JP5890720B2 - Variable duct support structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a support structure for a variable duct provided at a bumper face opening at a front end of a vehicle, and particularly relates to a structure that suppresses damage to other components during a light collision.

In vehicles such as automobiles, cooling wind is introduced from an opening provided in a bumper face or the like at the front end of the vehicle to cool a radiator, a condenser of an air conditioner, an intercooler, and the like.
In recent years, a variable duct that can be opened and closed is provided at such an opening, and when the cooling load is small and the amount of running air can be small, the variable duct is closed to reduce air resistance. Things are known.

  As a conventional technique related to such a variable duct, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a variable duct (variable grill shutter device) is attached immediately before a radiator in the vicinity of the front end of an engine room.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-1503

However, in order to increase the aerodynamic effect, such a variable duct needs to be arranged on the front side of the condenser of the radiator core or the air conditioner, but if the vehicle collides with another vehicle, the variable duct, Damage to the radiator, condenser, etc. is unavoidable, causing inability to travel, and at the same time increasing the number of man-hours and costs required to repair the vehicle.
In particular, when the vehicle collides with a vehicle having a vehicle height different from that of the host vehicle, such damage becomes more severe.
In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a variable duct support structure that suppresses damage to other components during a light collision.

The present invention solves the above-described problems by the following means.
The invention according to claim 1, and a bumper face having an opening running wind is provided on the vehicle body front portion is introduced, is constructed by arranging the movable louvers inside of the frame, it is mounted inside the opening Rutotomoni A variable duct support structure having an upper portion with a variable duct attached to the bumper face or the bumper beam, and is provided at a lower portion of the variable duct, and allows translational movement of the variable duct to the rear side of the vehicle. with, when the upper end portion of the variable duct is rotated in a direction to retract against the lower end, have a engagement means for engaging the vehicle body side member, said engagement means, the variable of the bumper face When a load is input to the rear side of the vehicle in the region above the duct, the lower part of the variable duct is allowed to move to the rear side of the vehicle, and the rear side of the variable duct is When the load is input, the variable duct is rotated about the engaging means by engaging with the vehicle body side member, and the variable duct is rearward of the variable duct on the vehicle rear side with the lower end portion as the rotation center. The variable duct support structure is characterized in that a space that can avoid interference with at least one of a radiator and a capacitor when rotated to the side is provided .
According to this, when a collision is received at the upper part of the bumper face, by moving the variable duct to the rear side of the vehicle, if it is a light collision that does not collide with other parts on the rear side, It is possible to prevent damage to the variable duct and other parts, and to reduce the man-hours and costs required for repair.
In addition, when the variable duct receives a direct collision, the engaging means engages with the vehicle body side member and rotates the variable duct in the backward tilt direction. By preventing collisions with other parts, the man-hours and costs required for repair can be reduced.
In addition, at the time of a collision with another vehicle having a different vehicle height, it is possible to show appropriate behavior and suppress damage to other parts.
Further, it is possible to prevent interference with the radiator and the capacitor when the variable duct is rotated, thereby reliably preventing the damage.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the upper part of the variable duct is separably attached to the bumper face or bumper beam when the variable duct is pressed rearward with a force of a predetermined value or more. The variable duct support structure according to claim 1.
According to this, the effect mentioned above can be acquired reliably.

Invention, the vehicle body-side member, when engaged with said engaging means, according to claim 1 or claim wherein said variable duct, characterized in that to prevent the translating toward the rear side of the vehicle according to claim 3 2. The variable duct support structure according to 2 .
According to this, it is possible to prevent the upper part of the variable duct from damaging other components by moving the variable duct backward while rotating.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a variable duct support structure that suppresses damage to other components during a light collision.

1 is an external perspective view of a vehicle including an embodiment of a variable duct support structure to which the present invention is applied. It is an external appearance perspective view of the variable duct in the variable duct support structure of an Example. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a vehicle having a variable duct support structure according to an embodiment as viewed by cutting a vehicle body front end portion along a vertical plane at the center in the vehicle width direction, showing a state in which the variable duct is opened before a collision. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a vehicle having a variable duct support structure according to an embodiment as viewed by cutting the front end portion of the vehicle at the center in the vehicle width direction with a vertical plane, and showing a state in which an obstacle collides with the upper bumper face. . FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a vehicle having a variable duct support structure according to an embodiment as viewed by cutting a front end portion of the vehicle at a center in the vehicle width direction along a vertical plane, and showing a state in which an obstacle collides with a lower bumper face. . It is a schematic top view of the attachment location of the frame body and bumper beam of the variable duct in the variable duct support structure of an Example. It is a figure which shows the modification of the attachment location of the frame body and bumper beam of a variable duct.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a variable duct support structure that suppresses damage to other parts during a light collision, and allows the variable duct to be moved backward in the vehicle at the lower part of the variable duct and to tilt the variable duct backward. The problem has been solved by providing an engaging means for engaging with a stopper portion provided on the vehicle body sometimes.

Embodiments of a variable duct support structure to which the present invention is applied will be described below.
The variable duct support structure according to the embodiment is provided, for example, at a front end portion of a vehicle such as a passenger car.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a vehicle including a variable duct support structure according to an embodiment.
The vehicle 1 has an engine room 2 at the front of the vehicle body, and a bumper face 10 is provided below the grill 3 and the headlamp 4 at the front end of the engine room 2.

The bumper face 10 is an exterior member provided at the front end of the vehicle body, and is integrally formed of a resin material such as PP.
The bumper face 10 includes a main body part 11, an air dam part 12, and the like.
The main body 11 is a portion disposed below the grill 3 and the headlamp 4 (not shown).
The air dam part 12 is disposed below the main body part 11 with a distance from the main body part 11.
Between the main body part 11 and the air dam part 12, there is an opening O into which a running air for cooling is introduced.
The variable duct support structure of the embodiment is provided in the opening O.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the variable duct in the variable duct support structure of the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a vehicle having a variable duct support structure according to an embodiment as viewed by cutting the front end of the vehicle body in a vertical plane at the center in the vehicle width direction, showing a state in which the variable duct is opened before the collision. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle 1 includes a bumper beam 20, a radiator 30, a condenser 40, a radiator panel 50, an energy absorbing material (EA material) 60, a variable duct 100, and the like.

The bumper beam 20 is a beam-shaped member that is disposed on the rear side of the main body 11 of the bumper face 10 and extends substantially along the vehicle width direction.
The bumper beam 20 has a substantially rectangular closed cross section.

The radiator 30 cools engine coolant (not shown) by heat exchange with traveling wind.
The radiator 30 is configured by arranging a large number of fins around a tube through which cooling water passes.

The condenser 40 cools the vapor phase refrigerant of an air conditioner (not shown) by heat exchange with the traveling wind and condenses it into a liquid phase.
The capacitor 40 is configured by arranging a large number of fins around a tube through which the refrigerant passes.
The capacitor 40 is disposed in front of the radiator 30.

The radiator panel 50 is a frame-like vehicle body structural member provided around the radiator 30 and the capacitor 40 and supports them.
A radiator panel lower 51 having a closed cross-sectional shape is formed at a lower portion of the radiator panel 50 by joining a pair of sheet metal panels in a monaca shape.

The EA material 60 is disposed behind the air dam portion 12 and transmits the load input from the air dam portion 12 to the vehicle body side during a collision.
The EA material 60 is configured by connecting a plurality of ribs arranged in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and extending substantially along the vertical direction at the upper surface portion, and is integrally formed of, for example, a resin material.
A front end portion of the EA material 60 is inserted into the air dam portion 12, and a lower portion of the EA material 60 is disposed at a lower portion of the radiator panel 50.

The variable duct 100 is provided in the inside (rear side) of the opening O of the bumper face 10 and substantially opens and closes the opening.
The variable duct 100 includes a frame 110, an upper louver 120, a lower louver 130, a link 140, an actuator (not shown), and the like.
The frame 110 is formed substantially along the inner peripheral edge of the opening, and the planar shape viewed from the front side of the vehicle is substantially rectangular.
The interior of the frame 110 is an air flow path through which traveling wind passes when the variable duct 100 is opened.

The upper louver 120 and the lower louver 130 are strip-like members extending substantially along the vehicle width direction and provided between the left and right end portions of the frame 110.
The upper louver 120 and the lower louver 130 are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, and can be rotated around the rotation shafts 121 and 131 disposed substantially along the longitudinal direction.
The rotating shafts 121 and 131 are arranged at the center in the width direction of the upper louver 120 and the lower louver 130.
The upper louver 120 and the lower louver 130 rotate between a fully open state in which the main body portions are disposed substantially horizontally and a fully closed state in which the main body portions are disposed substantially along the vertical direction.
In the fully closed state, the upper louver 120 and the lower louver 130 substantially close the inside of the frame 110.

The upper louver 120 and the lower louver 130 include arm portions 122 and 132 that protrude upward and rearward with respect to the rotary shafts 121 and 131 when they are fully open.
The arm portions 122 and 132 are integrally formed with the upper louver 120 and the lower louver 130, respectively.
The link 140 connects the distal ends of the arm portions 122 and 132 of the upper louver 120 and the lower louver 130 on the rear side of the upper louver 120 and lower louver 130, and is rotatably connected to the arm portions 122 and 132. Yes.

The actuator is provided, for example, on the side of the frame 110 in the vicinity of the upper louver 120, and drives the upper louver 120 in response to a command from a variable duct control means (not shown).
The actuator includes, for example, an electric motor and a reduction gear mechanism.
When the upper louver 120 is driven and rotated by the actuator, the lower louver 130 is rotated in conjunction with the upper louver 120 by the link 140.

The variable duct control means acquires information about the cooling load from an engine control unit, an air conditioning control unit, etc. (not shown), and based on this, the variable duct 100 is closed when the cooling load is equal to or less than a predetermined value.
The variable duct 100 is pivoted until the front end portions of the upper louver 120 and the lower louver 130 in the open state are almost directly below the rotation shafts 121 and 131, so that the inside of the frame 110 is substantially formed by the upper louver 120 and the lower louver 130. Obstructed.

The upper part of the frame 110 of the variable duct 100 is attached to the lower part of the main body of the bumper beam 20.
The upper part of the frame 110 can be detached from the bumper beam 20 when a load greater than a predetermined value is input to the rear side of the vehicle with respect to the variable duct 100.
FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a portion where the frame 110 is attached to the bumper beam 20.
Such a frame 110 is attached to, for example, by inserting an engaging protrusion 111 protruding from the frame 110 into a dharma hole H provided on the bumper beam 20 side, so that a large input (the frame 110 is attached to the bumper beam 20). The engaging projection 111 can be configured so as to be disengaged from the dharma hole H when retracted.
At this time, if the slit 11 a through which the engaging protrusion can pass when the bumper face 10 is retracted is formed on the lower surface portion of the main body 11 of the bumper face 10, It can prevent that the attachment location with the body 110 is damaged.
Further, when the vehicle receives a collision in a region above the bumper beam 20 and the bumper beam 20 moves backward, the upper part of the frame 110 moves backward together with the bumper beam 20.

An engaging hook 150 described below is formed at the lower end of the frame 110.
The engagement hook 150 protrudes downward from the lower end portion of the frame body 110, protrudes toward the vehicle front side with respect to the frame body 110, and protrudes upward from the front end portion of the protrusion portion 151. It has a claw portion 152 and the like.
As shown in FIG. 2, the engagement hooks 150 are provided at both ends of the lower end portion of the frame body 110 in the vehicle width direction.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, on the rear side of the upper surface portion of the air dam portion 12 of the bumper face 10, there is a stopper S that engages with the engagement hook 150 when the frame body 110 rotates backward. Is provided.
The stopper S is arranged on the vehicle rear side and the upper side with respect to the claw portion 152 in the state before the collision.
The stopper S has a function of preventing the engagement hook 150 from moving toward the vehicle rear side when engaged with the claw portion 152.

Hereinafter, in the embodiment described above, the behavior at the time of collision with the bumper B of another vehicle will be described.
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a vehicle having a variable duct support structure according to an embodiment as viewed by cutting the front end portion of the vehicle at the center in the vehicle width direction along a vertical plane, and shows a state in which an obstacle collides with the upper bumper face. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the bumper B collides with the height of the main body 11 of the bumper face 10, the bumper beam 20 pushed by the bumper face 10 substantially translates in the vehicle direction side.

At this time, the variable duct 100 substantially translates (slides) together with the bumper beam 20 toward the vehicle rear side.
In such translational movement, the claw portion 152 passes below the stopper S, so that the engagement hook 150 does not engage with the stopper S.
Here, at the time of a light collision such that the variable duct 100 does not collide with the capacitor 40 or the like due to retreat, the radiator 30, the capacitor 40, and the variable duct 100 can be prevented from being damaged, and man-hours and costs required for repair can be suppressed. it can.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vehicle front end portion of the vehicle having the variable duct support structure according to the embodiment, which is cut by a vertical plane at the center in the vehicle width direction, and shows a state in which an obstacle collides with the lower part of the bumper face. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the bumper B directly collides with the variable duct 100, the upper part of the frame body 110 drops off from the bumper beam 20, and the frame body 110 moves in the direction in which the upper part recedes from the lower part (backward tilting). Direction).
As a result, the claw portion 152 of the engagement hook 150 rises and engages with the stopper S.

The variable duct 100 further rotates in the backward tilt direction while the movement to the vehicle rear side is restricted by the engagement hook 150 engaging with the stopper S.
Here, between the lower end portion of the variable duct 100 and the radiator 30, the condenser 40, and the like, the vehicle is arranged such that the upper end portion of the frame 110 does not interfere with the radiator 30 and the condenser 40 when the variable duct 100 rotates. A space is provided in the front-rear direction.
For this reason, in this case, although the damage of the variable duct 100 is unavoidable, the collision with the radiator 30 and the capacitor 40 is prevented, the damage can be prevented, and the man-hour and cost required for repair can be suppressed.
The variable duct 100 is preferably rotated until the entire frame 110 is finally positioned at a position lower than the lower ends of the radiator 30 and the capacitor 40.

(Modification)
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes are possible, and these are also within the technical scope of the present invention.
The configuration, shape, arrangement, material, manufacturing method and the like of each member constituting the variable duct support structure are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be changed as appropriate.
For example, although the upper part of the variable duct is attached to the bumper beam in the embodiment, it may be attached to the bumper face.
FIG. 7 is a view showing a modification in which the upper part of the variable duct is attached to the bumper face.
In this case, it is preferable to provide a jump table or a slide-shaped guide portion G that displaces the mounting portion in a direction to escape from the bumper beam so that the mounting portion A between the bumper face and the variable duct is not damaged by interference with the bumper beam. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 2 Engine room 3 Grill 4 Headlamp 10 Bumper face 11 Main body part 11a Slit 12 Air dam part O Opening 20 Bumper beam 30 Radiator 40 Capacitor 50 Radiator panel 51 Radiator panel lower 60 Energy absorber 100 Variable duct 110 Frame 111 Projection H Dharma Hole 120 Upper louver 121 Rotating shaft 122 Arm portion 130 Lower louver 131 Rotating shaft 132 Arm portion 140 Link 150 Engaging hook 151 Protruding portion 152 Claw portion S Stopper B Bumper

Claims (3)

A bumper face having an opening provided at the front end of the vehicle body and into which the traveling wind is introduced;
Is constructed by arranging the inside movable louver frame, Rutotomoni mounted within said opening, a variable duct support structure upper and a variable duct attached to said bumper face, or a bumper beam,
A vehicle body side member provided at a lower portion of the variable duct, allowing translational movement of the variable duct to the vehicle rear side and rotating in a direction in which the upper end portion of the variable duct moves backward with respect to the lower end portion. have a engaging means for engaging with,
The engagement means allows the lower part of the variable duct to move toward the rear side of the vehicle when a load is input to the rear side of the vehicle with respect to a region above the variable duct of the bumper face, and the vehicle with respect to the variable duct At the time of load input to the rear side, the variable duct is rotated around the engaging means by engaging with the vehicle body side member,
A space is provided on the vehicle rear side of the variable duct, the space being capable of avoiding interference with at least one of a radiator and a condenser when the variable duct is rotated rearward with the lower end portion as a rotation center. Variable duct support structure. The upper part of the variable duct is detachably attached to the bumper face or the bumper beam when the variable duct is pushed rearward with a force equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Variable duct support structure. 3. The variable duct support structure according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle body side member prevents the variable duct from translating to the vehicle rear side when engaged with the engagement means. 4. .

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