JP2005081979A - Front extremity structure of vehicle and installing method for front end panel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the working easiness for installing on a vehicle a front end panel (module) on which a heat exchanger including a radiator is mounted. <P>SOLUTION: The arrangement according to the invention is such that a ridge 16 extending in the vertical direction in protruding toward a bumper reinforcement 21 is provided on the front end panel 10 and a recess 21a is formed in the bumper reinforcement 21. Thereby the front end panel 10 can be slided relative to the bumper reinforcement 21 and installed in the specified position at the vehicle front extremity while the tip of the ridge 16 is contacted with the bottom of the recess 21a. Accordingly the front end module can be installed at the front extremity of the vehicle, i.e. in the space between the bumper reinforcement 21 and an engine 40, without being conscious substantially of likely interference of the front end module with other components. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a front end structure of a vehicle and a method of assembling a front end panel.

  In recent years, after assembling a front-end module (FEM) by assembling a heat exchanger such as a radiator or condenser to the front-end panel, the front-end panel in which this heat exchanger is assembled, that is, by assembling the front-end module to the vehicle The assembly man-hour at the front end side of the vehicle is reduced.

In addition, a front end panel is assembled | attached to a vehicle body in a vehicle front end part, and is also called a carrier or a radiator support etc. depending on literature.

  By the way, a front end module including a front end panel, a heat exchanger, and the like is normally disposed between an engine that forms a driving source for driving and a bumper reinforcement on the front end side of the vehicle.

  At this time, since the distance between the engine and the bumper reinforcement is relatively small, the front end module is mounted on the front end of the vehicle so that other parts and the front end module do not interfere with each other and the front end module is damaged. It was difficult to assemble to the side, and it was difficult to reduce the assembly man-hours (assembly time).

  In addition, since the heat exchanger such as a radiator is already assembled in the front end module, its weight is large, and the parts mounted on the front end side of the vehicle such as the front end panel and the heat exchanger are individually assembled in the vehicle. Compared to the above, there is a problem that the assembly workability is poor.

  In view of the above, the present invention firstly provides a new vehicle front end structure different from the conventional one, and secondly, to a vehicle having a front end panel (front end module) in which a heat exchanger is assembled. The purpose is to improve assembly workability.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in the invention described in claim 1, a front end panel (at least a heat exchanger (30) is mounted on the front side of the vehicle from the traveling drive source (40). 10) and a front end panel (10), which is provided on the front side of the vehicle and has a beam-like bumper reinforcement (21) extending in the vehicle width direction. Is provided with a ridge (16) projecting toward the bumper lean force (21) and extending in the vertical direction. Further, the projection dimension (L1) of the ridge (16) is the same as that of the front end panel (10) and the bumper. It is characterized by being smaller than the distance to the lean force (21).

  Thus, the front end panel (10) is slid with respect to the bumper lean force (21) while the front end side of the ridge (16) is in contact with the bumper lean force (21), and the front end panel (10) is moved to the vehicle. It can be assembled at a predetermined position on the front end side.

  Therefore, the front end module, that is, the front end module on which the heat exchanger (30) is assembled and the front end module can be easily attached to the front end side of the vehicle with little awareness of interference with other parts. That is, it can be assembled in the space between the bumper lean force (21) and the drive source (40).

  Further, if the front end panel (10) is slid with respect to the bumper lean force (21) and the front end panel (10) is assembled at a predetermined position on the front end side of the vehicle, most of the weight of the front end module is bumper lean force. Since it can receive in (21), assembly workability | operativity can be improved.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that a taper portion (16a) is formed on the lower end side of the ridge (16) so that the projecting dimension (L1) decreases toward the lower end.

  Accordingly, the tapered portion (16a) functions as a guide portion, and the tip of the ridge (16) can be brought into contact with a predetermined position of the bumper lean force (21), so that the front end module can be easily assembled to the vehicle. Can do.

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that a concave portion (21a) is provided in a portion corresponding to the protrusion (16) in the bumper lean force (21).

  Thereby, when sliding a front end module with respect to a bumper lean force (21), this recessed part (21a) can be functioned as a guide groove.

  Therefore, when the front end module is slid with respect to the bumper lean force (21), it is possible to prevent a problem that the front end module slips in the vehicle width direction. Can be assembled.

  The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the recess (21a) is formed in a substantially triangular groove cross-sectional shape.

  The invention according to claim 5 is an assembling method of the front end panel (10) applied to the vehicle having the vehicle front end structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the protrusion (16 ), The front end panel (10) is slid with respect to the bumper lean force (21) while the front end side is in contact with the bumper lean force (21), and the front end panel (10) is assembled at a predetermined position on the front end side of the vehicle. It is characterized by that.

  As a result, the front end module, that is, the front end panel on which the heat exchanger (30) is assembled and the front end module can be easily attached to the front end side of the vehicle with little awareness of interference with other components. That is, it can be assembled in the space between the bumper lean force (21) and the drive source (40).

  Further, since most of the weight of the front end module can be received by the bumper lean force (21), the assembling workability can be improved.

  Incidentally, the reference numerals in parentheses of each means described above are an example showing the correspondence with the specific means described in the embodiments described later.

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a front end structure of a vehicle according to this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a method of assembling a front end module according to this embodiment.

  The front end panel 10 includes a beam-shaped upper member 11 extending in the vehicle width direction, a beam-shaped lower member 12 extending in the vehicle width direction below the upper member 11, and longitudinal ends of the upper member 11 and longitudinal ends of the lower member 12. And a rectangular frame body portion 14 formed of a vertical member 13 extending in the vertical direction so as to connect the portions.

  The rectangular frame body portion 14 of the front end panel 10 is assembled with a heat exchanger 30 such as a radiator and a condenser, and a vehicle front end device such as a headlamp.

  In the present embodiment, the front end panel 10 is integrally formed with a resin reinforced with carbon fiber or glass fiber.

  Further, a metal side member 20 such as an aluminum alloy or steel material extending in the vehicle front-rear direction is provided at both ends in the vehicle width direction, and a beam passed to the side member 20 so as to connect the side members 20 to each other. And a subframe (not shown) made of a metal such as an aluminum alloy or a steel material formed by a cross girder including a girder extending in a direction orthogonal to the beam and the like by a fastening means such as a bolt or welding It is fixed.

  The sub-frame is a strength member that receives a relatively large vertical load such as a suspension device or engine for the front wheels, and the suspension device or engine for the front wheels is assembled to the vehicle body (side member) in a state assembled to the sub-frame. 20).

  The bumper lean force 21 is a beam-shaped strength member that extends in the vehicle width direction and is assembled to the front end of the side member 20 by fastening means such as bolts. The bumper lean force 21 is connected to the front end panel 10 and the heat exchange. It is arranged on the front side of the vehicle from the front end module composed of the container 30 and the like, and first receives the external force on the front side.

  In addition, the bumper lean force 21 is made of a metal such as an aluminum alloy or a steel material in the present embodiment.

  The vertical member 13 of the front end panel 10 is provided with a protrusion 16 that protrudes toward the bumper lean force 21 side, that is, the front side of the vehicle, and extends in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the protrusion 16 is connected to the front end. The panel 10 is integrally formed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the discharge dimension L1 of the ridge 16 is smaller than the distance L2 between the front end panel 10 and the bumper lean force 21, and the longitudinal direction both ends of the ridge 16, that is, the upper and lower ends On the side, a tapered portion 16a is formed in which the protruding dimension L1 decreases toward the end portion.

  On the other hand, a portion of the bumper lean force 21 corresponding to the ridge 16 is provided with a recess 21a so as to cut out a part of the bumper lean force 21, as shown in FIG. It is formed in a triangular groove cross-sectional shape.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the engine 40, which is a driving source for traveling, is mounted on the vehicle rear side from the front end module (front end panel 10).

  Moreover, in this embodiment, while arrange | positioning the air blower 31 which ventilates cooling air to the heat exchanger 30 in the air flow downstream of the heat exchanger 30, it is a blower so that the clearance gap between the air blower 31 and the heat exchanger 30 may be covered. A fan shroud 32 that prevents the cooling air induced by 31 from flowing around the heat exchanger 30 is formed integrally with the front end panel 10.

  Next, a front end module, that is, a method for assembling the front end panel 2 with the heat exchanger 30 and the like assembled thereto will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a method of assembling the front end module to the vehicle. When assembling the front end module to the vehicle, first, the front end module is tilted so that the front end side of the protrusion 16 contacts the bottom of the recess 21a. The front end module is gradually raised vertically while sliding the tip end of the ridge 16, that is, the front end module downward with respect to the bumper lean force force 21, and the front end module is assembled at a predetermined position on the front end side of the vehicle. .

  Even when the front end module is removed from the vehicle, the tip end of the ridge 16 is brought into contact with the bottom of the recess 21a so as to attach the tip of the ridge 16, that is, the front end module to the bumper lean force force 21 as in the case of assembly. The front end module is pulled up while sliding upward.

  Next, the function and effect of this embodiment will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the protrusion 16 that protrudes toward the bumper reinforcement 21 and extends in the vertical direction is provided, and the protrusion dimension L1 of the protrusion 16 is smaller than the distance between the front end panel 10 and the bumper reinforcement 21. Therefore, the front end panel 10 can be slid with respect to the bumper lean force 21 while the front end side of the protrusion 16 is in contact with the bumper lean force 21, and the front end panel 10 can be assembled at a predetermined position on the vehicle front end side.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, the front end module can be assembled to the vehicle while sliding the front end module with respect to the bumper lean force 21 using the protrusion 16 as a guide.

  Therefore, the front end module can be easily assembled in the front end side of the vehicle, that is, in the space between the bumper lean force 21 and the engine 40 with little awareness of interference between the front end module and other components. .

  Further, since the front end panel 10 is slid with respect to the bumper lean force 21 and the front end panel 10 is assembled at a predetermined position on the vehicle front end side, most of the weight of the front end module can be received by the bumper lean force 21. Assembly workability can be improved.

  Moreover, since the taper part 16a which the protrusion dimension L1 becomes small toward the lower end is formed in the lower end side of the protrusion 16, the taper part 16a functions as a guide part, and the front-end | tip of the protrusion 16 of bumper lean force 21 is used. It can be brought into contact with a predetermined position (in this case, the recess 21a). Therefore, the front end module can be easily assembled to the vehicle.

  Further, since the recess 21a is provided in the bumper lean force 21, when the front end module is slid with respect to the bumper lean force 21, the recess 21a can function as a guide groove.

  Therefore, when the front end module is slid with respect to the bumper reinforcement 21, it is possible to prevent a problem that the front end module slides in the vehicle width direction. Can be assembled.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, the suspension device and the engine are assembled in the subframe, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  The present invention can also be applied to a vehicle without a subframe.

  In the above-described embodiment, the front end panel 10 is made of resin. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be made of a metal such as an aluminum alloy or a magnesium alloy.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as long as it conforms to the gist of the invention described in the claims.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the front-end structure of the vehicle which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the assembly | attaching method of the front end module which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 ... front end panel, 16 ... ridge, 21 ... bumper lean force,
30 ... Heat exchanger, 31 ... Blower, 32 ... Fan shroud, 40 ... Engine.

Claims (5)

A front end panel (10) mounted on the front side of the vehicle from the driving source for traveling (40) and at least the heat exchanger (30) is assembled;
A vehicle front end structure provided with a beam-like bumper reinforcement (21) provided in front of the vehicle from the front end panel (10) and extending in the vehicle width direction;
The front end panel (10) is provided with a ridge (16) that protrudes toward the bumper reinforcement (21) and extends in the vertical direction.
Furthermore, the projecting dimension (L1) of the said protrusion (16) is smaller than the distance between the said front end panel (10) and the said bumper lean force (21), The front-end structure of the vehicle characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The vehicle front end structure according to claim 1, wherein a taper portion (16 a) is formed on the lower end side of the protrusion (16) so that the protrusion dimension (L <b> 1) decreases toward the lower end. The vehicle front end structure according to claim 2, wherein a concave portion (21a) is provided in a portion of the bumper lean force (21) corresponding to the protrusion (16). The vehicle front end structure according to claim 3, wherein the recess (21a) is formed in a substantially triangular groove cross-sectional shape. A method for assembling the front end panel (10) applied to a vehicle having a front end structure for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The front end panel (10) is slid with respect to the bumper lean force (21) while the front end side of the protrusion (16) is in contact with the bumper lean force (21), and the front end panel (10) Is assembled at a predetermined position on the front end side of the vehicle.

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