Vehicle front structure

Abstract

Provided is a vehicle front structure for introducing airflow to a heat exchanger installed at the front of the body of a vehicle. The vehicle front structure comprises a front bumper in which an opening part is formed, and a cooling duct extended in the front-rear direction from the opening part toward the heat exchanger. The opening part is formed in a vehicle-widthwise end side of the front bumper. The cooling duct has a first portion extending horizontally rearward from the opening part, and a second portion extending at an upward incline rearward from the first portion.

Description

Vehicle front structure

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle front structure for introducing airflow to a heat exchanger provided in an engine compartment at the front of the vehicle body.

[0002] Vehicles such as automobiles are provided with heat exchangers, such as radiators and oil coolers, as cooling systems for power sources such as engines and transmissions such as CVTs, which are mounted in the engine compartment. Each heat exchanger is located in the front of the engine compartment and is cooled by the airflow that is introduced into the engine compartment from the front of the vehicle body as the vehicle moves.

[0003] However, for a heat exchanger installed inside the engine compartment, it is difficult to effectively direct the airflow introduced from the front of the engine compartment to the heat exchanger, and there are cases where the heat exchanger cannot be sufficiently cooled.

[0004] To address this problem, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a cooling structure in which a cooling duct that introduces airflow from a radiator opening at the front of the vehicle body to the radiator and a cooling duct that introduces airflow from a center opening at the front of the vehicle body to the oil cooler are formed separately, thereby guiding airflows separately to multiple heat exchangers and improving the cooling effect.

[0005] Japanese Patent Publication No. 9-86449

[0006] In conventional vehicles, a radiator is disposed in front of the engine compartment, and a heat exchanger, such as an auxiliary radiator or an oil cooler, is sometimes disposed to one side of the front of the vehicle body. In this case, in Patent Document 1, the cooling ducts are arranged vertically in front of the vehicle body, so air cannot be smoothly directed to the heat exchanger disposed on one side of the engine compartment in the vehicle width direction. In addition, in Patent Document 1, the cooling duct including the center opening is formed by penetrating the rear end of a recess formed in a portion of the nose panel, so forming the vehicle front structure including the cooling duct requires effort and cost.

[0007] The present invention was made in consideration of the above situation, and aims to provide a vehicle front structure that can effectively send air flow to a heat exchanger located on either the left or right side of the vehicle width direction, and that exhibits a high cooling effect with a low-cost configuration.

[0008] The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following configurations. [1] A vehicle front structure for introducing airflow to a heat exchanger provided in a front portion of a vehicle body, comprising: a front bumper having an opening; and a cooling duct extending in a front-rear direction from the opening toward the heat exchanger, wherein the opening is formed on an end side of the front bumper in the vehicle width direction, and the cooling duct has a first portion extending horizontally rearward from the opening, and a second portion extending at an angle upward rearward from the first portion. [2] The vehicle front structure described in [1], wherein a rear portion of the second portion is wider in the up-down direction toward the rear. [3] The vehicle front structure described in [1], wherein a front portion of the second portion has substantially the same width in the up-down direction as the first portion. [4] The vehicle front structure described in [1], wherein the second portion is narrower in the vehicle width direction toward the rear. [5] The vehicle front structure described in [4], wherein the second portion has an outer side surface in the vehicle width direction extending flush and substantially parallel to the front-rear direction, and an inner side surface in the vehicle width direction inclined outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the front-rear direction. [6] The vehicle front structure described in [1], wherein the first portion has a cylindrical portion extending in the vertical direction and connecting the upper surface and the lower surface. [7] The vehicle front structure described in [1], wherein the cooling duct has a third portion extending horizontally rearward from the second portion. [8] The vehicle front structure described in [1], wherein the front end of the first portion has an upper surface that protrudes forward relative to the lower surface. [9] A vehicle front structure for introducing airflow to a heat exchanger provided in a front part of a vehicle body, comprising: a front bumper arranged on a front lower side of the vehicle body; and a cooling duct extending in a front-rear direction from an opening formed in the front bumper toward the heat exchanger, the opening being formed on an end side of the front bumper in a vehicle width direction, and a duct opening at a front end of the cooling duct inclined with the outer side in the vehicle width direction toward the rear of the vehicle body relative to the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

[10] The vehicle front structure described in [9], wherein the duct opening is provided with a cylindrical portion extending in a vertical direction and connecting an upper surface and a lower surface, and the cylindrical portion is provided at the boundary between the outer side in the vehicle width direction and the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

[11] The vehicle front structure according to any one of [1] to

[10] , wherein the cooling duct is supported on the vehicle width direction outer side of the crash can via a duct support part.

[12] The vehicle front structure according to any one of [1] to

[10] , wherein the heat exchanger and the continuously variable transmission connected to the heat exchanger are disposed close to one end side in the vehicle width direction.

[13] The vehicle front structure according to

[12] , wherein the heat exchanger is a vertical oil cooler and is disposed above the opening.

[0009] The cooling duct of the present invention can effectively send airflow to a heat exchanger located on either the left or right side in the vehicle width direction, and can achieve a high cooling effect with a low-cost configuration.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the lower front part of a vehicle body. FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a main part showing a cooling duct and an attachment mechanism for the cooling duct. FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a main part showing a cooling duct and an attachment mechanism for the cooling duct. (A) is a right side view showing the cooling duct and the attachment mechanism, and (B) is an enlarged view of a main part showing a second attachment part. FIG. 4 is a left side view showing the cooling duct and the attachment mechanism. (A) is a front view showing the cooling duct and the attachment mechanism. (B) is a bottom view showing the cooling duct and the attachment mechanism. (A) and (B) are a front perspective view and a rear perspective view of a main part showing the first attachment part. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing the attachment part on the side member side.

[0011] Hereinafter, a vehicle front structure according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment shows only one example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Various modifications and improvements can be made to this embodiment, and such modifications and improvements can also be included in the present invention.

[0012] In this embodiment, the direction of travel of the vehicle is referred to as "front," and the rear of the vehicle when traveling backward is referred to as "rear." The left side of the vehicle in the direction of travel is simply referred to as "left," and the right side of the vehicle in the direction of travel is simply referred to as "right." Furthermore, the left-right direction and the vehicle width direction are synonymous, and the front-rear direction and the vehicle direction are synonymous.

[0013] 1 is a diagram showing the lower front portion of a vehicle body. A vehicle such as a passenger automobile has an engine room 20 in front of a body frame 10 that constitutes the vehicle. The engine room 20 is provided with an engine 1 mounted in the center and a continuously variable transmission 2 such as a CVT that is disposed on one side of the engine 1. In the example shown in the figure, the continuously variable transmission 2 is installed on the left side of the engine 1.

[0014] 2, the body frame 10 has a pair of left and right side members 11 extending in the fore-and-aft direction, crash cans 12 provided at the front ends of each side member 11 so as to extend forward, and left and right bumper beams 13 connecting the front ends of the pair of crash cans 12. The engine 1 and continuously variable transmission 2 mounted in an engine compartment 20 are arranged to be housed between the pair of left and right side members 11, 11.

[0015] The front of the engine compartment 20 is covered by a front grille 21 and a front bumper 22 provided below the front grille 21. The front bumper 22 has a long main opening 23 formed in the center in the left-right direction. This main opening 23, along with a vent hole (not shown) formed in the center in the left-right direction of the front grille 21, allows airflow introduced from the front of the engine compartment 20 to cool the engine 1 mounted in the engine compartment 20 and a radiator (not shown) located in front of the engine 1. In other words, the airflow introduced from the front of the engine compartment functions as cooling air that cools heat sources such as the engine in the engine compartment. The front bumper 22 also has a rectangular sub-opening 25 that is long in the left-right direction below one of the fog lamps 24, 24 provided laterally outside the main opening 23. In the illustrated example, the sub-opening 25 is located further below the side members 11 that constitute the body frame 10 and is provided only on the left side of the front bumper 22.

[0016] Furthermore, behind the sub-opening 25, on the left-right outside of one of the side members 11, there are provided an oil cooler 30 connected to the continuously variable transmission 2, a cooling duct 40 that introduces airflow to cool the oil cooler 30, and an attachment mechanism 50 for attaching the oil cooler 30 and the cooling duct 40 to the body frame 10.

[0017] The oil cooler 30 is attached and fixed via an attachment mechanism 50 to the outer side surface of the front part of the left side member 11 near the continuously variable transmission 2. The oil cooler 30 is rectangular and arranged upright with its longitudinal direction facing up and down, with its cooling surface 30a for air cooling facing forward. A cooling duct 40 is connected to the front side of the oil cooler 30, and guides the airflow taken in by the sub-opening 25 to the cooling surface 30a located on the rear upper side.

[0018] This allows for simple and short piping connecting the oil cooler 30, which is a heat exchanger, and the continuously variable transmission 2, such as a CVT. Furthermore, by arranging the oil cooler 30 vertically, the left-right width can be made compact, and the airflow guided by the cooling duct 40 to blow upward toward the rear can be efficiently directed against the cooling surface 30a.

[0019] Next, the configuration of the cooling duct 40 will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 7. Figures 2 and 3 are front and rear perspective views of the main parts showing the cooling duct and the mounting mechanism for the cooling duct, Figure 4(A) is a right side view showing the cooling duct and the mounting mechanism, Figure 4(B) is an enlarged view of the main parts, and Figures 5 to 7 are left side, front, and bottom views showing the cooling duct and the mounting mechanism.

[0020] The cooling duct 40 includes a duct front section (first section) 40A having a duct opening 41 at its front end, a duct middle section (second section) 40B extending in the front-to-rear direction and inclined upward toward the rear, and a duct rear section (third section) 40C having a connection opening 43 at its rear end. The cooling duct 40 also includes a duct support section 44 for mounting and fixing the cooling duct 40 to the body frame 10.

[0021] When the vehicle is running, the cooling duct 40 first introduces airflow from the duct opening 41 connected to the sub-opening 25. Next, the duct front section 40A, duct middle section 40B, and duct rear section 40C smoothly guide all of the airflow introduced from the duct opening 41 toward the connecting opening 43 located rearward and above the duct opening 41. The airflow guided to the connecting opening 43 is efficiently supplied to the entire cooling surface 30a of the oil cooler 30 on which the fins and the like are arranged, thereby enabling efficient air-cooling of the oil cooler 30.

[0022] The duct opening 41 is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction to match the sub-opening 25, and is arranged on the left-right end side of the front bumper 22. Specifically, as shown in Figures 2 and 7, the duct opening 41 has, in a plan view or a bottom view, a first duct opening 41a on the inside in the left-right direction that extends in the left-right direction, a second duct opening 41b on the outside in the left-right direction that inclines rearward toward the left-right outside, and a vertical cylindrical portion 45 that is arranged at the boundary between the first duct opening 41a and the second duct opening 41b.

[0023] The cylindrical portion 45 is disposed below the fog lamp 24 in a front view. An optical axis adjustment portion (not shown) that supports the fog lamp 24 so that it can swing left and right is housed inside the cylindrical portion 45. The bottom surface of the cylindrical portion 45 is open so that a tool for adjusting the optical axis of the fog lamp 24 can be inserted.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 7, the upper surface of the duct front section 40A protrudes further forward than the lower surface. Also, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, the left and right inner sides of the cylindrical section 45 of the duct front section 40A are rectangular in shape with a long side in the left-right direction in plan view, so that their front-to-back widths are approximately the same. Meanwhile, the left and right outer sides of the cylindrical section 45 of the duct front section 40A are triangular in plan view, so that their front-to-back widths gradually narrow toward the left and right outer sides.

[0025] The duct middle section 40B is formed so that the entire section slopes upward toward the rear. The front end of the duct middle section 40B is formed into a rectangular shape that is narrow in the vertical direction and wide in the horizontal direction in accordance with the shape of the sub-opening 25. On the other hand, the rear end of the duct middle section 40B is formed into a rectangular shape that is wide in the vertical direction and narrow in the horizontal direction in accordance with the shape of the front surface of the vertical oil cooler 30.

[0026] Regarding the lateral width of the duct middle portion 40B, the lateral inner surfaces of the duct middle portion 40B are gently inclined outward toward the rear at the front and rear, so that the lateral width of the duct middle portion 40B gradually narrows. The lateral width of the duct middle portion 40B is formed so that it fits within the lateral width of the oil cooler 30 at a midpoint in the fore-and-aft direction. In other words, the lateral width of the duct middle portion 40B extends rearward at a rear portion thereof while remaining substantially unchanged.

[0027] Regarding the vertical width of the duct middle section 40B, the front section of the duct middle section 40B slopes gently upward toward the rear while the vertical width remains almost constant, as shown in Figures 4A and 5. At the rear section of the duct middle section 40B, the lower surface extends rearward in a substantially horizontal state toward the lower part of the oil cooler 30, while the upper surface slopes steeply upward and rearward toward the upper part of the oil cooler 30. In other words, at the rear section of the duct middle section 40B, the vertical width gradually increases toward the rear.

[0028] The duct rear section 40C is formed into a rectangular column shape by extending substantially horizontally from the rear end of the duct middle section 40B toward the rear oil cooler 30. The rear end of the duct rear section 40C has a connection opening 43 whose left-right and up-down widths are approximately the same as or slightly smaller than the cooling surface 30a of the oil cooler 30 in a front view. The duct rear section 43C is attached to the oil cooler 30 side with a slight gap between the connection opening 43 and the oil cooler 30.

[0029] According to the above-described duct opening 41, since the second duct opening 41b is tilted rearward outward in the left and right directions, airflow can be efficiently guided to the duct opening 41 located on the outer left and right direction when the vehicle is traveling. Also, by arranging the cylindrical portion 45 between the first duct opening 41a and the second duct opening 41b, the strength of the duct opening 41 of the cooling duct 40 can be maintained high. Furthermore, the cylindrical portion 45 rectifies the airflows introduced from different angles at the first duct opening 41a and the second duct opening 41b, allowing the airflow to be smoothly taken into the cooling duct 40.

[0030] 7, the above-described duct front portion 40A has an upper surface that protrudes further forward than the lower surface, so that when the vehicle is running, the airflow that blows from the lower side to the upper side can be efficiently guided to the duct opening 41. In other words, the amount of air supplied to the oil cooler 30 via the cooling duct 40 can be increased. Furthermore, the duct openings 41 formed on the left and right ends of the lower front portion of the vehicle body become less noticeable.

[0031] Furthermore, with the cooling duct 40 configured as described above, the duct front section 40A is disposed in the dead space below the bumper beam 13, the duct middle section 40B is inclined upward as a whole while only the left and right inner sections are inclined narrowly to avoid interference with the side member 11, and the duct rear section 40C is connected to the oil cooler 30 supported on the outer surface of the side member 11. As a result, the left outer side surface of the cooling duct 40 extends straight and linearly rearward from the duct opening 41 at the front end to the connection opening 43 at the rear end in a front view, as shown in FIG.

[0032] In other words, it is possible to achieve both a space-efficient and compact arrangement of the cooling duct 40 on the front lateral side of the body frame 10 without protruding outward to the left or right of the body, and a large duct opening 41 for introducing the air flow supplied to the oil cooler 30.

[0033] The duct support portion 44 has a front support portion 44A that supports the front portion of the cooling duct 40 on the body frame 10 side, and a rear support portion 44B that supports the rear end of the cooling duct 40 on the oil cooler 30 side.

[0034] The front support portion 44A is a member that extends upward from the upper surface of the duct middle portion 40B. Fixing pins 46 made of resin or the like are provided on the upper end side of the front support portion 44A to fix the crush can 12 to the left and right outer sides.

[0035] 2, the rear support portion 44B is a pair of upper and lower plate-like members welded to the side surfaces of the oil cooler 30. The rear support portion 44B is formed to protrude at least forward, and is configured so that the forward protruding portion of the rear support portion 44B and the duct rear portion 40C can be fixed by a fixing pin 46 made of resin or the like. In other words, the rear portion of the cooling duct 40 is attached to the oil cooler 30, which is attached and fixed to the side member 11 by an attachment mechanism 50, and is therefore also indirectly supported by the vehicle body frame 10.

[0036] Next, the configuration of the attachment mechanism will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 9. Figures 8(A) and 8(B) are a front perspective view and a rear perspective view of the main part showing the first attachment part, and Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the attachment part on the side member side.

[0037] The mounting mechanism 50 includes a first bracket 51 that connects the left and right outer side surfaces of the side member 11 to the left and right outer side surfaces of the oil cooler 30, and a second bracket 52 that connects the left and right outer side surfaces of the side member 11 to the left and right inner side surfaces of the oil cooler 30.

[0038] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the first bracket 51 is a plate-shaped member extending in the left-right direction, and has a first sub-bracket 51B whose one end is attached and fixed to a first attachment portion 53 provided on the upper part of the left and right outer side surfaces of the oil cooler 30, and a first main bracket 51A whose one end is attached and fixed to a third attachment portion 54 provided on the outer side surface of the side member 11.

[0039] The first sub-bracket 51B has a sub-side connecting portion 51B1 attached to the first main bracket 51A side, and is fixed by welding or the like to first mounting portions 53 on the left and right outer side surfaces of the oil cooler 30. The first main bracket 51A has frame-side mounting portions 51A2 that attach its left and right inner ends to the third mounting portion 54 side, and main-side connecting portions 51A1 that attach its left and right outer ends to the first sub-bracket 51B side.

[0040] The first main bracket 51A extends in the left-right direction from the side member 11, passing above and rearward of the oil cooler 30, to the upper left and right outer side surfaces of the oil cooler 30. The first main bracket 51A has a bent portion 55 formed midway in the left-right direction that is convex upward. In addition, the left and right outer sides of the bent portion 55 of the first main bracket 51A have inclined portions 56 that are inclined forward so as to approach the oil cooler in a plan view (see FIGS. 7 and 8A).

[0041] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the second bracket 52 has a second sub-bracket 52B that is attached and fixed to second mounting portions 57 provided on the left and right inner side surfaces of the oil cooler 30, and a second main bracket 52A that is a plate-shaped member extending in the fore-and-aft direction.

[0042] The second main bracket 52A has a longitudinally intermediate portion attached and fixed to the second sub-bracket 52B side, a front end portion attached and fixed to a front fourth attachment portion 58 provided on the outer left and right side surfaces of the side member 11, and a rear end portion attached and fixed to a rear fourth attachment portion 59 provided on the outer left and right side surfaces of the side member 11.

[0043] Specifically, the second main bracket 52A is bent at its center in the front-to-rear direction so as to protrude in the left-to-right direction from the side member 11 side toward the oil cooler 30 side, thereby forming a main-side connecting portion 52A1 that is attached to the second sub-bracket 52B. In addition, the second main bracket 52A has attached portions 52A2 and 52A3 formed on the front and rear ends thereof that are attached and fixed to fourth attaching portions 58 and 59 on the outer side surface of the side member 11.

[0044] As shown in Figure 4 (B), the second sub-bracket 52B is a plate-shaped member fixed by welding or the like to the second mounting portion 57 on the left and right inner side surfaces of the oil cooler, and by extending to the rear side of the oil cooler 30, a sub-side connecting portion 52B1 is formed which is connected to the main side connecting portion 52A1 of the second main bracket 52A.

[0045] In this case, the first mounting portion 53 on the outer side surface of the oil cooler 30 and the second mounting portion 57 on the inner side surface of the oil cooler 30 are offset in the vertical direction. In other words, the first mounting portion 53 to which the first sub-bracket 51B is attached is located higher in a side view than the second mounting portion 57 to which the second sub-bracket 52B is attached.

[0046] Furthermore, the third mounting portion 54, the front fourth mounting portion 58, and the rear fourth mounting portion 59, which are provided on the outer side surface of the side member 11, are offset in the up-down direction and the front-to-rear direction. Specifically, the vertical positions of the mounting portions 54, 58, 59 are arranged in the following order from top to bottom: third mounting portion 54, front fourth mounting portion 58, rear fourth mounting portion 59. Furthermore, the longitudinal positions of the mounting portions 54, 58, 59 are arranged in the following order from front to front: front fourth mounting portion 58, third mounting portion 54, rear fourth mounting portion 59.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 9 , the brackets 51, 52 are detachably attached to the third mounting portion 54, the front fourth mounting portion 58, and the rear fourth mounting portion 59 provided on the side member 11 side using fixing bolts 47 and nuts 48, and particularly, a vibration-damping elastic member 49 is interposed between the fixing bolt 47 inserted into the side member 11 side and the side member 11.

[0048] In addition, the main side connecting portion 51A1 and the sub side connecting portion 51B1 on the first bracket 51 side, and the main side connecting portion 52A1 and the sub side connecting portion 52B1 on the second bracket 52 side are connected in a detachable configuration using fixing bolts 47 and nuts 48.

[0049] 8(A) and 8(B), the main-side connecting portion 51A1a of the first main bracket 51A is formed with a support piece 60 that supports the first sub-bracket 51B fixed to the side surface of the oil cooler 30. The support piece 60 is formed by bending an extension portion that extends further downward from the lower end side of the main-side connecting portion 51A1 of the first main bracket 51A toward the front.

[0050] This allows the oil cooler 30 to be temporarily placed on the support piece 60 of the first main bracket 51A when attaching the oil cooler 30 to the first main bracket 51A side. This makes it easier to assemble the sub-side connecting portion 51B1 of the first sub-bracket 51B and the main-side connecting portion 51A1 of the first main bracket 51A with bolts.

[0051] The first sub-bracket 51B protrudes forward from the side surface of the oil cooler 30, and thus also functions as a rear support portion 44B for attaching the cooling duct 40 to the oil cooler 30.

[0052] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications and improvements can be made as appropriate.

[0053] As described above, this specification discloses the following: (1) A vehicle front structure for introducing airflow to a heat exchanger provided in a front portion of a vehicle body, comprising: a front bumper having an opening; and a cooling duct extending in a longitudinal direction from the opening toward the heat exchanger, the opening being formed on a vehicle width direction end side of the front bumper, the cooling duct having a first portion extending horizontally rearward from the opening and a second portion extending obliquely upward rearward from the first portion. With this configuration, the first portion can efficiently take in the airflow flowing in the horizontal direction and efficiently supply the taken-in airflow to the heat exchanger located rearward and above. Furthermore, the second portion can prevent foreign matter that has entered the first portion from reaching the heat exchanger.

[0054] (2) The vehicle front structure according to (1), wherein a rear portion of the second portion is wider in the up-down direction toward the rear. With this configuration, a wider range of the vertically long heat exchanger can be cooled.

[0055] (3) The vehicle front structure according to any one of (1) to (2), wherein the front portion of the second portion has a width in the up-down direction substantially equal to that of the first portion. With this configuration, generation of vortices within the duct body can be suppressed, and the airflow can be smoothly guided to the heat exchanger.

[0056] (4) The vehicle front structure according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the second portion narrows in the vehicle width direction toward the rear. With this configuration, a large amount of air can be taken in over a wide area to intensively cool the heat exchanger, and the duct body can also be made compact.

[0057] (5) The vehicle front structure according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the second portion has a side surface on an outer side in the vehicle width direction that extends substantially parallel to the front-rear direction and is flush with the front-rear direction, and a side surface on an inner side in the vehicle width direction that is inclined outward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the front-rear direction. With this configuration, the duct body can be arranged compactly without protruding to the left and right outside of the vehicle body.

[0058] (6) The vehicle front structure according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the first portion has a cylindrical portion extending in the vertical direction and connecting an upper surface and a lower surface. With this configuration, the rigidity of the first portion can be increased.

[0059] (7) The vehicle front structure according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the cooling duct has a third portion extending horizontally rearward from the second portion. This configuration makes it easier to direct the airflow toward the entire heat exchanger and also simplifies the installation of the cooling duct to the heat exchanger.

[0060] (8) The vehicle front structure according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the front end of the first portion has an upper surface that protrudes forward relative to a lower surface. With this configuration, the airflow flowing downward toward the vehicle body can be efficiently taken into the cooling duct.

[0061] (9) A vehicle front structure for introducing airflow into a heat exchanger provided in a front part of a vehicle body, comprising: a front bumper arranged on a front lower side of the vehicle body; and a cooling duct extending in a front-rear direction from an opening formed in the front bumper toward the heat exchanger, the opening being formed on an end side of the front bumper in a vehicle width direction, and a duct opening at a front end of the cooling duct being inclined with respect to an inner side in the vehicle width direction, with the outer side in the vehicle width direction toward the rear of the vehicle body. With this configuration, airflow flowing in a horizontal direction can be efficiently taken into the cooling duct from different angles.

[0062] (10) The vehicle front structure according to (9), wherein the duct opening has a cylindrical portion extending in the vertical direction and connecting the upper surface and the lower surface, the cylindrical portion being provided at the boundary between the outer side and the inner side in the vehicle width direction. With this configuration, the airflow taken in from the inner side in the vehicle width direction and the airflow taken in from the outer side in the vehicle width direction can be rectified and smoothly supplied to the heat exchanger.

[0063] (11) The vehicle front structure according to any one of (1) to (10), wherein the cooling duct is supported on the vehicle width direction outer side of the crash can via a duct support portion. With this configuration, the cooling duct also functions as a member that absorbs impact when the vehicle body comes into contact with a foreign object.

[0064] (12) The vehicle front structure according to any one of (1) to (11), wherein the heat exchanger and the continuously variable transmission connected to the heat exchanger are disposed close to one end of the vehicle in the width direction. With this configuration, the piping between the heat exchanger and the continuously variable transmission can be configured to be simple and short.

[0065] (13) The vehicle front structure according to any one of (1) to (12), wherein the heat exchanger is a vertical oil cooler and is disposed above the opening. With this configuration, the width of the cooling duct and the oil cooler can be made compact, and the airflow guided by the cooling duct to blow upward toward the rear can be directed toward the entire oil cooler.

[0066] 2 Continuously variable transmission 12 Crash can 22 Front bumper 25 Sub-opening (opening) 30 Oil cooler (heat exchanger) 40 Cooling duct 40A Duct front portion (first portion) 40B Duct middle portion (second portion) 40C Duct rear portion (third portion) 45 Cylindrical portion

Claims

1. A vehicle front structure for introducing an air flow into a heat exchanger provided in a front part of a vehicle body, A front bumper having an opening; a cooling duct extending in a front-rear direction from the opening toward the heat exchanger; Equipped with The opening is formed on an end side of the front bumper in a vehicle width direction, The cooling duct has a first portion extending horizontally rearward from the opening, and a second portion extending rearward from the first portion at an upward incline, The second portion is narrowed in the vehicle width direction toward the rear. Vehicle front structure.

2. The rear part of the second part is wider in the up-down direction toward the rear. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 .

3. The front part of the second part has a width in the up-down direction substantially equal to that of the first part. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 .

4. (delete)

5. The second portion has a side surface on an outer side in the vehicle width direction extending substantially parallel to the front-rear direction and flush with the front-rear direction, and a side surface on an inner side in the vehicle width direction inclined outward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the front-rear direction. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 .

6. The first portion is provided with a columnar portion extending in the vertical direction and connecting the upper surface and the lower surface. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 .

7. The cooling duct has a third portion extending horizontally rearward from the second portion. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 .

8. The front end of the first portion is formed such that an upper surface thereof protrudes forward relative to a lower surface thereof. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1 .

9. A vehicle front structure for introducing an air flow into a heat exchanger provided in a front part of a vehicle body, A front bumper disposed on the lower front side of the vehicle body; a cooling duct extending in a front-rear direction from an opening formed in the front bumper toward the heat exchanger; Equipped with The opening is formed on an end side of the front bumper in a vehicle width direction, The duct opening at the front end of the cooling duct extends in the vehicle width direction from an inner end to a central portion, and the outer side in the vehicle width direction is inclined toward the rear of the vehicle body relative to the inner side in the vehicle width direction from the central portion to the outer end. Vehicle front structure.

10. The duct opening is provided with a cylindrical portion extending in the vertical direction and connecting an upper surface and a lower surface, The cylindrical portion is provided at the boundary between the outer side and the inner side in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle front structure according to claim 9.

11. The cooling duct is supported on the vehicle width direction outer side of the crash can via a duct support portion. A vehicle front structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 5 to 10.

12. The heat exchanger and the continuously variable transmission connected to the heat exchanger are disposed toward one end in the vehicle width direction. A vehicle front structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 5 to 10.

13. The heat exchanger is a vertical oil cooler and is disposed above the opening. The vehicle front structure according to claim 12.

14. A vehicle front structure for introducing an air flow into a heat exchanger provided in a front part of a vehicle body, A front bumper disposed on a front lower side of the vehicle body; a cooling duct extending in a front-rear direction from an opening formed in the front bumper toward the heat exchanger; Equipped with The opening is formed on an end side of the front bumper in a vehicle width direction, a duct opening at a front end of the cooling duct has a width in a vehicle width direction that is wider than a width in a vehicle width direction of the heat exchanger, and the outer side in the vehicle width direction is inclined toward the rear of the vehicle body relative to the inner side in the vehicle width direction; Vehicle front structure.