JP2022081231A - Vehicle front structure - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce a possibility that a scattering stone exits through a grille opening and collides from a front side with a radiator during travel of a vehicle with respect to a vehicle front structure.SOLUTION: A vehicle front structure 10 includes: a fin array 14 comprising a plurality of fins 15 arranged in the inside or at the rear side of a grille opening 13 in the front part of a vehicle, and aligned in a vertical direction; radiators 20, 24 positioned behind the fin array 14; and a radiator guard plate 40 positioned in front of the radiator 24 and behind the fin array 14, and disposed in a position where at least a part is not superposed on the plurality of fins 15 in the inside range of the grille opening 13 in a front view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle front structure, particularly a vehicle front structure that suppresses the possibility of stepping stones colliding with a radiator from the front side.

In Patent Document 1, in a vehicle provided with an intake port (grill opening) for introducing a running wind for cooling into a radiator, it is possible to install a plurality of fins arranged in the vertical direction inside the intake port. Have been described.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-73537

However, while the vehicle is running, stepping stones flying from the front side of the vehicle through the gap between the fins of the grill opening or between two adjacent fins and flying to the rear side may collide with the radiator and damage the radiator. be.

An object of the vehicle front structure of the present invention is to reduce the possibility that stepping stones pass through the grill opening and collide with the radiator from the front side while the vehicle is running.

The vehicle front structure according to the present invention includes a fin row composed of a plurality of fins arranged in or behind the grill opening in the front portion of the vehicle and arranged in the vertical direction, and a radiator located behind the fin row. It is provided with a radiator protection plate which is located on the front side of the radiator and on the rear side of the fin row, and at least a part of the radiator is provided at a position where it does not overlap with the plurality of fins within the range inside the grill opening in the front view.

According to the vehicle front structure according to the present invention, since the radiator protection plate is located behind the fin row, the stepping stones flying from the front side of the vehicle through the grill opening toward the radiator are dropped against the radiator protection plate. be able to. This can reduce the possibility of stepping stones colliding with the radiator.

It is a figure which looked at the vehicle including the vehicle front structure of the embodiment of this invention from the front side. It is a schematic diagram which shows the AA cross section of FIG. It is a perspective view which looked at the duct shown in FIG. 2 from the front side. It is a figure which looked at the 1st radiator and the 2nd radiator which form the vehicle front structure of an embodiment, and a grill opening from the front side.

Hereinafter, the vehicle front structure of the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In this description, the specific shape, material, number, etc. are examples for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and can be appropriately changed according to the specifications. Further, the arrows F, the arrow U, and the arrow R shown in each figure indicate the front direction, the upward direction, and the right direction of the vehicle, respectively. Further, the opposite directions of the arrows F, the arrow U, and the arrow R mean the rear direction, the downward direction, and the left direction of the vehicle, respectively.

1 to 4 show a vehicle 100 including a vehicle front structure 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a view of the vehicle 100 as viewed from the front side. A bumper cover 12 and a bonnet 80 are arranged on the front side of the vehicle 100, and a power source chamber 81 is arranged on the lower side of the bonnet 80. A traveling motor or an engine, or an engine and a motor as a traveling power source is mounted in the power source chamber 81.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a cross section taken along the line AA of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle front structure 10 is incorporated in the front side of the vehicle 100. The vehicle front structure 10 includes the bumper cover 12, the first radiator 20 and the second radiator 24 arranged in the power source chamber 81 behind the bumper cover 12, and the first radiator 20 and the second radiator 24. It is formed including a duct 30 arranged on the front side.

The bumper cover 12 is made of resin, and a bumper reinforcement 16 is provided inside, and the bumper cover 12 is attached to a radiator support, a fender panel, or the like, which are structural members of the vehicle body. As a result, the bumper cover 12 covers the front side of the power source chamber 81 from the front end to the lower side of the bonnet 80. The bumper reinforcement 16 extends in the left-right direction of the vehicle, for example, and is fixed to the front ends of two side frames extending in the front-rear direction on both the left and right sides of the vehicle to absorb an impact when the vehicle collides.

On the lower side of the bumper cover 12, a substantially cylindrical grill opening 13 having a fin row 14 inside is formed. The grill opening 13 has a substantially rectangular shape that is horizontally long when viewed forward. The fin row 14 is composed of a plurality of fins 15 that are arranged vertically and extend in the left-right direction of the vehicle. The plurality of fins 15 may have slightly different positions in the front-rear direction from the plurality of fins 15 as long as their front and rear ends overlap each other in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cross-sectional shape of each of the plurality of fins 15 forming the fin row 14 is a substantially U-shape that opens toward the rear, but the shape of each fin is not limited to this, for example. It may be in the shape of a flat plate.

The first radiator 20 is fixed to a vehicle body structural member such as a cross member 82. In this state, the first radiator 20 is arranged so as to face forward along substantially the vertical direction. Although detailed illustration is omitted, the first radiator 20 is arranged between a plurality of vertically arranged heat transfer tubes and a plurality of heat transfer tubes through which cooling water for cooling an engine or a traveling motor passes, for example. Includes a core portion with fins. The first radiator 20 exchanges heat between the air passing through the core portion in the front-rear direction and the cooling water flowing through the heat transfer tube to lower the temperature of the cooling water.

The second radiator 24 is attached to the front side of the first radiator 20 side by side with the first radiator 20, for example, via brackets attached to both ends in the left-right direction. In this state, the second radiator 24 is arranged so as to face forward along substantially the vertical direction. The basic structure of the second radiator 24 is the same as that of the first radiator 20. The second radiator 24 is used for cooling an electric component such as an inverter. The height of the second radiator 24 is smaller in the vertical direction than that of the first radiator 20. The lower end of the second radiator 24 is arranged slightly above the lower end of the first radiator 20.

Further, a cooling fan 50 is arranged on the rear side of the first radiator 20. The cooling fan 50 has a function of flowing a running wind from the front side to the rear side in the direction of arrow P in FIG. The cooling fan 50 is driven by a power source such as a motor or an engine. By driving the cooling fan 50, running wind can flow from the front side to the rear side of the first radiator 20 and the second radiator 24.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the duct 30 as viewed from the front side with the bumper cover 12 removed. FIG. 4 is a view of the first radiator 20, the second radiator 24, and the grill opening 13 as viewed from the front side. The duct 30 is made of resin, for example, and has a function of guiding the traveling wind taken into the power source chamber 81 from the front side of the vehicle through the grill opening 13 to the front side of the first radiator 20 and the second radiator 24. Specifically, the duct 30 is located on the front side and the lower side of a substantially box-shaped downstream guide portion 31 having a long vertical end and an open rear end, and a lower end portion of a vertical wall 32 forming the front end of the downstream guide portion 31. It has a tubular upstream guide portion 35 connected so as to gradually spread on both sides in the left-right direction of the vehicle toward the vehicle. The front end opening 36 of the upstream guide portion 35 has a substantially rectangular shape that is horizontally long when viewed forward. Specifically, the upstream guide portion 35 has an upper end wall 37, a lower end wall 38 arranged so as to face diagonally downward behind the upper end wall 37, and a left-right direction of the upper end wall 37 and the lower end wall 38. It has two side walls 39a and 39b connecting both ends. As shown in FIG. 2, the front end opening 36 of the upstream side guide portion 35 is fitted and attached to the outer peripheral surface of the rear end portion of the tubular portion forming the grill opening 13. In this state, the duct 30 is located on the front side of the first radiator 20 and on the rear side of the fin row 14. Further, the second radiator 24 is arranged so as to enter inside the downstream guide portion 31.

Further, the lower end of the rear end opening 33 of the duct 30 is located above the lower end of the front end opening 36. As a result, the grill opening 13 is formed at a low position of the vehicle, and the first radiator 20 and the second radiator 24 are arranged above the lower end of the grill opening 13, as shown by arrows Q1 to Q5 in FIG. The running wind taken in from the grill opening 13 can be efficiently guided to the front side of the first radiator 20 and the second radiator 24 by the duct 30.

A plurality of mounting holes 34a and 34b are formed in the downstream guide portion 31 of the duct 30. The duct 30 is attached to a vehicle body component such as a first radiator 20 or a radiator support by a screw penetrating the mounting holes 34a and 34b. In this state, the lower end of the rear end opening 33 of the duct 30 is abutted against the front surface of the lower end portion of the first radiator 20.

On the other hand, the duct 30 has an open lower end front view. In such a configuration, the stepping stones that have entered the duct 30 from the front side of the grill opening 13 when the vehicle is traveling are arranged on the second radiator 24 arranged at the inner lower end portion of the downstream side guide portion 31 or on the rear side thereof. It is conceivable that the first radiator 20 will collide, and it is necessary to avoid the collision. For this purpose, in the embodiment, the radiator protection plate 40 is provided in the duct 30.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of support plates 41 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction from the inner surface of the upper end wall 37 forming the upstream guide portion 35 of the duct 30. Then, the upper surface of the radiator protection plate 40 is coupled to the lower end of each support plate 41. As a result, the radiator protection plate 40 is suspended and supported by the upstream guide portion 35. The radiator protection plate 40 has a substantially flat plate shape that is inclined upward with respect to the horizontal direction toward the rear. In this state, the radiator protection plate 40 is located on the front side of the first radiator 20 and the second radiator 24 and on the rear side of the fin row 14.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the radiator protective plate 40 is provided at a position where at least a part thereof does not overlap with the plurality of fins 15 within the inner range of the grill opening 13 in the front view. In FIG. 4, the radiator protection plate 40 is shown by the sandy portion. Looking forward of the radiator protection plate 40, the grill opening 13, the first radiator 20 and the second radiator 24, the radiator protection plate 40 is in the vertical direction between the fin 15 at the uppermost end of the fin row 14 and the upper end of the inner surface of the grill opening 13. It is provided at a position where it overlaps with both the first radiator 20 and the second radiator 24. As a result, the stepping stones flying from the front side of the vehicle through the grill opening 13 toward the radiators 20 and 24 can easily hit the radiator protection plate 40. Therefore, the possibility that the stepping stones collide with the radiators 20 and 24 can be reduced. The radiator protection plate 40 may be provided so as to include a portion of the first radiator 20 and the second radiator 24 that overlaps only the first radiator 20 when viewed forward.

Further, since the radiator protection plate 40 is inclined upward toward the rear, as will be described later, the traveling wind taken in from the grill opening 13 when the vehicle is running is rectified upward and rearward by the radiator protection plate 40. It will be easier to do.

That is, in the duct 30, the inner surface of the vertical wall 32 forming the downstream guide portion 31 and the inner surface of the upper end wall 37 forming the upstream guide portion 35 are connected by the R portion 42 having an arcuate cross section. The radiator protection plate 40 is arranged at a position below the inner surface of the upper end wall 37 and the R portion 42 and above the fin 15 at the uppermost end of the fin row 14. This makes it easier to rectify the traveling wind flowing around the radiator protection plate 40 along the R portion 42 of the duct 30 on the upper and rear sides.

According to the vehicle front structure described above, since the radiator protection plate 40 is located behind the fin row 14, each radiator 20, passing through between the fin 15 and the grill opening 13 or between the fins 15 from the front side of the vehicle, Stepping stones flying toward 24 hit the radiator protection plate 40 and fall. As a result, the possibility that the stepping stones collide with the radiators 20 and 24 can be reduced.

Further, since the radiator protection plate 40 is inclined upward toward the rear, the area of the radiator protection plate 40 in the front view is larger than that in the case where the radiator protection plate 40 is arranged along the horizontal direction. As a result, the stepping stones are likely to collide with the radiator protection plate 40, so that the possibility of the stepping stones colliding with the radiators 20 and 24 can be further reduced. Further, since the radiator protection plate 40 is inclined upward toward the rear, it becomes easy to rectify the traveling wind taken in from the grill opening 13 when the vehicle is traveling to the upper rear side along the inclination of the radiator protection plate 40. In particular, in the case of this example, it is highly necessary to guide the traveling wind to the upper rear side by arranging the radiators 20 and 24 above the lower end of the grill opening 13, and the radiator protection plate 40 is tilted to travel. The effect of making it easier to guide the wind upward becomes remarkable.

In this example, the radiator protection plate 40 is suspended and supported by the upstream side guide portion 35 of the duct 30, but the radiator protection plate is not limited to this, and the radiator protection plate extends in the vehicle width direction, for example, to guide the upstream side. Both ends may be supported by being connected to the inner surfaces of the two side walls 39a and 39b of the portion 35. In that configuration, the support plate 41 that connects the radiator protection plate 40 and the upstream guide portion 35 can be omitted.

Further, in the above, the case where the radiator protection plate 40 is formed in the duct 30 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is not limited to this, for example, directly on the inner surface of the grill opening or behind the fin row 14 via a support plate. The radiator protective plate may be connected so as to be located.

Further, although the case where the fin row 14 is arranged inside the grill opening 13 has been described above, the fin row may be arranged behind the grill opening 13.

Further, in the configurations of FIGS. 1 to 4, the radiator protection plate 40 is located in a part between the upper end of the inner surface of the grill opening 13 and the fin 15 at the uppermost end in the vertical direction, but is with the upper end of the inner surface of the grill opening 13. It may be all between the fins 15 at the uppermost end. Further, unlike the configurations of FIGS. 1 to 4, when the lower part of the inner range of the grill opening and the lower part of each radiator overlap each other in the front view, the radiator protection plate 40 is adjacent to the fin rows 14 in the vertical direction. It may be part or all between the two fins 15, or part or all between the bottommost fin 15 and the bottom edge of the inner surface of the grill opening 13.

10 Vehicle front structure, 12 bumper cover, 13 grill opening, 14 fin row, 15 fins, 16 bumper reinforcement, 20 1st radiator, 24 2nd radiator, 30 ducts, 31 downstream guides, 32 standing walls, 33 Rear end opening, 34a, 34b mounting hole, 35 upstream guide, 36 front end opening, 37 upper end wall, 38 lower end wall, 39a, 39b side wall, 40 radiator protection plate, 41 support plate, 42 R part, 50 cooling fan, 80 bonnet, 81 power source room, 82 crossmembers, 100 vehicles.

Claims (1)

A row of fins consisting of multiple fins arranged vertically and arranged inside or behind the grill opening at the front of the vehicle,
With the radiator located behind the fin row,
A radiator protective plate is provided which is located on the front side of the radiator and on the rear side of the fin row, and at least a part of the radiator is provided at a position where it does not overlap with the plurality of fins within the range inside the grill opening in the front view.
Vehicle front structure.

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