JP2012183851A - Air duct mounting structure for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To support an upper duct member on an upper frame of a front bulkhead with a required strength without increasing the size and weight of the upper duct member of an air duct even if the distance (interval) between the front bulkhead and a front grille/front bumper face in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle body is long.SOLUTION: The upper duct member 62 of an air duct assembly 60 is supported by a highly rigid grille stay 70 the base end 72A of which is fixed to the upper frame 32 of a front bulkhead assembly 30 serving as the skeleton member of the front section of the vehicle body and which extends forward of the vehicle body.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle air duct mounting structure, and more particularly to a mounting structure for a vehicle body of an air duct that guides traveling wind from a front grill of an automobile to a radiator.

  For vehicles such as automobiles, between the front grille / front bumper face and the radiator so as to efficiently guide the running wind to the radiator through the air intake opening formed in the front grille and front bumper face arranged at the front of the vehicle body Are provided with a wind guide structure such as an air duct (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2003-306047 A JP 2009-184487 A

  When a cooler condenser (condenser), front bumper beam, etc. are placed between the front grille or front bumper face and the radiator, the front bulkhead and front grille are located behind the radiator and form the skeleton of the front of the vehicle And the distance (interval) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body from the front bumper face.

  For this reason, if an attachment structure that supports the upper duct member constituting the upper part of the air duct from the upper frame of the front bulkhead is to be adopted, the vehicle body of the upper duct member according to the longitudinal distance between the front bulkhead and the front grille. Longitudinal dimensions are increased. This increases the size of the upper duct member and increases the weight of the upper duct member. Therefore, it is necessary to make the upper duct member a high-strength and robust structure. This leads to a further increase in weight of the upper duct member.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that the upper duct member of the air duct is not increased in size and weight even when the distance (interval) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body between the front bulkhead and the front grille or front bumper face is long. The upper duct member can be supported with a required strength from the upper frame of the front bulkhead.

  The vehicle air duct mounting structure according to the present invention includes a front grille disposed in front of the vehicle body from the radiator (46) and a radiator (46) disposed in front of the vehicle body from the front bulkhead (30) forming the skeleton of the front portion of the vehicle body. (12) An air duct (60) for guiding traveling wind from an air intake opening (24) of (12) to a vehicle body, wherein a base end (72A) is connected to an upper frame (32) of the front bulkhead (30). It has a grill stay (70) that is fixed and extends from the base end (72A) over the radiator (46) to the front of the vehicle body. The grill stay (70) has a duct support ( 76), and the upper duct member (62) constituting the upper portion of the air duct (60) is fixed by the fastener (78) in the duct support portion (76). We are supporting.

  According to this configuration, even if the distance between the front bulkhead (30) and the front grill 12 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body is long, the large size of the upper duct member (62) can be obtained only by increasing the stay length of the grill stay (70). The upper duct member (62) can be supported with a required strength from the upper frame (32) of the front bulkhead (30) without causing an increase in weight and weight.

  In the vehicle air duct mounting structure according to the present invention, preferably, the grill stay (70) is disposed at a central portion in the vehicle width direction, and includes a grill support portion (80) at the tip portion. A portion (80) supports a central portion in the vehicle width direction of the front grill (12), and the front grill (12) supports the upper duct member (62) by engaging with the upper duct member (62). is doing.

  According to this configuration, the support strength of the upper frame (32) is improved without requiring a separate support structure.

  In the vehicle air duct mounting structure according to the present invention, preferably, the upper duct member (62) is integrally formed with a front projecting portion (84) projecting forward of the vehicle body, and the projecting portion (84) is the front grille. By being engaged with the back side of (12), it is supported by the front grill (12).

  According to this configuration, the grill stay (70) supports the front grill (12) with a very simple structure without requiring a separate part such as a fastener.

  In the vehicle air duct mounting structure according to the present invention, preferably, the grill support portion (80) is formed by a protruding portion that is integrally formed with the grill stay and protrudes forward from the tip end portion of the grill stay. The projecting portion is engaged with the rear side of the front grill to support the front grill (12), and a notch (82) is formed at the base of the projecting portion.

  According to this configuration, the upper duct member (62) can be supported by the front grille (12) with a very simple structure without the need for a separate part such as a fastener, and the cutout portion ( 82), when a downward load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the protrusion, the protrusion is deformed downward, and pedestrian protection is performed.

  In the vehicle air duct mounting structure according to the present invention, preferably, the upper duct member (62) integrally includes a lattice portion (63) for preventing stepping stones from entering the radiator (46).

  According to this configuration, stepping stones are prevented from entering the radiator (46) without requiring separate parts.

  In the vehicle air duct mounting structure according to the present invention, preferably, the upper duct (62) is in a state where the front hood is closed on the rear edge side of the arrangement portion of the hood lock mechanism (31) attached to the upper frame (32). A raised portion (62C) is integrally formed to stop the hood lock release device from entering from the front of the vehicle body.

  According to this configuration, the hood lock release device such as a driver is prevented from entering the arrangement portion of the hood lock mechanism (31) without requiring a separate part, and the hood lock mechanism (31) is unfairly disposed. The release is avoided and vehicle theft and mischief are prevented.

  In the vehicle air duct mounting structure according to the present invention, preferably, the upper duct member (62) integrally has a design surface portion (62C) forming a design surface on an upper portion thereof, and the upper surface portion of the grill stay (70). A part is a design surface part (74) connected to the design surface of the upper duct member (70).

  According to this configuration, the design surface portion (62B, 74) is configured without requiring separate parts.

  According to the air duct mounting structure for a vehicle according to the present invention, the air duct upper duct member is fixed to the upper frame of the front bulkhead, which is a skeleton member of the front part of the vehicle body, and the rigid duct stay extending forward of the vehicle body. Therefore, even if the distance between the front bulkhead and the front grille in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body is large, the length of the upper duct member can be increased without increasing the size and weight of the upper duct member simply by increasing the stay length of the grill stay. The upper duct member can be supported with a required strength from the upper frame of the front bulkhead.

1 is a front view showing an embodiment in which a vehicle air duct mounting structure according to the present invention is applied to an automobile. The side sectional view of the air duct attachment structure for vehicles by this embodiment. The perspective view from the vehicle body front which shows the air duct attachment structure for vehicles by this embodiment in the state where the radiator and the cooler condenser were removed. The perspective view which expands and shows the principal part of the air duct attachment structure for vehicles by this embodiment. The expanded sectional side view of the principal part of the air duct attachment structure for vehicles by this embodiment. The expanded sectional side view in the cross section from which the principal part of the air duct attachment structure for vehicles by this embodiment differs. The perspective view which looked at the air duct assembly used for the air duct attachment structure for vehicles by this embodiment from the vehicle body back. The perspective view which looked at the air duct assembly used for the air duct attachment structure for vehicles by this embodiment from the vehicle body front.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a vehicle air duct mounting structure according to the present invention is applied to an automobile will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, parts that are not described about materials are made of steel plates.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the automobile has a front bumper fence 10 at the lower front portion. A front grill 12 is provided at the upper part of the front bumper fence 10, and headlamps 14 are provided on the left and right sides of the front grill 12. An engine room 16 (see FIG. 2) is defined on the vehicle body rear side of the front bumper fence 10 and the front grill 12 in cooperation with the left and right side fenders 18 and the like. An openable front hood 20 is disposed above the engine room 16.

  Each of the front bumper fence 10 and the front grill 12 is formed with air intake openings 22 and 24 that pass through these in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a bulkhead upper frame 32 that extends horizontally in the vehicle body width direction as the structure that forms the skeleton of the vehicle body front, The lower part is composed of a bulkhead lower frame 34 that extends horizontally in the vehicle body width direction, and a bulkhead upper frame 32 and left and right bulkhead side stays 36 that connect the left and right ends of the bulkhead lower frame 34 respectively. A frame-shaped front bulkhead assembly 30 is provided. The front bulkhead assembly 30 is connected to left and right wheel house upper duct members (not shown) by bulkhead upper side frames 38 joined to both the left and right sides.

  A hood lock release mechanism 31 including a release lever 33 is attached to the front portion of the bulkhead upper frame 32. At the left and right portions of the bulkhead lower frame 34, a foot wiper plate 35 extending substantially horizontally in front of the vehicle body from the bulkhead lower frame 34 is attached.

  The front part of the vehicle body is provided with left and right front side frames 40 extending from the vehicle body in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Front bumper extension members 42 are joined to the front end portions of the front side frames 40 so as to protrude forward of the vehicle body. The front bumper extension member 42 has a lower strength than the front side frame 40 with respect to the front collision load, and forms a crush member in a front collision.

  The front end portions of the left and right front bumper extension members 42 are joined to the vicinity of both left and right ends of a front bumper beam 44 that extends substantially horizontally in the vehicle body width direction. The front bumper fence 10 is attached to the front bumper beam 44. The front grill 12 is connected to a grill stay 70, a front bumper fence 10, a mounting portion of the headlamp 14, and the like, which will be described later, and is supported by the vehicle body via these.

  An engine cooling system radiator 46 and a cooler condenser 50 are arranged in front of the front bulkhead assembly 30 in the vehicle body. The radiator 46 and the cooler condenser 50 are fixed to the bulkhead upper frame 32 at the upper part by a pair of left and right mounting brackets 48, and fixed to the bulkhead lower frame 34 at the lower part and attached to the front bulkhead assembly 30.

  The radiator 46 and the cooler condenser 50 are large rectangular heat exchangers, both of which are in front of the vehicle body from the front bulkhead assembly 30 and rear of the vehicle body from the front bumper beam 44, and have a predetermined gap in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. And exist in parallel. The cooler condenser 50 is located in front of the vehicle body from the radiator 46. An electric cooling fan 52 and a fan shroud 54 are provided on the vehicle body rear side of the radiator 46.

  On the front side of the vehicle body of the front bulkhead assembly 30, an air duct that constitutes an air guide path 68 that guides traveling air to the radiator 46 and the cooler condenser 50 from the air intake openings 22 and 24 of the front bumper fence 10 and the front grill 12. An assembly 60 is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 7, and 8, the air duct assembly 60 includes an upper duct member 62 made of a hard resin that extends horizontally in the vehicle body width direction and forms the upper portion of the air duct, and an upper end. A left and right side duct member 66 made of soft rubber is connected to the left and right ends of the upper duct member 62 by clips 64 and extends in the vertical direction.

  The upper duct member 62 includes a wind guide wall portion 62A that defines a wind guide path 68 on the lower side, and a design surface portion 62B that forms a design surface on the upper side by folding back above the front end of the wind guide wall portion 62A and rearward of the vehicle body. Are integrally molded. Thereby, it is not necessary to configure the design surface portion 62B with a separate member, and the number of parts and the number of assembly steps are reduced. In addition, the design surface portion 62B prevents the cooling air from flowing around the front of the vehicle body above the radiator 46, and prevents the cooling efficiency of the radiator 46 and the cooler condenser 50 from being lowered due to the cooling air flowing around.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a raised portion 62C is integrally formed on the rear edge side of the design surface portion 62B. The raised portion 62 </ b> C extends from the gap between the front end portion of the front hood 20 in the closed state and the upper surface portion of the front grill 12 to the arrangement portion of the hood lock mechanism 31, particularly the arrangement portion of the release lever 33, such as a hood lock release device such as a driver. Acts as a barrier to prevent the hood lock mechanism 31 from entering illegally and prevents the hood lock mechanism 31 from being released inappropriately. This prevents vehicle theft and mischief.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the air guide wall portion 62A extends from the front side of the vehicle body to the vehicle body rear position over the cooler radiator 50, and the front grill 12 is provided at the extended end portion thereof. A lattice portion 63 is integrally formed for preventing stepping stones from entering the radiator 46 from the air intake opening 24.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a grill stay 70 is attached to the center of the bulkhead upper frame 32 in the vehicle width direction. The grill stay 70 is a molded product made of hard resin or a light metal casting, and has two beam portions 72 having a groove-shaped cross-sectional shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body at intervals in the vehicle width direction, and the front of the beam portion 72. A design surface portion 74 extending between the two beam portions 72 on the side and having a top surface that forms a design surface that is continuous with the design surface of the design surface portion 62B of the upper duct member 62, and a base end portion of the two beam portions 72 72A is fixed to the upper part of the bulkhead upper frame 32 by bolts 77 or clips (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the base end portion 72 </ b> A has a bowl-shaped (inverted L-shaped) side surface shape and is joined to the upper surface portion and the front surface portion of the bulkhead upper frame 32. As a result, the upper duct member 62 has increased mounting strength against forward tilting (inclination in which the front end falls downward).

  Each of the two beam portions 72 has a groove-shaped cross-sectional shape and has a strong bending strength by having a rib 72B on the inside, and has a strong bending strength above the radiator 46 from the base end portion 72A. It extends beyond the front of the car.

  Duct support seats 76 are formed so as to project from the left and right sides of the front end of the two beam portions 72. The two duct support seats 76 are fixedly supported at two locations in the center of the upper duct member 62 in the vehicle width direction from below by bolts 78 that are fasteners or clips (not shown). In FIG. 8, reference numeral 61 denotes a bolt through hole through which the bolt 78 is inserted.

  The grill stay 70 integrally has a grill support protrusion 80 at the tip. As shown in FIG. 5, the grill support protrusion 80 abuts against the back surface 12 </ b> A of the front grill 12, and supports the central portion of the front grill 12 in the vehicle width direction in the sinking prevention direction. Thus, the grill stay 70 supports the front grill 12 with a very simple structure without requiring a separate part such as a fastener.

  Further, a notch 82 is formed at the base of the grill support protrusion 80. Due to the notches 82, when a downward load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the front grill 12 and the grill support projection 80, the grill support projection 80 is deformed so that its head is lowered from the tip of the grill stay. Protection is performed.

  At the front portion of the upper duct member 62, protrusions 84 that protrude forward of the vehicle body are integrally formed at a plurality of locations in the vehicle width direction. The upper duct member 62 is supported in the sinking prevention direction by the front grill 12 at a plurality of locations in the vehicle width direction by the lower surface of the projecting portion 84 contacting the upper surface 12B (see FIG. 5) on the rear surface side of the front grill 12. Has been. That is, the front grille 12 supported from the vehicle body via the front bumper fence 10 or the like supports the upper duct member 62 at a plurality of locations in the vehicle width direction in the sinking prevention direction by engaging with the upper duct member 62. . Thus, the upper duct member 62 can be supported by the front grille 12 with a very simple structure without requiring separate parts such as fasteners.

  The left and right side duct members 66 are each fixed to the front surface of the bulkhead side stay 36 of the front bulkhead assembly 30 by a clip 86 at the rear side of the vehicle body. From this, the left and right side portions of the radiator 46 and the cooler condenser 50 are It crosses the direction and extends forward from these. A lower end portion of the side duct member 66 is connected to the foot wiping plate 35 by a clip 88 and supported by the foot wiping plate 35.

  According to the above-described configuration, the air duct assembly is fixed by the high-rigidity grill stay 70 that is fixed to the upper frame 32 of the front bulkhead assembly 30 that is a skeleton member at the front of the vehicle body and extends forward of the vehicle body. Since the 60 upper duct members 62 are supported, the stay length of the grill stay 70 can be increased even if the distance (interval) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body between the front bulkhead assembly 30 and the front grill 12 and the front bumper face 10 is long. The upper duct member 62 can be supported with a required strength from the upper frame 32 of the front bulkhead assembly 30 without increasing the size and weight of the upper duct member 62 simply by increasing the length.

  Furthermore, since the grill stay 70 supports the front grill 12 and the front grill 12 supports the upper frame 32 of the front bulkhead assembly 30, the support strength of the upper frame 32 is improved without requiring a separate support structure. To do.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Front bumper fence 12 Front grill 16 Engine room 22, 24 Air intake opening 30 Front bulkhead assembly 31 Hood lock release tool 32 Bulkhead upper frame 33 Release lever 34 Bulkhead lower frame 35 Foot wiper plate 36 Bulkhead side stay 36 46 Radiator 50 Cooler condenser 60 Air duct assembly 62 Upper duct member 62A Air guide wall portion 62B Design surface portion 63 Lattice portion 66 Side duct member 70 Grill stay 72 Beam portion 76 Duct support seat portion 80 Grill support projection portion 82 Notch portion 84 Projection Part

Claims (7)

A structure for mounting an air duct to a vehicle body that guides traveling air from a front grille disposed at the front of the vehicle body from the radiator to a radiator disposed at the front of the vehicle body from a front bulkhead that forms a skeleton of the front portion of the vehicle body. ,
A base end is fixed to the upper frame of the front bulkhead, and has a grill stay extending from the base end over the radiator to the front of the vehicle body. The grill stay has a duct support at the front end. An air duct mounting structure for a vehicle comprising: an upper duct member that constitutes an upper portion of the air duct by a fastener at the duct support portion.   The grill stay is disposed at a center portion in the vehicle width direction, includes a grill support portion at the tip portion, and supports the center portion in the vehicle width direction of the front grill by the grill support portion. The vehicle air duct mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the upper duct member is supported by engagement with the upper duct member.   3. The upper duct member is integrally formed with a protruding portion that protrudes forward of the vehicle body at a front portion, and the protruding portion is supported by the front grille by engaging with the rear side of the front grill. The air duct mounting structure for vehicles as described.   The grill support portion is formed by a protrusion that is integrally formed with the grill stay and protrudes forward of the vehicle body from the tip end portion of the grill stay, and the protrusion engages with the rear side of the front grill. The vehicle air duct mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which supports the front grill and has a notch formed at a base portion of the protruding portion.   The vehicular air duct mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the upper duct member integrally includes a lattice portion that prevents stepping stones from entering the radiator.   The upper duct integrally has a raised portion on the rear edge side for stopping the hood lock releasing device from entering the front portion of the vehicle body when the front hood is closed when the hood lock mechanism is attached to the upper frame. The vehicle air duct mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5.   The upper duct member integrally includes a design surface portion that forms a design surface at an upper portion thereof, and a part of the upper surface portion of the grill stay is a design surface portion that is continuous with the design surface of the upper duct member. The vehicle air duct mounting structure according to any one of the preceding claims.

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