the intake cover 104 can efficiently absorb the impact when subjected to an external force from above.

[0088] In the modified intake cover 104A shown in Figure 7(c), the rear side of the first flange 138A protruding from the side wall 126A is cut out, and further the side wall 128A and the 2 It differs from the intake cover 104 in that it does not have the aforementioned lower surface portion 222 that is continuous with the flange 140A.

[0089] Such an intake cover 1 04 Even in case A, the support parts 132 and 134 support the connecting part 130, and by extending and inclining in a direction not perpendicular to the upper wall 124, they can efficiently absorb the impact when an external force is received from above.

[0090] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3(b), the intake cover 104 has a first raised portion 150 on the first flange 138 that is raised upward in accordance with the raised shape 114 of the dash panel 106 (see Figure 1(a)), and a first fixing point 142 is set on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the first raised portion 150.

[0091] Therefore, the intake cover 104 can contact the dash panel 106 and the first raised portion 150 in the vehicle width direction. Then, as shown in Figure 7(a), when a load is received from above the upper wall 124, and a shear force (load in the vehicle width direction) is generated that causes the lower end of the first side wall 126 to displace outward in the vehicle width direction, the displacement of the side wall 126 can be received by the raised shape 114 of the dash panel 106 via the first raised portion 150. In addition, it is possible to avoid this shear force concentrating at the first fixed point 142.

[0092] Furthermore, in the intake cover 104, by providing a second raised portion 151 between the first fixed point 142 and the first side wall 126, the second raised portion 151 can be bent in the vehicle width direction when subjected to a load from above, making it easier to incline the first side wall 126 in the vehicle width direction. 1 Since multiple bending points are formed in this section, stress concentrates at these bending points, making it prone to deformation. The second raised section 151 bulges upward, but is not limited to this; it may also bulge downward.

[0093] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4(b), the lower portion 222 protrudes in the vehicle width direction from the lower edge 202 of the second side wall 128 and extends toward the front of the vehicle from the second flange 140, and there is no fixed point provided. Therefore, the lower portion 222 is a free end with respect to the dash panel 106. As a result, when a load is received from above the upper wall 124, the area around the second side wall 128, including the lower portion 222, flexes to absorb the load, thereby preventing the load from concentrating on the pair of support parts 132 and 134 and causing the support parts 132 and 134 to tip over laterally.

[0094] Furthermore, the second sealing member 220 provided on the rear wall 210 of the intake cover 104 extends to the first flange 138, as shown in Figure 6(c), and is positioned to extend further from the second flange 140 to the lower surface portion 222. This makes it easier for the repulsive force of the second sealing member 220 to be received at the first fixing point 142 and the second fixing point 144, thereby improving waterproofing. In addition, the shear force generated when a load is applied from above the upper wall 124 can be released to the vertical wall 116 of the dash panel 106 (see Figure 1(a)) via the second sealing member 220.

[0095] Figure 8 schematically shows another modified example of the intake cover 104 of Figure 5(a). In the intake cover 104B shown in Figure 8(a), a pair of support parts 132 and 134A are inclined parallel to each other with respect to the upper wall 124. Even with this configuration, when subjected to an external force from above, the support parts 132 and 134A are more likely to deform in the inclined direction, thus promoting deformation of the intake cover 104B even if the connecting part 130 is connected to the waterproof wall 120.

[0096] In the intake cover 104C shown in Figure 8(b), of the pair of support parts 132 and 134B, support part 132 is inclined with respect to the upper wall 124, and support part 134B extends in a direction perpendicular to the upper wall 124. Even with this configuration, when subjected to an external force from above, support part 132 of the support parts 132 and 134B is more likely to deform in the inclined direction, thereby promoting deformation of the intake cover 104C.

[0097] Furthermore, although the support parts 132, 134, and 134A described above extend in an inclined direction, i.e., not perpendicular, to the upper wall 124, if they are inclined as a whole, they may have a portion that extends perpendicular to the upper wall 124, i.e., a vertical portion.

[0098] Furthermore, the pair of support parts 132, 134, support parts 132, 134A, and support parts 132, 134B may be arranged not only side by side in the vehicle width direction, but also side by side in the vehicle front-rear direction, provided that at least one of them is inclined with respect to the upper wall 124.

[0099] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5(a), the intake cover 104 has a hat-shaped cross section that is convex upwards, extending from the upper wall 124, the pair of side walls 126 and 128, and the lower surface portion 222 that is continuous with the first flange 138 and the second flange 140. In contrast, the intake cover 104D shown in Figure 8(c) is convex upwards due to the upper wall 124, the first side wall 126 and the second side wall 128B, and has an inner flange 232 that protrudes from the second side wall 128B toward the upper wall 124.

[0100] The intake cover 104E shown in Figure 8(d) is convex upward due to the upper wall 124, the first side wall 126B, and the second side wall 128B, and has an inner flange 234 that protrudes from the first side wall 126B toward the upper wall 124. Such intake covers 104D and 104E have no bottom surface (lower wall) and are open at the bottom, and further have a convex shape toward upward, so they are easily deformed when an external force is applied to the upper wall 124 from above, and are able to easily absorb the impact energy of the external force.

[0101] The connecting portion 130 of the intake cover 104 described above is connected to the waterproof wall 120 of the intake section 102 located below the upper wall 124, but is not limited to this, and may be connected to the base surface 110 of the dash panel 106, and if the intake cover 104 has a lower wall that partitions the lower side of the flow path, the connecting portion 130 may be connected to the lower wall instead of the intake section 102 or the dash panel 106.

[0102] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3(a) and 4(a), the intake cover 104 facilitates the introduction of outside air through inclined portions 176, 186 and regions 194, 196 including extensions 178, 188 provided on the leading edges 174, 184 of the pair of side walls 128, 126. However, it is not limited to this, and regions 194, 196 may not be provided on the side walls 128, 126, so that the upper wall 124 is more easily deformed when an external force is applied from above.

[0103] Furthermore, since the pair of support parts 132 and 134 are in an open, inverted V-shape, even if an external force received from above acts on one or the other side of the intake cover 104 in a predetermined direction, the pair of support parts 132 and 134 are easily deformed in an inclined direction, which easily promotes the fracture of the connection areas 160 and 162 between the support parts 132 and 134 and the connecting part 130.

[0104] Furthermore, in the intake cover 104, as shown in Figure 3, the first fixing point 142 and the second fixing point 144 are positioned at offset locations in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, with the second fixing point 144 located further back than the first fixing point 142. In this way, the first fixing point 142 and the second fixing point 144 are positioned at different locations in the longitudinal direction, so the intake cover 10 4 When an external force is applied from above, torsional deformation can be promoted in the first side wall 126 or the second side wall 128, making it easier to displace it in the vehicle width direction.

[0105] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1(b), the second fixing point 144 of the second flange 140 and the third fixing point 152 provided for fixing the air conditioning unit 119 to the dash panel 106 are overlapped, thus reducing the number of fixing points required to fix the intake cover 104 and the air conditioning unit 119 to the dash panel 106.

[0106] Furthermore, by overlapping the second fixing point 144 and the third fixing point 152 and passing a predetermined fastening member 148 through them to fix the intake cover 104 and the air conditioning unit 119 to the dash panel 106, the rigidity around the overlapping fixing points can be increased. As a result, when the intake cover 104 is subjected to an external force, the overlapping fixing points are less likely to be displaced, making it easier to deform the upper wall 124 and the pair of side walls 126 and 128 of the intake cover 104.

[0107] Furthermore, in the intake cover 104, the first sealing member 218 is provided on the downward-sloping portion 216, and as shown in Figure 5(a), the rear side of the pair of support portions 132 and 134 is on the rising portion 21 4 It is inclined to follow the curve. Therefore, the repulsive force of the first sealing member 218 is upward Wall 1 The downward portion 216 of 24 is transmitted to the rising portion 214. And this repulsive force is transmitted to the rising portion 21 4 The current is reliably transmitted to a pair of support parts 132 and 134 that are inclined along the curve, and further transmitted to the intake section 102 via the connecting part 130 and the fastening member 136. As a result, even with fewer connection points between the intake section 102 and other components such as the dash panel 106, the gap can be sealed more effectively.

[0108] The intake cover 104 further has an upper flange 236 and outer flanges 238 and 240 as shown in Figure 3. The upper flange 236 protrudes upward from the front end 182 of the upper wall 124 (see Figure 4(a)). The outer flanges 238 and 240 protrude outward in the vehicle width direction from a pair of side walls 126 and 128. This makes it easier to guide outside air along the upper flange 236 and the outer flanges 238 and 240 towards the upper wall 124 side and the pair of side walls 126 and 128 side.

[0109] The intake cover 104 described above was fixed to the dash panel 106 in order to form a passage that guides outside air to the intake section 102, but it is not limited to this, and the configuration of the intake cover 104 may be applied to a resin cover appropriately installed in the vehicle. Here, the resin cover can be used, for example, as a protective cover to protect onboard components or electrical components. Furthermore, the resin cover may also adopt a configuration similar to the intake cover 104, such as having a bottom wall.

[0110] The structure of the resin cover will now be explained in accordance with Figure 3(a). The resin cover comprises a pair of side walls 126 and 128 spaced apart in a predetermined direction, and an upper wall 124 that serves as an outer wall connecting the pair of side walls 126 and 128. It is molded from resin and is mounted on the vehicle, partitioning the space enclosed by the pair of side walls 126 and 128 and the upper wall 124.

[0111] The resin cover further includes a connecting portion 130 that is connected to a predetermined lower member below the upper wall 124, and a pair of support portions 132 and 134 that extend from the upper wall 124 and support the connecting portion 130. The support portions 132 and 134 are inclined so that they approach the center of the upper wall 124 as they move from the upper wall 124 toward the connecting portion 130. The ends of the support portions 132 and 134 on the connecting portion 130 side have lower rigidity than the ends of the support portions 132 and 134 on the upper wall 124 side.

[0112] As a result, when the upper wall 124 of the resin cover is subjected to an external force that deforms it, for example toward the inside of the vehicle, the support parts 132 and 134 are more likely to deform in a direction that is inclined toward the connecting part 130, that is, toward the center of the upper wall 124. Therefore, the impact energy associated with the external force can be used as energy to deform the support parts 132 and 134 and their surroundings, or to break the ends of the support parts 132 and 134 on the connecting part 130 side. Thus, the resin cover can efficiently absorb the impact when the upper wall 124 is subjected to an external force that deforms it.

[0113] Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications or alterations can be conceived within the scope of the claims, and these will naturally also fall within the technical scope of the present invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0114] This invention can be used in the front structure of a vehicle. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0115] 100... Front structure of the vehicle 102... Intake section 104, 104A, 104B... Intake cover 106...Dash panel 108... Air intake 110...Base surface 112…recess 114…Elevated shape 116…Vertical wall 118… Upper wall 119... Air conditioning unit 120…Waterproof wall 121... Base 121a... Part of the base 122... Sealing section 123... Cowl section 124... Upper wall of the intake cover 126, 126A, 126B…1st side wall 128, 128A, 128B…Second side wall 130...Connection part 132, 134, 134A, 134B...Support part 136, 146, 148… Fastening members 138...First flange 140...Second flange 142…1st fixed point 144…Second fixed point 149...Vertical wall part 150...1st raised part 151…Second raised part 152…Third fixed point 154, 156... Ribs 158...Connection surface 159...Gap 160, 162, 168, 170… Connection area 164, 166, 224, 226… Vulnerable areas 172, 190… Edges on the dash panel of the side wall 174, 184... leading edge 176, 186...slanted part 178, 188...extension part 180, 192... Front end of the inclined section 182... Front end of the upper wall 194, 196... Side wall region 198... Rear end of the upper wall 200, 206… Trailing edge 202, 208... lower edge 204...Lower end of the trailing edge 210…Back wall 212...bulge 214...Standing section 216... Downward section 218...first sealing member 220...Second sealing member 222…Bottom part 228...Bend 230... Upper wall area 232, 234… Inner flange 236… Upper flange 238, 240… Outer flange

Claims

1. An intake section is provided on the dashboard panel that separates the front of the vehicle from the passenger compartment, and air is drawn in by the air conditioning unit inside the passenger compartment. In a front vehicle structure comprising an intake cover fixed to the dash panel and forming a passage for guiding outside air introduced from the cowl portion to the front of the vehicle to the intake portion, The aforementioned intake cover is, An upper wall positioned above the intake section and partitioning the upper side of the flow path, The upper wall has a pair of side walls that extend continuously from both ends in the vehicle width direction to the dash panel and demarcate both sides of the flow path in the vehicle width direction, The upper wall extends further forward than the edges of the pair of side walls on the dash panel, The leading edges of the pair of side walls are The aforementioned dash panel has an inclined portion that approaches the upper wall as it moves towards the front of the vehicle, The intake cover is a vehicle front structure characterized in that, when fixed to the dash panel, the edges of the pair of side walls are spaced apart from each other from the front edge to the lower edge on the dash panel, thereby creating an open state from the front downwards.

2. The front edge of the pair of side walls further has an extension that extends continuously upward from the front end of the inclined portion and reaches the front end of the upper wall, as described in claim 1.

3. The edges of the pair of side walls on the dash panel include a rear edge extending downward from the rear end of the upper wall and a lower edge that slopes downward from the lower end of the rear edge toward the front of the vehicle and continues to the front edge. The aforementioned intake cover further, A rear wall connecting the rear edges of the pair of side walls, The upper wall has an upwardly bulging portion formed at the rear end in the vehicle width direction, The aforementioned bulge is, A rising portion that rises upward from a position behind the inclined portion of the front edge of the pair of side walls as it moves towards the rear, The front vehicle structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has a rising portion that is continuous with the rising portion and slopes downward as it approaches the rear wall.

4. The pair of side walls have a first side wall and a second side wall, The intake cover further has a first flange and a second flange that protrude in the vehicle width direction from the first side wall and the second side wall, respectively, and are fixed to the dash panel at predetermined first and second fixing points, respectively. The front vehicle structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first fixed point and the second fixed point are positioned at offset locations in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

5. An intake section is provided on the dashboard panel that separates the front of the vehicle from the passenger compartment, and air is drawn in by the air conditioning unit inside the passenger compartment. In a front vehicle structure comprising an intake cover fixed to the dash panel and forming a passage for guiding outside air introduced from the cowl portion to the front of the vehicle to the intake portion, The aforementioned intake cover is, An upper wall positioned above the intake section and partitioning the upper side of the flow path, The upper wall has a pair of side walls that extend continuously from both ends in the vehicle width direction to the dash panel and demarcate both sides of the flow path in the vehicle width direction, The upper wall extends further forward than the edges of the pair of side walls on the dash panel, The leading edges of the pair of side walls are The aforementioned dash panel has an inclined portion that approaches the upper wall as it moves towards the front of the vehicle, The pair of side walls have a first side wall and a second side wall, The intake cover further has a first flange and a second flange that protrude in the vehicle width direction from the first side wall and the second side wall, respectively, and are fixed to the dash panel at predetermined first and second fixing points, respectively. The first fixed point and the second fixed point are positioned at offset locations in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The first flange extends from the lower edge of the first side wall, The second flange extends from the trailing edge of the second side wall, The front vehicle structure is characterized in that the lower edge of the second side wall is a free end.

6. An intake section is provided on the dashboard panel that separates the front of the vehicle from the passenger compartment, and air is drawn in by the air conditioning unit inside the passenger compartment. In a front vehicle structure comprising an intake cover fixed to the dash panel and forming a passage for guiding outside air introduced from the cowl portion to the front of the vehicle to the intake portion, The aforementioned intake cover is, An upper wall positioned above the intake section and partitioning the upper side of the flow path, The upper wall has a pair of side walls that extend continuously from both ends in the vehicle width direction to the dash panel and demarcate both sides of the flow path in the vehicle width direction, The upper wall extends further forward than the edges of the pair of side walls on the dash panel, The leading edges of the pair of side walls are The aforementioned dash panel has an inclined portion that approaches the upper wall as it moves towards the front of the vehicle, The pair of side walls have a first side wall and a second side wall, The intake cover further has a first flange and a second flange that protrude in the vehicle width direction from the first side wall and the second side wall, respectively, and are fixed to the dash panel at predetermined first and second fixing points, respectively. The first fixed point and the second fixed point are positioned at offset locations in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The aforementioned dashboard panel is provided with a plurality of third fixing points for securing the air conditioning unit, A vehicle front structure characterized in that at least one of the first fixing point and the second fixing point is superimposed on any of the plurality of third fixing points of the dash panel.

7. An intake section is provided on the dashboard panel that separates the front of the vehicle from the passenger compartment, and air is drawn in by the air conditioning unit inside the passenger compartment. In a front vehicle structure comprising an intake cover fixed to the dash panel and forming a passage for guiding outside air introduced from the cowl portion to the front of the vehicle to the intake portion, The aforementioned intake cover is, An upper wall positioned above the intake section and partitioning the upper side of the flow path, The upper wall has a pair of side walls that extend continuously from both ends in the vehicle width direction to the dash panel and demarcate both sides of the flow path in the vehicle width direction, The upper wall extends further forward than the edges of the pair of side walls on the dash panel, The leading edges of the pair of side walls are The aforementioned dash panel has an inclined portion that approaches the upper wall as it moves towards the front of the vehicle, The pair of side walls have a first side wall and a second side wall, The intake cover further has a first flange and a second flange that protrude in the vehicle width direction from the first side wall and the second side wall, respectively, and are fixed to the dash panel at predetermined first and second fixing points, respectively. The first fixed point and the second fixed point are positioned at offset locations in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The front vehicle structure is characterized in that one of the pair of side walls has a smaller dimension in the vehicle's longitudinal direction and a longer dimension in the vertical direction than the other side wall.

8. An intake section is provided on the dashboard panel that separates the front of the vehicle from the passenger compartment, and air is drawn in by the air conditioning unit inside the passenger compartment. In a front vehicle structure comprising an intake cover fixed to the dash panel and forming a passage for guiding outside air introduced from the cowl portion to the front of the vehicle to the intake portion, The aforementioned intake cover is, An upper wall positioned above the intake section and partitioning the upper side of the flow path, The upper wall has a pair of side walls that extend continuously from both ends in the vehicle width direction to the dash panel and demarcate both sides of the flow path in the vehicle width direction, The upper wall extends further forward than the edges of the pair of side walls on the dash panel, The leading edges of the pair of side walls are The aforementioned dash panel has an inclined portion that approaches the upper wall as it moves towards the front of the vehicle, The pair of side walls have a first side wall and a second side wall, The intake cover further has a first flange and a second flange that protrude in the vehicle width direction from the first side wall and the second side wall, respectively, and are fixed to the dash panel at predetermined first and second fixing points, respectively. The first fixed point and the second fixed point are positioned at offset locations in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The intake cover is characterized in that the cross section spanning the upper wall, the first side wall and the second side wall and the first flange and the second flange is a hat shape that is convex upward, or a shape that is convex upward by the upper wall, the first side wall and the second side wall, with at least one of the first flange and the second flange protruding toward the upper wall.

Images