JP6511771B2 - Vehicle front structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle front structure including a vehicle dash panel.

  The vehicle front structure of a vehicle such as an automobile has, for example, a dash panel that defines a compartment and a space (engine room etc.) on the front side thereof, and a front and rear member (frame). The frame extends under the dash panel to the front of the dash panel vehicle. In such a vehicle front structure, a bellows-like boot which is a part of the steering device and extends in the vehicle width direction is generally disposed below the frame (e.g., Patent Document 1).

  Patent Document 1 describes an undercover mounted on the front lower surface of a vehicle. In Patent Document 1, the undercover covers the boot to prevent snow from adhering to the boot or the like.

JP 2000-190872 A

  The bellows-like boot, which is a part of the steering device, is located below the frame and is separated from the frame, and operates freely by the steering operation of the occupant. However, particularly in cold regions, sleet-like rainwater may come in contact with the boot from the frame, thereby freezing the frame and the boot. Operating the steering device in such a condition may damage the boot.

  In the structure described in Patent Document 1, although it is possible to prevent snow entering from below the vehicle from adhering to the boot, it is not possible to prevent rainwater or the like entering the vehicle from being applied to the boot located below the frame from the frame.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle front structure capable of preventing rainwater or the like entering a vehicle body from being applied to a boot located below a frame.

  In order to solve the above problems, a typical configuration of a vehicle front structure according to the present invention is that, in a vehicle front structure including a dash panel of the vehicle, the vehicle front structure further dashes under the dash panel. The frame includes a frame extending forward of the vehicle in the panel, a longitudinal member erected on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the frame, and a frame cover covering the frame from above. The frame cover extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at one side edge. It is characterized in that it has an upper surface connected to the lower edge of the vertical member and lowered toward the front of the vehicle, and a wall rising upward from the other side edge of the upper surface.

  Under the frame, a bellows-like boot, which is a part of the steering device, usually extends in the vehicle width direction. According to the above configuration of the present invention, the upper surface portion of the frame cover covering the frame is lowered as it goes forward in the vehicle. Furthermore, the wall portion rises from the other side edge on the opposite side of the vertical member in the upper surface portion. For this reason, even if rainwater intruding into the vehicle body flows on the frame cover through the boundary between the dash panel and the longitudinal member, the rainwater is blocked by the wall of the frame cover while the upper surface of the frame cover is forward of the vehicle. Flow toward For this reason, rainwater can be prevented from being applied to the boot located below the frame. Therefore, according to the above configuration, rainwater and the like are not applied to the boots, so that the rainwater in a sloping shape in a cold area or the like does not freeze the frame and the boots, and damage to the boots can be prevented.

  The upper surface portion of the frame cover may have a shape which is recessed downward. As a result, rainwater and the like easily accumulate on the upper surface portion, and it is possible to more fully prevent the boots from being caught.

  The above-mentioned longitudinal member is a wheelhouse panel forming a wheelhouse that accommodates the wheel, and the vehicle front structure further includes a fender lining disposed in the wheelhouse, between the front end of the frame and the fender lining And the formed opening may be included. As a result, the rainwater flowing toward the front end of the frame cover can be drained from the opening to the outside of the vehicle. Therefore, rainwater can be more fully prevented from passing over the wall of the frame cover and hitting the boot.

  The above frame cover is made of metal, part of the wall is notched, and the vehicle front structure may further include a resin cover attached to the notched portion of the wall. . Generally, in order to ensure the shock absorbing performance of the vehicle, the rigidity of the portion receiving the impact at the time of a collision may be reduced sharply and may be easily deformed. In the above configuration, the rigidity of the frame cover is reduced by notching a part of the wall portion of the frame cover, and the shock absorbing performance is enhanced. On the other hand, the resin cover is attached to the notched part to prevent the leak of the rainwater so that the rainwater does not leak from the part where the wall part is notched.

  A groove shape may be formed at the boundary between the longitudinal member and the dash panel. According to the above configuration, the rainwater which has entered the vehicle body flows along the groove shape formed at the boundary between the longitudinal member and the dash panel and easily reaches the frame cover covering the frame. The rainwater that has reached the frame cover can be reliably carried forward of the vehicle, so that it is possible to more fully prevent rainwater from being applied to the boot.

  The above-mentioned vehicle front structure further forms a dash side panel extending above the longitudinal member from the side of the dash panel to the front of the vehicle, and an outer surface of the vehicle outside the dash side panel in the vehicle width direction And a fender panel extending inward of the dash side panel in the vehicle width direction.

  The portion of the fender panel extending inward in the vehicle width direction over the upper end of the dash side panel is usually covered by the hood panel. Therefore, according to the above configuration, the rainwater invading from between the fender panel and the hood panel passes over the portion of the fender panel extending inward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the dash side panel, and the inside of the dash side panel Led to Rainwater having flowed inside the dash side panel is further led to the frame cover covering the frame via the longitudinal member. The rainwater that has reached the frame cover can be reliably carried forward of the vehicle, so that it is possible to more fully prevent rainwater from being applied to the boot.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle front structure capable of preventing rainwater and the like entering the vehicle body from being applied to a boot located below the frame.

It is a figure which shows the vehicle front structure in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the frame cover and flame | frame of FIG. 1 alone, respectively. It is A arrow directional view of the vehicle front structure of FIG. It is B arrow line view of the vehicle front structure of FIG. It is a figure which expands and shows a part of vehicle front structure of FIG. It is a figure which shows the vehicle front structure of the modification of embodiment of FIG.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values and the like shown in the embodiments are merely examples for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and the invention is not limited except as otherwise described. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals to omit repeated description, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not illustrated. Do.

  FIG. 1 is a view showing a vehicle front structure in the present embodiment. Hereinafter, arrows X and Y shown in the respective drawings indicate the vehicle front side and the vehicle width direction outer side (vehicle right side), respectively. The vehicle to which the vehicle front structure in the present embodiment is applied is a so-called cab-over vehicle in which an engine is disposed below the driver's seat.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle front structure 100 has a dash panel 102 located on the front side of the vehicle and defining, for example, a cabin, and a frame 104. The frame 104 is a member extending under the dash panel 102 to the vehicle front of the dash panel 102. In the vehicle front structure 100, a steering rack boot (hereinafter referred to as a boot 106) is disposed below the frame 104.

  The boot 106 is a bellows-like member which is a part of the steering device 108 and extends in the vehicle width direction. The boot 106 covers the point where the tie rod 110 is connected to the end of the rack bar (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the boot 106 is originally separated from the frame 104, and freely operates by the steering operation of the occupant.

  Vehicle front structure 100 further includes wheel house panel 112 and frame cover 114. The wheel house panel 112 is a vertical member that is erected on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the frame 104 and extends from the side portion 102 a of the dash panel 102 to the front of the vehicle. The wheel house panel 112 forms a wheel house 116 (see FIG. 4) that accommodates wheels not shown. Further, at the boundary between the wheel house panel 112 and the dash panel 102, a groove portion 118 is formed as shown in FIG.

  Further, in the vicinity of the groove portion 118, a dash cross member 120 provided on the front surface of the dash panel 102 and extending in the vehicle width direction, and a dash cross member extension 122 connected to the dash cross member 120 and extending in the vehicle width direction are arranged. A dash cross member side member 124 which is in contact with the dash cross member extension 122 and extends forward of the vehicle is disposed on the upper side of the wheel house panel 112.

  FIG. 2 is a view showing the frame cover 114 and the frame 104 of FIG. 1 alone. The frame cover 114 is a metal member that covers the frame 104 from above, and has an upper surface portion 126 and a wall portion 128 as shown in FIG. 2A. The upper surface portion 126 extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, is connected to the lower edge 112a (see FIG. 1) of the wheel house panel 112 at one side edge 126a, and descends toward the front of the vehicle. Further, the upper surface portion 126 has a shape which is recessed downward, and a plurality of hole portions 130a to 130c are provided.

  The wall 128 of the frame cover 114 is a flange that rises upward from the other side edge 126 b of the top surface 126. A part of the wall portion 128 is cut away, and a resin cover 132 is attached to the cut portion 128a as shown in FIG. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2B, the frame 104 has a bottom portion 136 provided with a plurality of holes 134a to 134c, and a side portion 138a bent upward from the side edges 136a and 136b of the bottom portion 136. , 138b.

  3 is a view on arrow A of the vehicle front structure of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a view on arrow B of the vehicle front structure of FIG. Vehicle front structure 100 further includes a fender lining 140 disposed within wheel house 116. As shown in FIG. 3, an opening 144 is formed between the fender lining 140 and the front end 142 of the frame 104. The front end 142 of the frame 104 faces a bumper brace 146 extending in the vertical direction at the front of the vehicle.

  Vehicle front structure 100 further includes a dash side panel 148 and a fender panel 150 that forms the outer surface of the vehicle as shown in FIG. The dash side panel 148 extends from the side 102 a of the dash panel 102 to the front of the vehicle above the wheel house panel 112. The dashed lines shown in the vicinity of the fender panel 150 illustrate the outer shape of the hood panel 152.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the vehicle front structure 100 of FIG. In the figure, the vicinity of the upper end 148a of the dash side panel 148 is illustrated. The fender panel 150 forms the outer surface of the vehicle outside the dash side panel 148 in the vehicle width direction, extends over the upper end 148 a of the dash side panel 148 and extends inward in the vehicle width direction than the dash side panel 148. The fender panel 150 is attached to the vehicle body by fastening a portion 154 extending inward in the vehicle width direction to the fender bracket 156 with bolts 158a, 158b and the like.

  Further, in FIG. 5, a cowl top side garnish 160 and a hood hinge bracket 162 are shown. The cowl top side garnish 160 is installed between a corner of a front end of a windshield (not shown) and the hood panel 152. The hood hinge bracket 162 secures to the vehicle body a hood hinge (not shown) that connects the hood panel 152 to the vehicle body so as to be able to open and close.

  Hereinafter, the case where rainwater or the like intrudes into the vehicle front structure 100 will be described. The portion 154 (see FIG. 5) of the fender panel 150 extending inward in the vehicle width direction is generally covered by the hood panel 152. For this reason, the rainwater invading from between the fender panel 150 and the hood panel 152 is first led to the inside of the dash side panel 148 through the upper part of the fender panel 150 extending inward in the vehicle width direction 154. .

  Next, the rainwater having flowed inside the dash side panel 148 flows along the groove 118 formed at the boundary between the wheel house panel 112 and the dash panel 102, as shown in the flow path C of FIG. Are further led to a frame cover 114 covering the

  Here, especially in a cold area, when the rainwater in a sloping shape overflows from the frame 104 and hits the boot 106, the rainwater may freeze the frame 104 and the boot 106. Operating the steering device 108 in such a state may damage the boot 106.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, a configuration is employed in which the rainwater that has reached the frame cover 114 is discharged outside the vehicle without being applied to the boot 106. That is, the upper surface portion 126 of the frame cover 114 has a shape that is recessed downward, and further descends toward the front of the vehicle. In the frame cover 114, a wall portion 128 rises from the other side edge 126b of the upper surface portion 126 on the opposite side of the wheel house panel 112.

  For this reason, the rainwater that has reached the frame cover 114 flows toward the front of the vehicle while being accumulated on the upper surface portion 126 of the frame cover 114 while being blocked by the wall portion 128 of the frame cover 114 (see FIG. 1). Further, since the resin cover 132 is attached to the portion 128a where the wall portion 128 is cut out, it is possible to prevent the leakage of rainwater.

  Subsequently, rainwater flowing toward the front of the vehicle in the upper surface portion 126 of the frame cover 114 is an opening 144 formed between the front end 142 of the frame 104 and the fender lining 140, as shown in the flow path D of FIG. , And discharged from the opening 144 to the outside of the vehicle.

  Therefore, according to the vehicle front structure 100, it is possible to prevent that the rainwater which has entered the vehicle body overflows from the frame 104 and is applied to the boot 106 located below the frame 104. As a result, the frame 104 and the boot 106 are not frozen by the rainwater in a sloping shape in a cold area or the like, and damage to the boot 106 can be prevented.

  A part of the rainwater is from the holes 130a to 130c provided on the upper surface 126 of the frame cover 114 shown in FIG. 2A, and the bottom 136 and the side 138a of the frame 104 shown in FIG. After infiltrating the inside surrounded by 138b, it may be discharged to the outside of the vehicle from the holes 134a to 134c provided in the bottom portion 136. Therefore, the holes 134a to 134c of the bottom surface 136 of the frame 104 may be formed so as not to overlap with the boot 106 located below.

  Also, in general, in order to secure the shock absorbing performance of the vehicle, the rigidity of the portion receiving the impact at the time of a collision may be reduced sharply and may be easily deformed. Here, by notching a part of the wall portion 128 of the frame cover 114, the rigidity of the frame cover 114 is reduced to enhance the shock absorbing performance. On the other hand, since the resin cover 132 is attached to the notched portion 128a so that the rainwater does not leak from the portion where the wall portion 128 is notched, it is possible to prevent the rainwater from leaking.

  FIG. 6 is a view showing a vehicle front structure 100A of a modification of the embodiment of FIG. Vehicle front structure 100A differs from vehicle front structure 100 in that wall portion 164 is formed to be continuous in the front-rear direction without cutting out wall portion 164 of frame cover 114A covering frame 104A from above. .

  For this reason, in the vehicle front structure 100A, it is not necessary to cut away a part of the wall portion 164 to attach the resin cover 132, and as shown by the flow path E in the figure, rainwater flows. Therefore, according to the vehicle front structure 100A, rainwater can be more reliably prevented from passing over the wall portion 164 of the frame cover 114A and hitting the boot 106.

  Although the above embodiment and modifications have been described with reference to a cab-over vehicle as the vehicle, the present invention is not limited to this, and the vehicle front structure 100, 100A is applied to a vehicle having an engine room disposed in front of the dash panel 102. It may apply.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the appended claims, and of course these also fall within the technical scope of the present invention. It is understood.

  The present invention can be applied to a vehicle front structure including a dash panel of a vehicle.

100, 100A ... vehicle front structure, 102 ... dash panel, 104, 104A ... frame, 106 ... boot, 108 ... steering device, 110 ... tie rod, 112 ... wheel house panel, 114, 114 A ... frame cover, 116 ... wheel house 118: groove portion 120: dash cross member 122: dash cross member extension 124: dash cross member side member 126: upper face portion 128, 164 wall portion 130a to 130c 134a to 134c hole portion 132 ... Resin cover, 136 ... bottom portion, 138a, 138b ... side, 140 ... fender lining, 142 ... front end, 144 ... opening, 146 ... bumper brace, 148 ... dash side panel, 150 ... fender panel, 152 ... ... Dopaneru, 156 ... fender bracket, 160 ... cowl top side garnish, 162 ... hood hinge bracket

Claims (6)

In a vehicle front structure including a vehicle dash panel,
The vehicle front structure is further
A frame extending forward of the vehicle of the dash panel below the dash panel;
A longitudinal member provided on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the frame
And a frame cover covering the frame from above,
The frame cover is
An upper surface portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and connected to a lower edge of the longitudinal member at one side edge and which descends toward the front of the vehicle;
And a wall portion rising upward from the other side edge of the upper surface portion.   The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface portion of the frame cover has a shape which is recessed downward. The longitudinal member is a wheel house panel that forms a wheel house that accommodates wheels.
The vehicle front structure is further
A fender lining disposed within the wheel house;
A vehicle front structure according to claim 1 or 2, including an opening formed between the front end of the frame and the fender lining. The frame cover is made of metal, and part of the wall is cut away,
The vehicle front structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vehicle front structure further includes a resin cover made of resin attached to a cut-out portion of the wall portion. .   The vehicle front structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a groove shape is formed at a boundary between the longitudinal member and the dash panel. The vehicle front structure is further
A dash side panel extending forward of the vehicle from the side of the dash panel above the longitudinal member;
The vehicle further includes a fender panel that forms an outer surface of the vehicle on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the dash side panel, extends over the upper end of the dash side panel, and extends inward in the vehicle width direction than the dash side panel. The vehicle front structure according to any one of Items 1 to 5.

Images