JP2007246019A - Front bumper structure of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide front bumper structure of a vehicle facilitated in work for replacing head lamps and auxiliary lamps and maintenance work and reduced in cost by simplifying a structure. <P>SOLUTION: The front bumper structure of a vehicle is provided with lamp brackets 30 rotatably provided in a vehicle body frame 17 through hinge mechanisms 22, the head lamps 15 and the auxiliary lamps 16 installed in the lamp brackets 30, and side bumpers 13 fixed to the lamp brackets 30 on the front side of the head lamps 15 and the auxiliary lamps 16 and having openings at positions opposite to the head lamps 15 and the auxiliary lamps 16. The lamp bracket 30 having the head lamps 15 and the auxiliary lamps 16 and the side bumpers 13 are provided freely to rotate outward of the vehicle body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a front bumper structure of a vehicle that is employed in a vehicle such as a large bus and is equipped with a headlamp, an auxiliary lamp, and the like.

  For example, a front bumper in a vehicle such as a large bus is known in which a front bumper body is divided into a center bumper and a side bumper. A license plate is attached to the center bumper, and auxiliary lamps such as fog lights and turn signal lamps are attached to the side bumpers. In addition, a headlamp is mounted on a vehicle body frame above the side bumper via a lamp bracket that is rotatably provided by a hinge mechanism.

In the front bumper structure configured as described above, when the auxiliary lamps such as fog lamps and turn signal lamps are burned out or during maintenance, the auxiliary lamp assembly is removed from the front side of the side bumper and the lamps are replaced. At the time of maintenance or inspection, the lamp bracket provided on the vehicle body frame is rotated to the front side of the vehicle with the hinge mechanism as a fulcrum, and the lamp is replaced from the back side of the lamp bracket.
In addition, in a headlamp mounting structure in a vehicle such as a bus, a movable bracket is provided by a hinge mechanism to a vehicle body frame in a horizontally elongated recess provided on both sides of the front portion of the vehicle body frame, and a headlamp and a fog lamp are provided on the movable bracket. A device equipped with an auxiliary lamp is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In Patent Document 1, the periphery of an auxiliary lamp such as a headlamp or a fog lamp mounted on a movable bracket rotatably provided on a vehicle body frame is covered with a decorative plate. Further, a plurality of bolts are provided through the decorative plate as fasteners, and the movable bracket is fastened and fixed to the vehicle body frame by the two bolts. Therefore, when replacing lamps such as headlamps and fog lamps and during maintenance inspections, loosen multiple bolts and rotate the movable bracket to the front of the vehicle via the hinge mechanism to perform lamp replacement work from the back of the movable bracket. Thereafter, a plurality of bolts are fastened to the body frame with the movable bracket pressed against the body frame side.
Utility Model Registration No. 2575389

However, in Patent Document 1, since an auxiliary lamp such as a headlamp and a fog lamp is mounted on a movable bracket that is rotatably provided on the vehicle body frame, the movable bracket can be moved by rotating the movable bracket toward the front of the vehicle. Work can be done from the back side of the bracket, but the movable bracket is attached to the body frame by multiple long bolts that penetrate the decorative plate, so the bolt is positioned and tightened in the screw hole at the back of the body frame There is a problem that tightening workability is poor.
The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is to easily replace and maintain the headlamp, auxiliary lamp, etc., and to simplify the structure and reduce costs. An object of the present invention is to provide a front bumper structure for a vehicle.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a lamp bracket rotatably provided on a vehicle body frame via a hinge mechanism, a head lamp and an auxiliary lamp mounted on the lamp bracket, the head lamp, A side bumper fixed to the lamp bracket on the vehicle front side of the auxiliary lamp and having an opening at a portion facing the head lamp and the auxiliary lamp; the head bracket, the lamp bracket having the auxiliary lamp, and The front bumper structure of the vehicle is characterized in that the side bumper is rotatable outward of the vehicle body.
Preferably, the hinge mechanism rotates the lamp bracket and the side bumper outward of the vehicle body while moving the lamp bracket and the side bumper forward.
The hinge mechanism is more preferably a fixed side bracket fixed to the vehicle body frame side, a movable side bracket fixed to the lamp bracket side, and a double that rotatably connects the fixed side bracket and the movable side bracket. A link and a stopper that abuts against the double link and restricts the amount of rotation of the lamp bracket and the side bumper outward of the vehicle body are provided.
When the lamp bracket is provided with a first engagement member, the vehicle body frame is provided with a second engagement member, and the lamp bracket is stored in the vehicle body frame, the first engagement member and the second engagement member are provided. The lamp bracket is temporarily fixed to the vehicle body frame by engaging with a joint member.

  According to the present invention, the head lamp, the lamp bracket having the auxiliary lamp, and the side bumper are rotated to the outside of the vehicle body, so that the replacement work and maintenance inspection work of the head lamp, the auxiliary lamp, etc. can be easily performed. The structure is simple and the cost can be reduced.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a large bus 10 that is a vehicle, and a front bumper 11 is provided at a front portion of the bus 10. The front bumper 11 is divided into a center bumper 12 and left and right side bumpers 13. A license plate 14 is mounted on the center bumper 12, and a head lamp 15 that illuminates the front of the vehicle and an auxiliary lamp 16 such as a fog lamp are mounted on the side bumper 13.

  2 and 3 show the structure of the side bumper 13. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the side bumper 13 seen from the back side, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the side bumper 13 seen from the front side. A hinge bracket 18 is provided on the body frame 17 located on the center bumper 12 side. The hinge bracket 18 has a box structure, and a mounting piece 19 protruding in the vertical direction is fixed to the vehicle body frame 17 by a fixing screw 20. The hinge brackets 18 are provided with hinge mounting pieces 21 that extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and face each other in the vertical direction. The hinge mounting pieces 21 are provided with hinge mechanisms 22 having the same structure symmetrically in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D, the hinge mechanism 22 includes a fixed side bracket 23 fixed to the hinge mounting piece 21 of the hinge bracket 18 and a movable side bracket 24 fixed to a lamp bracket 30 described later. The fixed side bracket 23 and the movable side bracket 24 are constituted by substantially parallel double links 25 and 26 that rotatably connect the fixed side bracket 23 and the movable side bracket 24.

  That is, the fixed bracket 23 is provided with a pair of spaced apart pivot pins 25a and 26a, and one end portions of the double links 25 and 26 are rotatably connected to the pivot pins 25a and 26a. The movable bracket 24 is L-shaped, and a pair of pivot pins 25b and 26b are provided on one surface 24a parallel to the fixed bracket 23 of the movable bracket 24. The pivot pins 25b and 26b are provided with a pair of pivot pins 25b and 26b. The other ends of the double links 25 and 26 are rotatably connected. The other surface extending perpendicularly to one surface 24a of the movable bracket 24 is formed as a mounting piece 24b having a long hole. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a stopper pin 27 protrudes from a pivot pin 25b pivotally supported by the movable bracket 24. The stopper pin 27 abuts against a side portion of one double link 26, and the lamp bracket. The amount of forward rotation of 30 is regulated.

  4A, 4B, and 4D show the hinge mechanism 22 on the upper left side of the vehicle (upper side in FIG. 2), and FIG. 4C shows the lower side of the left side of the vehicle (paper surface in FIG. 2). The lower side hinge mechanism 22 is shown.

The fixed side bracket 23 of the hinge mechanism 22 configured as described above is fixed to the hinge mounting piece 21 of the hinge bracket 18 by a plurality of fixing screws 28. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lamp bracket 30 is fixed to the hinge mechanism 22 provided symmetrically in the vertical direction, and the lamp bracket 30 is rotated about the hinge mechanism 22 as a fulcrum. .
As shown in FIG. 2, the lamp bracket 30 has a frame 31 having a horizontal bar 31a at the lower edge and an opening 31d surrounded by a pair of vertical bars 31b and 31c protruding upward at both ends of the horizontal bar 31a. Is provided. A headlamp mounting portion 32 is provided on the upper portion of the frame 31. The headlamp mounting portion 32 is provided with an opening 33 for mounting the headlamp 15 (see FIG. 1), and a mounting hole 34 is provided in the peripheral portion of the opening 33. Further, a bracket 35 is welded to the vertical beam 31b of the frame 31 of the lamp bracket 30 so as to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. The bracket 35 is fixed to the movable bracket 24 of the hinge mechanism 22 by a fixing screw 36. A plurality of mounting holes 30 a are provided in the peripheral portion of the lamp bracket 30 and are fixed to the vehicle body frame 17 by a plurality of fixing screws 29.
Further, the side bumper 13 is provided outside the lamp bracket 30 (front side of the vehicle). An opening 37 for mounting the auxiliary lamp 16 is provided in a substantially central portion of the side bumper 13. Further, attachment members 38 formed by bending metal pieces in a mountain shape are welded to the four corners on the back surface of the side bumper 13. Mounting holes 39 are provided in the lamp bracket 30 corresponding to the mounting members 38. A fixing screw 40 is inserted from the mounting hole 39 side of the lamp bracket 30 and fixed to the mounting member 38 of the side bumper 13 by screws. Therefore, the side bumper 13 is attached to the front side of the lamp bracket 30, and the opening 31 d of the lamp bracket 30 is covered with the side bumper 13.
A cutout 41 is provided at the upper edge of the side bumper 13. A bracket 42 is provided on the vehicle body frame 17 corresponding to the notch 41, and a decorative plate 43 is retrofitted to the bracket 42. Further, a striker 44 as a first engaging member protruding to the rear surface side is fixed to the rear surface of the lamp bracket 30 opposite to the pivot side. As shown in FIG. 5, in the striker 44, both ends of the pipe member 44a are fixed by brackets 44b. A substantially U-shaped catcher 45 made of a leaf spring as a second engagement member is fixed to the vehicle body frame 17 corresponding to the pipe member 44a. When the lamp bracket 30 is pressed together with the side bumper 13 to the vehicle body frame 17 with the hinge mechanism 22 as a fulcrum, the pipe member 44a of the striker 44 is elastically engaged with the catcher 45 and moves together with the side bumper 13 with respect to the vehicle body frame 17. The lamp bracket 30 is temporarily fixed.
According to the front bumper structure configured as described above, the side bumper 13 is fixed to the lamp bracket 30 rotatably attached to the vehicle body frame 17 via the hinge mechanism 22 by the fixing screw 40. The head bracket 15 and the auxiliary lamp 16 are mounted on the lamp bracket 30. Therefore, the lamp bracket 30 and the side bumper 13 are integrated and are rotatably attached to the vehicle body frame 17 by the hinge mechanism 22. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, when the headlamp 15 and the auxiliary lamp 16 are cut and replaced with new ones, or when maintenance is performed, the lamp bracket 30 and the side bumper 13 are connected to the hinge mechanism 22. As a fulcrum, the work can be performed by turning to the front side of the vehicle.

  At this time, the hinge mechanism 22 has a structure in which the movable side bracket 24 is rotatably connected to the fixed side bracket 23 via the double links 25 and 26, and the ramp bracket 30 and the side bumper are connected to the movable side bracket 24. 13 is rotatably connected. Accordingly, when the lamp bracket 30 and the side bumper 13 are rotated with the hinge mechanism 22 as a fulcrum from the state in which the lamp bracket 30 and the side bumper 13 are stored in the vehicle body frame 17, the double brackets 25 and 26 act on the lamp bracket 30. The outer side of the side bumper 13 in the vehicle width direction rotates outward of the vehicle body frame 17 while moving forward of the vehicle. Therefore, the end edge of the side bumper 13 on the rotation fulcrum side does not interfere (twist) with the end edge of the center bumper 12 or the like.

The operation of the hinge mechanism 22 will be described in more detail. When the movable bracket 24 is at the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4D, the headlamp 15 and the side bumper 13 fixed to the lamp bracket 30 are illustrated. When the headlamp 15 and the side bumper 13 are moved from this state to the vehicle front side indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The movable bracket 24 and the double links 25 and 26 move from the state shown in FIG. 4A to the state shown by the solid line in FIG.
That is, as shown in FIG. 4D, the movable bracket 24 and the double links 25 and 26 move in the direction of the arrow A (counterclockwise), and the double links 25 and 26 swing to move the movable side. The bracket 24 rotates in the direction of arrow B (clockwise). The movable side bracket 24 rotates in the direction of arrow B because the double link 25 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is shorter than the double link 26 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, so that the movable side bracket 24 is parallel. The link mechanism 22 shown in FIG. 4B is configured to rotate the movable bracket 24 in the direction of arrow B (clockwise) without moving.
As a result, the mounting piece 24b of the movable bracket 24 tilts toward the vehicle front side, and the headlamp 15 and the side bumper 13 tilt toward the vehicle front side. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6B, the movable side bracket 24 rotates while the double links 25 and 26 of the hinge mechanism 22 swing to the side of the vehicle body, so that the movable side bracket 24 is fixed. The lamp bracket 30, the headlamp 15, and the side bumper 13 are integrated with each other and move to the front side of the vehicle and rotate to the outer side of the vehicle body.
When the lamp bracket 30 and the side bumper 13 are rotated outward to a predetermined position with the hinge mechanism 22 as a fulcrum, the stopper pin 27 protruding from the pivot pin 25b of the double link 25 comes into contact with the side surface of the double link 26. The amount of rotation of the lamp bracket 30 and the side bumper 13 is restricted. Therefore, when the headlamp 15 or the auxiliary lamp 16 is cut off and replaced with a new one, or when the maintenance inspection is performed, the side bumper 13 does not rotate carelessly and contacts the center bumper 12.

  A striker 44 is fixed to the back surface of the lamp bracket 30 opposite to the pivot side, and a catcher 45 is fixed to the vehicle body frame 17 corresponding to the striker 44. Therefore, after the lamp replacement operation is completed, when the lamp bracket 30 is pressed together with the side bumper 13 to the vehicle body frame 17 side with the hinge mechanism 22 as a fulcrum, the striker 44 engages with the catcher 45 and is side-mounted with respect to the vehicle body frame 17. The lamp bracket 30 is temporarily fixed together with the bumper 13. Therefore, although the lamp bracket 30 and the side bumper 13 are heavy, the lamp bracket 30 and the side bumper 13 are supported by the hinge mechanism 22 at one end and the striker 44 and the catcher 45 at the other end. Workability can also be improved when 30 is fixed to the vehicle body frame 17 by the fixing screw 29.

  The fixing screw 29 is hidden from the outside of the vehicle by a decorative plate (not shown) that covers the periphery of the headlamp 15.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Moreover, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine suitably the component covering different embodiment.

1 is a perspective view of a large bus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The exploded perspective view which showed the side bumper of the embodiment and looked at the side bumper from the back side. The front view which showed the same embodiment and looked at the side bumper from the front side. The hinge mechanism of the embodiment is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a perspective view, and (d) is a front view. The cross-sectional top view of a striker and a catcher which shows the same embodiment. The same embodiment is shown, (a) is a schematic front view of a side bumper, (b) is also a schematic plan view.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 ... Side bumper, 15 ... Head lamp, 16 ... Auxiliary lamp, 17 ... Body frame, 22 ... Hinge mechanism, 30 ... Lamp bracket

Claims (4)

A lamp bracket provided on the body frame so as to be rotatable via a hinge mechanism;
A headlamp and an auxiliary lamp mounted on the lamp bracket;
A side bumper fixed to the lamp bracket on the front side of the headlamp and the auxiliary lamp and having an opening at a portion facing the headlamp and the auxiliary lamp;
A front bumper structure for a vehicle, wherein the head bracket, the lamp bracket having an auxiliary lamp, and the side bumper are rotatable outward of a vehicle body.   2. The vehicle front bumper structure according to claim 1, wherein the hinge mechanism rotates the ramp bracket and the side bumper outward of the vehicle body while moving the ramp bracket and the side bumper forward.   The hinge mechanism includes a fixed side bracket fixed to the vehicle body frame side, a movable side bracket fixed on the lamp bracket side, a double link that rotatably connects the fixed side bracket and the movable side bracket, The vehicle front bumper structure according to claim 1, further comprising a stopper that abuts against the double link and restricts the amount of rotation of the ramp bracket and the side bumper outward of the vehicle body.   When the lamp bracket is provided with a first engagement member, the vehicle body frame is provided with a second engagement member, and the lamp bracket is stored in the vehicle body frame, the first engagement member and the second engagement member are provided. The vehicle front bumper structure according to claim 1, wherein the lamp bracket is temporarily fixed to the vehicle body frame by engaging with a joint member.

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